Lord-Lieutenant visits Surrey-based motorsport pioneers

1st June 2022 | News in your area

Lord-Lieutenant visits Surrey-based motorsport pioneers

On Wednesday 11^th May, the Lord-Lieutenant spent the afternoon with Team BRIT at its base at Dunsfold Aerodrome near Cranleigh, where he experienced life as a racing driver thanks to an inspirational racing team based in the county.

The team aims to become the first ever all-disabled team to race in the Le Mans 24-hour and supports people with physical and psychological challenges in accessing motorsport. The team has developed the world’s most advanced hand control technology to enable its drivers to compete on a completely level playing field against able-bodied competitors.

This year, the team has made history by being the first ever all-disabled team to compete in the British GT Championship – one of the most hotly contested endurance championships in Europe. Paraplegic driver Aaron Morgan and autistic driver Bobby Trundley pair up in the championship, driving a McLaren 570S GT4.

In addition, drivers are also competing in the Britcar Trophy and the British Endurance Championship, driving the team’s BMWs and Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4.

On Wednesday, the Lord-Lieutenant visited the HQ where the team’s mechanical crew are based. He was able to try out the team’s hand controls on their top of the range racing simulator and had a tour of the workshop and cars, before being taken for a spin on the infamous Top Gear Track in the team’s Academy car – a VW Polo, which is fitted with the team’s hand controls.

Rookie driver Paul Fullick took the Lord-Lieutenant around the track whilst talking him through the world-leading technology. Paul had to have part of his leg amputated last year following a motorbike crash. He also met British GT driver Aaron Morgan and new rookie Anji-Silva-Vadgama, who lives with multiple sclerosis.

Team Founder Dave Player said: “My team were very proud to welcome the Lord-Lieutenant to our HQ and to explain the story of our team. We know how supportive the Surrey Lieutenancy is of community initiatives, so it was great to be able to showcase the innovation that is happening right here in Dunsfold. We’re making huge progress in changing motorsport to be more inclusive for disabled drivers and showing what can be achieved.

“I hope he enjoyed meeting our team and checking out our technology. We’ve already invited him back for a spin in our McLaren and hope to welcome him to a race very soon.”

More information on Team BRIT can be found at www.teambrit.co.uk