James Wade is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer at Hawkins, specialising in road traffic incidents. His understanding of engineering principles and calmness under cross-examination make him keenly sought after for cases requiring reconstruction and vehicle inspection. Away from the office, James channels that same precision and analytical mindset into motorsport. He thrives on the racetrack, where his calm, calculated approach is demonstrated in every lap.
His recent return to racing took him to the “Home of Welsh Motorsport” at Pembrey Circuit in South Wales. Despite the long slog he had along the M4, James was greeted with warm weather, a competitive 25-car grid, and three thrilling races. Qualifying saw James on track for the first time in two years and setting respectable times – achieving grid positions of 10th for race one, 7th for race two and 13th for race three.
Race one, held on Saturday afternoon, was all about settling back into the rhythm of racing. A poor start saw James lose ground early, but he fought back with determination to finish in 11th place. Sunday brought two more races. Race two was a quieter affair, with the field spreading out early, James maintained a steady pace to finish 8th. Race three, however, delivered the most excitement of the weekend with multiple position changes and close battles. Despite sustaining minor damage from contact with another driver, he completed the race, rounding off a successful and encouraging return to competition.
Onboard footage from race three is available to view here:
James is a Principal Associate based in our Reigate office, where he specialises in engineering investigations and road traffic accident (RTA) analysis, with a particular focus on collision reconstruction. He is trained in the use of the Bosch Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) tool, which enables the extraction of critical crash data from compatible modern vehicles. This data can include vehicle speed, braking and steering inputs, impact direction and severity, occupant information, airbag deployment, and seatbelt usage, all of which are invaluable in accurately reconstructing collision events.
If you are looking for a road traffic incident expert, or would like to know more about Hawkins’ expertise in road traffic collisions, please feel free to contact James.
