Team BRIT is a British auto racing team formed in 2015, originally based at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, home of the Top Gear test track, but now in Washington, West Sussex. The team is composed of disabled drivers and currently (2024) competes in two British motor racing series, Britcar Endurance and Britcar Trophy, with the ultimate aim to race in 24 Hours of Le Mans
The key element which allows physically disabled drivers to compete is the specially developed hand control system fitted to all the cars.
Team BRIT was formed as an offshoot of the charity Kartforce,[1] which provides military veterans with the opportunity to take part in karting events to support their physical and mental rehabilitation and recovery. Team BRIT gives people with disabilities the chance to compete with able bodied drivers in national motor racing events. 1996 Formula One world champion Damon Hill is a patron of the team.
From its inception in 2015 with a single small racing car and three former military disabled drivers, the team has grown in size and scope.[2]
By 2022 it consisted of five cars and eight drivers with diverse backgrounds and disabilities, competing in three racing competitions.
In 2023, 9 drivers competed across four championships.
2015, 2016 - VW Golf GTI
2017 - 2 x Fun Cup Volkswagen Beetle
2018 - 3 x Fun Cup Volkswagen Beetle, Vw polo gti, Aston Martin Vantage GT4
2019, 2020 - 3 x BMW 116i, Aston Martin Vantage GT4
2021 - BMW 1 Series, Aston Martin Vantage GT4, BMW M240i Racing
At the end of 2021 the Vantage GT4 chassis became ineligible for competition in British GT,[3] which follows SRO Motorsports Group international homologation rules. The team continued to campaign it in the Britcar Endurance Championship where it remained eligible in the equivalent "Class D" under Britcar series rules.
2022 - BMW 1 Series, Aston Martin Vantage GT4, BMW M240i Racing, McLaren 570S GT4
2023 - 2 x McLaren 570S GT4, BMW M240i Racing, 2023 also saw the addition of a Citroen C1 endurance race car, adapted and entered to the Silverlake C1 Endurance Series [4][5] which includes a 24h round at the Silverstone circuit. - the addition of a second McLaren 570S replacing the Aston Martin in the Britcar Endurance Championship.[6]- The other McLaren 570S will continue in British GT and McLaren Trophy[7]The BMW M240i Racing will continue in the Britcar Trophy Championship.
Team BRIT worked with MME Motorsport, a Slovenian gearbox control specialist, to develop electronic hand control systems for throttle, clutch, gear change, and brakes which work in a seamlessly integrated way with conventional controls. The adaptation allows a driver using hand controls to share a car with a driver using conventional controls in race meetings; the car will respond to both sets of controls, giving priority to whichever input is highest if there is a conflict.[8]
The growing development and realism of Sim racing systems allows a disabled driver to use the same steering wheel on the simulator as the racing car which aids a more seamless transition from sim racer to track racer.
Team BRIT drivers James Whitley and Chris Overend made history in 2022 becoming the first disabled team[9] to win a British national motor racing championship,[10][11] claiming the Britcar Trophy Championship in an adapted BMW M240i Racing.
In Britcar Endurance the team ran the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in class D with six classes in each race.
In British GT Championship the team ran the McLaren 570S in class GT4 ProAM with four classes in each race.
While the McLaren was entered for a couple of races in Britcar Endurance, it wasn't registered for the championship but took part as an invitational entry.
In Britcar Trophy the team ran the BMW M240i Racing in class 2 and the BMW 118i in class 3 with five classes in each race
Following a crash at Silverstone 500 on May 7 when the car suffered extensive damage, the team decided to withdraw from the majority of the remaining rounds of the British GT championship and instead drivers Morgan and Trundley will race the remaining Maclaren 570S in the MacLaren Trophy Championship [19][20]
Paul Fullick and Tyrone Maturin finished 21st overall in the Rowe Britcar Trophy Championship and 2nd in class driving the BMW M240i.
Chris Overend / James Whitley / Bobby Trundley / Aaron Morgan / Takuma Aoki finished 13th overall in the Motorsport Uk British Endurance Championship and 5th in class driving the Mclaren 570S GT4.
In the Intelligent Money British GT Championship neither the team or the drivers gained any points.
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