Team BRIT e-Zine: Issue 03, Winter 2020

Issue 03 | Winter 2020/21

TEAM BRIT’S BIGGEST COLLABORATION PROJECT YET Pages 11, 12 & 13

Season’s Greetings IN THIS ISSUE:

F R O M A L L AT T E A M B R I T

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR TEAM BRIT

FINISHING THE SEASON WITH SUCCESS

PARTNERSHIPS WITH A DIFFERENCE

Sky Sports feature Team BRIT for round 4 of the Britcar Championship at Silverstone

Review of the final two rounds of the 2020 Britcar Championship

Commercial Director Mike Scudamore talks Team BRIT partnerships

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Page 16

Page 20

THE WORD FROM

HQ

IN THIS ISSUE: THE SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR TEAM BRIT Sky Sports cover Team BRIT’s October round of the Britcar Championship at Silverstone

It’s difficult to know where to start when you have a look back at 2020 and ponder what has happened, but also what has been achieved.

Like many sporting teams, COVID-19 meant that our year was uncertain in so many different ways. Would we be able to race at all? Would our drivers and crew remain safe? Would events be completely different? Would our sponsors be able to continue to support us?

It certainly wasn’t the year we had planned, but I’m extremely thankful for the community spirit and understanding across motorsport, which has meant that our event organisers pulled together to stage events in the safest way possible, which all competitors respected to keep us out on track. I’m also indebted to all the sponsors that have stuck by us, supporting us in a number of ways which are vital to our success, despite the challenges they would have each faced within their own business sectors.

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PRESENTING THE 2021 BMW M240i: TEAM BRIT’S BIGGEST COLLABORATION PROJECT YET The launch of our first racing car set for the track in 2021 featuring more than 20 contributors.

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FINISHING THE SEASON WITH SUCCESS

I’m very proud of our track record for growing and achieving more and more with each year and the fact that we have maintained this momentum, despite the horrors of 2020 is really something quite special.

A look at the final rounds of this year’s Britcar Championship

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We’ve fielded the biggest team of drivers in our history, raced the largest fleet of cars and brought home silverware, ‘driver of the day’ awards and fastest lap records. On top of that, our drivers have developed incredibly, gaining in speed and confidence on the track and our race crew is the best it has ever been.

Thank you to every person that has played a part in this and has continued to support us. It takes more than a global pandemic to beat Team BRIT! I’d like to wish you all a very merry Christmas, and here’s to a happier, healthier 2021.

Dave Player

Team BRIT Founder

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www.TeamBRIT.co.uk

CREATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH A DIFFERENCE Commercial Director Mike Scudamore talks partnerships

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PLUS: A RACING START WITH KARTS

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MEDIA REACH

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NERYS’ TRIP TO SANTA

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THE 2021 CALENDAR

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THE TECH

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ARTICLE

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5 QUESTIONS WITH LUKE POUND

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Front cover photos by Anthony Hobbs

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THE SKY ’S TH E LIM IT FOR

Friday 9th October…. A crisp, autumnal morning with blinding sunshine provides a promising start to the team and crew at Silverstone race circuit for round 4 of the Britcar Championship.

The team descended on the iconic track on Thursday afternoon to deliver and set up its fleet of four BMWs, one Aston Martin, its fullspec racing trailer and an eager crew, ready for a weekend of racing.

What made this race weekend even more exciting was the crew from Sky F1, which had joined the team to capture footage for a feature piece on rookie driver, Nerys Pearce.

From Fridays’ testing onwards, the team was hard at work in the garage, following Nerys’ every move as she experienced her first ever race.

The feature was a result of work by team PR Manager Lucy, who was keen to showcase Nerys’ story to as wide an audience as possible.

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She explains: “My job is to get the team’s story out in front of as many people as possible, so I always aim high when it comes to pitching stories around our drivers or the wider team.

“When Nerys joined and I heard about her background, I knew that media would be keen to cover what is quite simply an incredible story of surviving against the odds and overcoming challenge.

“What was key about the piece with Sky, was the fact that this would be shown to hardcore racing fans. People that would truly understand the challenge ahead of Nerys as a total novice, without the use of her legs, against able-bodied drivers.”

www.TeamBRIT.co.uk

The Sky team spent two days getting up close and personal with Nerys as they filmed her out for testing on Friday, before coming back to the track for Sunday’s race day. They captured her incredible performance in qualifying which took her into P1 at the start of the race, and saw her exhilaration and relief when she brought the car home safely, having put in a fantastic rookie effort, finishing P3.

anxious, whilst also excited, and it certainly felt like I was having every move watched!

“Quite quickly I got used to them being around and they were such a friendly bunch it was easy to talk to them comfortably. I’m used to telling my story and although it’s still an emotional subject for me to share, I know that I’m at

Nerys said: “It was quite intimidating being followed so closely by a camera crew during my first ever race. I was already

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Sky presenter Rachel Brookes spoke about her time with Nerys in a diary entry reflecting on the Bahrain F1: “On Saturday you finally got to see my pieces with Nerys Pearce. She was an army medic, as she put it, ‘teaching soldiers how to save their best mates’ life in the field’.

She is truly inspirational.

The camera crew, led by presenter Rachel Brookes, interviewed Nerys about the most difficult time of her life as she battled depression and suicidal thoughts after her paralysis, before having her life turned around with the help of forces charity, Blesma. They also spoke with Nerys’ coach, prodriver Abbie Eaton, who talked them through the work underway to get Nerys as competitive as possible on the track, and race engineer Al Locke, demonstrated the team’s world-leading hand controls.

Fast forward 6 weeks and on Saturday 28th November, the feature on the team was aired as part of Sky F1’s coverage of the Bahrain F1 race. An extended piece was also shared online, resulting in amazing comments and feedback from F1 fans hearing about Team BRIT for the first time.

FROM THE PRESENTER

An incredibly competitive, active and fit person taking part in numerous extreme sports and challenges, her life changed one day while out on her motorbike picking up a prescription for her mother. As a result of the treatment for injuries sustained to her leg, she was left paralysed from the chest down and, as she admitted to me, tried to take her own life.

such a good point in my life now that I can look back and see it as something that has made me who I am today.

“The response I’ve received to the piece has just been incredible. I’ve had so much support and so many good wishes, I’m really grateful to everyone who took the time to watch.”

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Thankfully for her, Blesma - a charity supporting limbless veterans in the UK - came into her life and took her skiing at a point in her life when she couldn’t even sit up in bed. That trip changed her life. She always was an indomitable force but for a period of her life every resolve was challenged. I was totally humbled by meeting her and am in awe of her. I want to say a big thank you to Nerys, her driver coach Abbie Eaton and all at Team Brit for their time and help.”

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A RACING START WITH KARTS A growing number of kart tracks around the country are opening their doors to disabled clients by installing hand controls developed by Team BRIT’s linked charity, KartForce.

Established in 2010, KartForce supports injured military troops in accessing motorsport by offering karting events at tracks across the country.

Founder Dave Player developed a simple set of hand controls to be fitted into karts meaning that disabled veterans could race. The controls went on to be the start of the Team BRIT racing hand controls which are levelling the playing field for disabled racers today.

Now, more and more kart tracks are taking on this technology, increasing their offering to a diverse range of customers by welcoming disabled drivers with safe, reliable technology to get them racing.

Team BRIT, which is owned by KartForce, is supplying kart track owners with the kit they need and offering advice and guidance over how to better support disabled clients.

KartForce and Team BRIT founder Dave Player explains, “Our karting hand controls were a really simple solution to the complex problem of providing effective, impactive ways of supporting our injured troops.

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“Time and time again I’ve watched people with amputations or serious limb disabilities look at me in amazement when I have suggested they can go karting. Then I’ve seen the delight and adrenaline when they’ve completed a few laps of racing in a kart race.

“This kind of technology should be available across all grassroots motorsports venues so that anyone, disabled or not, can access such a fun and rewarding sport. We’re delighted to have supported these venues in kitting out accessible karts and hope that even more will introduce these in the coming months to further open doors for disabled drivers.”

Kart tracks offering karts with hand controls: ALL DAYTONA TRACKS TEAMKARTING, ROCHDALE *Customers are advised to contact tracks in advance if hand controls are needed so that necessary arrangements can be made.

If you’d like to find out how you can offer hand controls at your facilities, email info@teambrit.co.uk

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SHARING OUR STORY ACROSS THE GLOBE A major part of Team BRIT’s work, is inspiring and motivating people to ‘believe and achieve,’ and to try things they never thought possible.

A big part of this is possible through the team’s continued PR and communications drive, under PR Manager Lucy Sheehan and Social Media Manager Sally McInerney.

Lucy explains, “As a PR professional, working with Team BRIT is a dream job. People like stories and hearing about other people’s lives, and you don’t get many stories more incredible than ours.

Lucy and Sally regularly share news and updates on the team and its drivers across its website, social media platforms and newsletters, but also through partner channels and media outlets.

“It’s not been an easy year for anything, and PR is no different. Trying to cut through the constant bombardment of Covid reporting has been tough and we’ve definitely felt the impact, but it’s been encouraging to see that in spite of this, our story has kept getting out there, bringing exposure and awareness for the team and for its partners.

The team benefits from the support of global media giant, Kantar Media, which provides sophisticated media monitoring services to the team. This valuable service means that the team can regularly monitor media coverage, its reach and how much value this brings to the team and its partners.

Despite the challenges of Covid-19 and the lack of track time this year, once again, the team’s story has travelled far and wide, reaching an incredible number of people in audiences all over the world.

N A T I O N A L

T E L EV I S I ON R E ACH : 1 7, 8 0 6 , 330

“The team’s goals go far greater than a small group of drivers. This is about changing mindsets, creating opportunities and inspiring others. Through sharing our story, we can help make this happen. Here’s to 2021!”

Data supplied by Kantar Media

M E D I A

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S O C I A L

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£4 5 8 ,69 4

M E D I A

R E A C H

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REACH:

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R E AC H :

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R E A C H

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NERYS’ TRIP TO SANTA Team BRIT rookie Nerys Pearce has set herself a festive challenge with a difference this year as she sets out to deliver Christmas letters to Santa, virtually travelling all the way to Lapland.

As if swimming almost all the way across the Channel, cycling and pushing hundreds of miles for charity Blesma, as well as beginning a career in motor racing wasn’t enough, Nerys is part way through her latest physical feat.

Starting on the 1st December, Nerys set out with her team of 6 ‘reindeer’ to virtually travel from her hometown of Ascot in Berkshire to Korvatunturi in Finland.

The team will be trekking, cycling, running and rowing the full distance of 3200km, arriving by the 22nd December to deliver letters to Santa from children in her local area.

Almost 50 letters are already on their way and at the time of publication, Nerys and her team were on track to make it to Santa in time for the big day! Go Nerys!

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P R E S E N T I N G

T H E

Team BRIT’s biggest collaboration project completes with the launch of its first 2021 racing car.

Team BRIT has showcased the success of its biggest ever collaboration project with the launch of its first racing car set for the track in 2021.

Revealed in the latest of the team’s promotional films, ‘Write off to Race Car’, the team is celebrating the incredible support it has received from partners, Synetiq, along with more than 20 other contributors, helping them transform a crash-damaged car into the pride of its 2021 fleet.

SYNETIQ, which is the UK’s largest vehicle salvage and recycling company, announced its support of Team BRIT in early 2020, committing to supplying the team with salvage vehicles from its market-leading online auction.

With SYNETIQ’s support, Team BRIT purchased a crash-damaged 2019 BMW M240i from its online auction in February. The car had extensive structural damage, which was repaired through Surrey-based BMWdealership, Vines before Team BRIT’s crew, under Race Engineer, Al Locke, began to turn it into a race car.

They stripped the car and installed their world-leading hand controls, along with a racing seat and harness supplied by Corbeau. A range of upgrades and additions were made including an upgraded radiator,

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improved traction, full exhaust system, and an engine and gearbox remap. The BMW’s 3 litre engine now produces 475bhp, enough to reach a top speed of 175mph.

The car is the first in the fleet to display the team’s new 2021 livery and has received extensive final upgrades, thanks to the craftmanship of Al’s team and the generosity of tens of companies, pledging their support of the team.

Team BRIT’s drivers will race the car in Class 5 of the Trophy Category in the Britcar Championship next year.

Team BRIT founder, Dave Player said: “This is one of the proudest times for me. It shows just how much people believe in our work, but also just what impact we can have when we work together. I’ve always stressed the importance of our team – everyone involved in Team BRIT, the drivers, the crew, the management team, our incredible sponsors, has a crucial part to play. We’re at our best when we work together and this is the perfect example. Thank you so much to Synetiq and every other partner that has made this possible. Let’s get going 2021!”

The promo film can be viewed at www.vimeo.com/teambrit.

/TeamBRITRacing

TeamBRITRacing

FULL CAR SPEC: Year: 2019 Engine: 3 litre 6 cylinder petrol with twinscroll turbo Gearbox: ZF 8 speed Brakes: Frando 6 pot radial calipers, 350mm floating discs, race pads Power: 450 bhp Torque: 614 nm 0 - 60: 3.6 seconds SUSPENSION: • Quantum single adjustable dampers • Faulkner springs • Millway camber adjustable top mounts • Adjustable control arms UPGRADES: • Wagner chargecooler • Braid lightweight 18” racing wheels • Dunlop Direzza track tyres • Remus turbo-back exhaust • 6 point Corbeau harnesses • Corbeau lightweight racing seat • Quaife ATB differential • Odyssey lightweight race battery • Custom motorsport wiring loom • Cartek power distribution, killswitch and shift lights • SPA Design fire suppression system • Lifeline rain light and tow straps • DervTech engine and gearbox maps • MFX/Avery full wrap • K&N high flow air filter • Custom Cages 6 point roll cage • VBox HD2 video and data logger with live streaming

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ENGINE & GEARBOX REMAP DERVTECH Stage 2

AIR FILTER K&N High flow

BATTERY ODYSSEY Lightweight sealed race battery PC950

HAND CONTROLS TEAM BRIT, MME Full electronic & pneumatic hand controls on steering wheel

POWER DISTRIBUTION CARTEK 8 channel power distribution module

INTERCOOLER WAGNER B58 chargecooler radiator

DAMPERS QUANTUM Single adjustable

FRONT TOP MOUNTS MILLWAY Camber adjustable front damper mounts

SPRINGS FAULKNERS 2.25” springs in 3 stiffness options with helper springs

STEERING BOSS MOMO F22 spline to 6x70mm

HYDRAULIC HOSES MOCAL, THINK AUTOMOTIVE Custom swaged hydraulic hoses

RIMS BRAID Lightweight 18” rims

WHEEL STUD CONVERSION LMD UK M14 5 stud conversion

TYRES DUNLOP, HP TYRES Dunlop Direzza DZ03G

DATA AND VIDEO RACELOGIC VBox HD2 data and video logging with CAN interface

FIRE SYSTEM SPA DESIGN Plumbed in, 4 nozzle 3.375L AFFF mechanical discharge

TOW EYES LIFELINE Flexible cable tow eyes, weld in

LOOM CONECTORS LEMO Lemo B series

COMMUNICATION KENWOOD, MRTC Long range in-car radio with roof mount aerial and pit repeater

ROLL CAGE CUSTOM CAGES 6 point MSUK compliant weld-in cage WRAP AVERY DENNISON, MFX WRAPS Full vehicle vinyl wrap

RAIN LIGHT LIFELINE FIA high intensity

SEAT CORBEAU Lightweight FIA race seat, low side

EXHAUST REMUS, MOTECH Turbo back decat BRAKES FRANDO 6 pot calipers, 350mm drilled and grooved floating discs

HARNESS CORBEAU 6 point 3” FIA harnesses, HANS compatilble

SHIFT LIGHTS CARTEK Progressive dash mount shift lights

DIFFERENTIAL QUAIFE, BIRDS ATB LSD

KILLSWITCH CARTEK Electronic solid-state killswitch

HEATER MATRIX DEMON TWEEKS Lightweight heater/ demister system

BONNET PINS AEROCATCH , DEMON TWEEKS Flush mount bonnet retainers

CONTROL ARMS TBC DEMON TWEEKS Adjustable control arms

Visit www.thesurreycopperdistillery.com for great Christmas gift ideas including our brand new 3 miniature gift set.

10% off all online shop purchases using the coupon code ‘BRIT10’ and a further 10% of all sales will be donated to Team BRIT. Merry Christmas

TH E 2021 CAL EN DAR Team BRIT will once again be racing in the Britcar Championship in 2021. Its experienced racers will drive the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 in the Endurance Category and its rookies will drive BMWs in the Trophy Category.

Provisional dates for next year are as follows. Let’s go racing!

TROPHY CALENDAR 2021 1

2

27 & 28 March SILVERSTONE INTERNATIONAL

3

8 & 9 May SNETTERTON 300

4

4 July SILVERSTONE GRAND PRIX

5

1 August BRANDS HATCH INDY

6

18 & 19 September CROFT

24 October DONINGTON PARK GP

ENDURANCE CALENDAR 2021 1

2

27 March SILVERSTONE INTERNATIONAL

3

8 May SNETTERTON 300

4

12 June OULTON PARK

5

3 July SILVERSTONE GRAND PRIX

6

31 July BRANDS HATCH INDY

23 October DONINGTON PARK GP

HIGH QUALITY TRAILERS FOR CLUB, PRIVATE AND PRO MOTORSPORTS Available in half aluminium

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FINISHING THE SEASON WITH SUCCESS The final rounds of this year’s Britcar Championship took place at Silverstone in October and Snetterton in November.

Both events saw the most ever Team BRIT cars competing on a race weekend, with the team’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 and four BMWs. The team’s crew did an amazing job of managing the logistics needed to run five cars across the weekends.

Photos by Purple M

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www.TeamBRIT.co.uk

10 & 11 October 2020 At Silverstone, Bobby Trundley and Aaron Morgan raced the Aston in the Endurance category.

The pair had high expectations, having already bagged a P3 finish and ‘Driver of the Day’ at Brands Hatch.

Photo by Anthony Hobbs

Despite competing against faster machines in Class 4, Bobby and Aaron drove fantastically well.

Bobby shone in his usual way, delivering fast laps again and again, and Aaron began to close the gap in times, steadily catching Bobby’s laps.

1 November 2020

S I LV E R S T O N E Aaron started race one for the team, giving Bobby a strong platform from which to push.

Despite a minor engine issue, Bobby pushed on and brought the Aston home in P4, having qualified in P8.

With the engine issue fixed, Bobby started in Race two, delivering a fantastic stint which was finished with a text book pitstop by the crew – the second fastest of the entire grid, to send Aaron out for his final stint of the weekend. The P4 car was closing on him towards the end of the race, but he rose to the challenge of keeping them at bay, before the race was cut a few minutes short and the team’s P3 was cemented by the chequered flag.

Sunday was the turn of Team BRIT’s rookies, along with some

guest drivers, in the four class 7 BMWs, including a debut race for ex-Army medic Nerys and injured police officer, Tom Dorman.

Nerys partnered with her co-driver and coach, Abbie Eaton. Having qualified in P1, the pair took the P3 position in both their races – an incredible first outing for Nerys under Abbie’s leadership.

Andy Tucker and Matty Street, driving BMW 116 #67 qualified in an impressive P2.

They finished race 1 in P4 and were awarded the P3 trophy for race 2, which unfortunately was later downgraded after a timekeeper error in how another car was classified.

Luke Pound and Tom Dorman drove BMW 116 #66 and unfortunately didn’t finish race one but took P6 in race two.

S N E T T E R T O N

On Sunday 1st November the team descended on Snetterton, with the crew managing changeable weather conditions as well as back to back races, crewed from a packed awning in the car park!

Bobby paired up with CEO of Daytona Motorsport, Charles Graham in the Endurance Category.

In the trophy category, the team fielded: #67 BMW 116 – driven by Andy Tucker and Matty Street #66 BMW 116 – driven by Luke Pound #69 BMW 118i – driven by Aaron Morgan and Nerys Pearce Friday’s testing went well, with all drivers getting to grips with the track and final modifications being made to the car set ups.

An incident for Matty gave severe damage to the #67 BMW when another driver spun and then rejoined the circuit, but the TB crew worked tirelessly to repair the car ready for the final session of the day.

Pressure was high for Bobby and Charles, going into the race sitting 5th in the championship.

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Photo by Darren S Cook

A tough fought battle from the pair brought them home in P5.

With an extra point added for setting the fastest lap in class 4, the final championship standing overall was then P4 - an amazing result for Bobby’s first year racing at such a high level. Credit also goes to Aaron Morgan who raced with Bobby in previous events this year and contributed to the overall result.

Having qualified in P5 for race 1, Andy and Matty held on to P5 for their finishing position in the first race, and fought hard to push up to P4 for the second race, finishing the championship in P4, narrowly missing out on a championship podium.

Luke Pound had a tough task ahead of him as a single driver entry but as usual more than rose to the challenge, showing great racecraft and consistency throughout the whole day. He

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qualified in P6, just behind Matty and Andy, and showed incredible grit in the face of constantly changing conditions to hold onto the position and finish P6 in both races.

Finally, experienced racer Aaron Morgan teamed up with Team BRIT rookie Nerys Pearce, qualifying in P2 in the invitational class. Nerys battled hard and had a clean race with no incidents, leaving the pair in P2 as the flag dropped.

Aaron was up next for race 2 and achieved the same brilliant result - P2.

Team founder Dave Player said: “We may not have taken home with any silverware this year but I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. Each of our drivers has learned so much, they’ve pushed themselves so hard and will come back in 2021 stronger, more confident and more competitive than ever before.”

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Team BRIT’s hand controls are at the forefront of adaptive technology. Without this innovation, the team’s disabled drivers would not have the technology they need to truly compete equally.

SO HOW DO THEY WORK? Developed by Team BRIT and Slovenian motorsport experts, MME Motorsport, the hand control system uses a combination of pneumatic, electronic and hydraulic technology to enable the steering, brakes, clutch, throttle and gears to be controlled seamlessly using hands alone.

The hand controls are mounted on a standard steering wheel with a quick release steering boss.

Gear shifter rocker-plates and throttle paddles can be configured to either the right or the left to suit the driver’s capabilities. The thumb-operated clutch lever is positioned on the left, with the radio PTT button on right. The steering wheels are modular, and so are adaptable to a range of driver disabilities.

Where necessary for the installation, a custom electronic throttle system converts the cableoperated throttle to electronic control.

Driver control of the brake system is achieved using custom pneumatic and hydraulic actuators, based around proportional valves. It enables precise control over a dual hydraulic system – split between the front and rear brake circuits, with adjustable bias.

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Photo by Darren S Cook

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Shifting of the gearbox is controlled by an electronic gear control unit (GCU) or direct interface with the existing gearbox electronics, based on inputs from the driver, or set in automatic mode. The team has developed variants for sequential, automatic, semi-automatic and H pattern gearboxes, ensuring system flexibility.

Like the braking system, clutch control is achieved using pneumatic technology. A complex custommade actuator is connected directly to the primary clutch system, with a secondary hydraulic circuit feeding into it to enable parallel use of the existing clutch pedal for able-bodied drivers.

Fully adaptable, technologically sound, and inspected by Motorsport UK’s technical experts, the hand controls mean that every driver racing on the track is equal, with no-one at a disadvantage due to an amputation, injury or congenital defect.

What makes the system so effective is that is can also be instantly removed, unplugged and replaced with an ordinary steering wheel so the car reverts to standard specification. This means that drivers with a range of disabilities can drive on the same team.

If you’d like to find out about options for installing hand controls in your road or race car, email info@teambrit.co.uk

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CREATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH A DIFFERENCE Team BRIT is not a charity and depends on corporate sponsorship just like any other race team. All team partnerships are managed

by Commercial Director, Mike Scudamore, who speaks about why a partnership with Team BRIT is so different to any other.

Why do you think companies are so passionate about supporting the team?

Team BRIT has so many inspiring personal stories, so companies and their employees really get emotionally engaged with the drivers’ personal journeys. The fact that it is not just one personal story that brands are engaging with, but a whole team of drivers, each with incredible stories to share, makes it a very special partnership.

You’ve worked in the world of motorsport sponsorship for years – what makes a partnership with Team BRIT so unique?

Team BRIT combines elements of a variety of different partnership opportunities in one unique package. You’re not supporting one driver or athlete but a team of 8-10 drivers, along with the overarching ambition of the team and what it’s doing for inclusion in motorsport. It helps position brands as leaders in diversity and inclusivity, which also opens up additional corporate budgets.

The media and especially mainstream television exposure cannot be matched for a similar investment at any other partnership, whether sporting or otherwise. In addition to the great human interest story there is a great tech link around our hand control technology allowing the drivers to compete on a level playing field with able bodied drivers, something no other sport can offer.

Team BRIT is not there to simply make up the numbers, it’s there to win; a fact demonstrated by our awesome trophy haul this year. It’s not a charity, the drivers are not looking for handouts, we work hard for our partners to deliver measurable return on investment.

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Finally, the access trackside is second to none, you are not kept at arm’s length but welcomed into the paddock and pit garages to get up close and personal with the team, sit in the cars and meet the drivers before experiencing compliancefriendly hospitality with stunning views across the circuits.

How do you go about building a package that works for each company?

We realise everyone’s requirements are unique, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach. We listen to the requirements of potential partners and create a package that delivers against their business requirements. Whether that’s access to the drivers for conference appearances, online seminars highlighting diversity and inclusivity, image rights to generate marketing materials and social content, Business to Business introductions or strong branding across our key assets such as cars, clothing and drivers. Why not challenge me to build a unique package for your company?

What are your goals with the team for 2021?

As the world returns to some level of normality (hopefully), I’m looking forward to welcoming existing partners back trackside to support the team and network with fellow partners and prospects. The racing may have finished for 2020 but the off-season is the busiest for the commercial department as we look to finalise key sponsorship agreements ahead of important deadlines such as team clothing production. I am looking forward to making 2021 the most successful yet both on and off track.

If you’d like to find out how a partnership with Team BRIT can work for your business please email mike@teambrit.co.uk

www.TeamBRIT.co.uk

Photo by Darren S Cook

BIOGRAPHY Mike Scudamore Team BRIT Commercial Director

Film crews and publicity teams are not an unusual sight in the Team BRIT garage (above), creating exciting opportunities and exposure to our partners.

Mike Joined Team BRIT in September 2015, bringing a wealth of commercial experience from his time in F1 with the team that started out as Virgin Racing before morphing into the Marussia F1 Team.

Mike set up Apex Sports Marketing in October 2014 and works with rights holders to secure sponsorship and with brands on their sponsorship activations such as incentives and hospitality programmes.

Mike has been instrumental in securing the long-term financial future of Team BRIT and continues to work towards raising the required funds to enable the team to take the necessary steps up the motorsport ladder to Le Mans.

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CASE STUDY

DAF TRUCKS

UK market-leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, DAF Trucks, together with the support of its network of UK dealers, joined Team BRIT as a partner in the summer of 2018.

It supplies the team with a range-topping XF FT530 Super Space Cab and a fully liveried 14m WHF trailer, supplied through partner, Translease, used to transport its fleet of cars to races and events all over the country.

DAF Trucks’ Head of Marketing, Philip Moon talks about why the company made the decision to get behind the team and what it means to the business:

“Our network of dealers have been fully behind the partnership and some have enjoyed the team’s fantastic hospitality offerings at both Snetterton and Oulton Park.

Being able to offer our staff, our partners or our clients this kind of next-level experience, taking them to the heart of the action at a track is priceless and something that people tend to remember for a very long time.

“We strive for inclusivity to sit at the heart of our workplace culture, and Team BRIT’s drive for equality and inclusion aligns perfectly with this.”

“`We have commercial partnerships with a select few motorsport teams and we recognise an outfit with the right credentials when we see one. We are extremely impressed with Team BRIT’s dedication to helping disabled racing and this was big draw for us.

“As an organisation we strive for inclusivity to sit at the heart of our workplace culture, and Team BRIT’s drive for equality and inclusion aligns perfectly with

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this. We joined the team when the Racing Academy was still under development and it’s been fantastic to see the ladder of development being created, welcoming grassroots racing drivers through to the ambitions of GT4 endurance racing and beyond.

“From a brand and marketing perspective, the team’s appeal as a mainstream news story, reaching huge audiences every year, is a great thing for us to be part of and we feel proud and privileged to be supporting this journey.”

www.TeamBRIT.co.uk

WITH TEAM BRIT DRIVER LUKE POUND We caught up with Team BRIT rookie, Luke Pound, after his first full year of racing with the team.

What has been your Team BRIT highlight of 2020?

My highlight of the year is simply - racing for Team BRIT. I never thought I would ever get the chance to race, let alone with the year the world has had, so that really is my highlight, a dream come true.

I’m always looking forward to going away for race weekends, testing or meeting up with the team, it’s always a pleasure seeing everyone.

How have you coped during the Covid lockdown periods?

I’ve coped perfectly fine with the lockdowns, it’s been a bit odd being furloughed and stuck indoors, but I’ve always thought there’s no point in worrying about it, as it was all out of my hands.

The eTeam BRIT Summer series was something to keep me busy and a great thing to look forward to, along with taking part in other e-sports races. This was also a good to keep me focused on racing as much as possible.

What were the team’s major achievements this year?

For me, the first major achievement was setting up the summer e-series during lockdown, which helped keep us busy and race ready.

Secondly, was getting back out on track, racing along with all the Britcar Championship competitors, thanks to the efforts of the organisers who brilliantly set up and re-arranged a shortened championship. I’m extremely grateful for everyone’s efforts to make that happen.

Thirdly the team bringing some silverware home. This was a massive achievement from everyone in the team that was kickstarted by Aaron and Bobby on the first race weekend at Brands Hatch.

How do you feel your racing has progressed this season?

Photo by Darren S Cook

I think I’ve improved massively this year. I always thought I had the skill and determination to become a racing driver, but coming into my first race at Brands Hatch there was a little bit of doubt in the back of my head of whether I would be good enough. By the end of the season I had no doubt I can do it. It’s been a big learning curve, and driving with the use of one arm I do some things slightly differently to the norm, or to that which is usually taught but it’s what I feel comfortable in doing. With the help of our coach Max Coates, I’ve learnt a lot, not only about racing lines, but understanding what the car is telling you all the time through the steering wheel or your back side.

What are you hopes and targets for 2021?

My hopes and targets for 2021 are simple. SILVERWARE!

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Experience the thrill of the track with world leading racing hand controls for disabled drivers.

New COVID-19-compliant packages • Half-day sessions • Top UK circuits • Professional coaching and instruction • Top of the range simulator • Track time with video de-brief

To find out more email racingacademy@teambrit.co.uk *Motorsport UK Covid regulations mean instructors cannot join a client in a car and garage numbers are limited.

Clients will therefore drive on track independently with regular coaching feedback.