Team BRIT e-Zine: Issue 10, Spring 2023

THE CLASS OF 2023

PICTURE

Team BRIT driver Paul Fullick returned to Ukraine with his charity ‘Ukraine Sunflower Aid’...

PAUL’S UKRAINE DIARY

The team travelled out to Portimão in Portugal to carry out winter testing...

PERFECT WINTER TESTING

It’s all change at Team BRIT HQ as we welcome two new crew members to the workshop...

THE NEW CREW ON THE BLOCK

THE WORD FROM

Finally! It’s race season!

Anyone that knows me knows how horribly impatient I am, and despite us all being phenomenally busy in the winter season, it still feels like an eternity before we get racing once again.

I’m so pleased that we’ve now been out on track three times already. By the time this goes to print, not only will our rookies have had their first taste of racing in the Silverlake C1 Endurance Championship, but our reigning Britcar Champions, Chris and James will have taken on round one of the British Endurance Championship in our newest McLaren and Paul and Tyrone will have stepped up to the BMW M240i in the Britcar Trophy. Exciting times for us all.

It’s a mammoth year ahead of us, with 10 drivers competing across 4 championships and the scale of this challenge and achievement should not be underestimated. Al and his team have been working exceptionally hard throughout the winter to get us race ready, putting in incredible hours to get two Mclarens out to Portugal for winter testing, and re-building the C1 as a racing car.

Our new partner crew led by Matt Parkes has also been fantastic in getting our newest rookies to the track for the C1 championship – I can’t wait to see them all grow and develop this year.

Alongside this, Mike has been working hard with our sponsors, setting up visits and events all over the country to introduce our drivers, cars and tech to the colleagues and staff of our fantastic supporters, and Lucy and Steph have been working hard on PR and socials.

We’ve been lucky to have our entire team together not once but twice in pre-season events. First, at a fantastic team development day hosted by our wonderful partners at Hilton Garden Inn Silverstone, where we had some fascinating inputs from leadership development experts Fieri, and media training from our very own Lucy. Then it was a whole day in front of the camera with our pre-season photo shoot, masterfully executed by driver Chris Overend and some of his Solent University students. We’re very lucky to have such diverse talent in the team. Read more about both of these events in this edition.

I hope to see many of you trackside this season, in what will once again be our biggest year yet. Thank you as ever for your continued belief and support as we continue our mission to revolutionise motorsport.

Let’s go Racing.

DAVE PLAYER

THE CLASS OF 2023

PICTURE PERFECT WINTER TESTING

In mid-February, the team travelled out to Portimão in Portugal for the second year in a row, to carry out winter testing on our two Mclaren GT4s.

Page 14

THE NEW CREW ON THE BLOCK

It’s all change at Team BRIT Headquarters as we welcome two new crew members to the workshop. Find out about the new crew members for 2023.

Page 18

PAUL’S UKRAINE DIARY

In January, Team BRIT driver Paul Fullick returned to Ukraine with his charity ‘Ukraine Sunflower Aid’ to deliver crucial aid...

Page 22

PLUS:

SPONSOR FOCUS: RS

Following sponsorship of Team BRIT in 2022, RS decided to continue this support for the next three years.

Page 29

TEAM LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

INTRODUCING OUR ROOKIES

AUTOSPORT 2023

JOIN US TRACKSIDE IN STYLE

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

ROOKIE TO RACING DRIVER PROGRAMME

Page 7

Page 8

Page 10

Page 17

Page 25

Page 26

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH ASHA SILVA Page 28

Team BRIT Founder

Pages 4 & 5

RACING LET’S GO

Once again, the team faces its ‘biggest ever year’ with the onset of the 2023 season.

From humble beginnings with 1 car and 2 drivers in 2015, this year sees the team field ten drivers, driving four cars across four championships.

The addition of the C1 series this year has added a new ‘entry level’ race offering for the newest rookies to the team. The four-hour races provide the perfect way for drivers new to the sport to gain experience and confidence, whilst also taking part in a competitive championship.

Also featuring this year will be six experienced drivers, each looking to build on their performance and experiences to date, taking on a bigger and more challenging racing season than in 2022.

Bolstering this ambitious plan for the year is a team of mechanics and engineers, plus a partner crew running our C1 entry.

Turn over for more details on the class of 2023.

THE CLASS OF 2023

CITROËN C1 | C1 CHAMPIONSHIP

STEVE CROMPTON, ASHA SILVA,

YVONNE HOUFELAAR & NOAH COSBY

A completely new line up for 2023, these rookies will be enjoying their first full season with the team. This low-cost endurance racing series sees standard, first generation Citroen C1s race in a tightly controlled championship.

BMW M240i | BRITCAR TROPHY

PAUL FULLICK & TYRONE MATHURIN

Paul and Tee had their debut season with the team in 2022, and didn’t have the best of luck with technical problems blighting their season. In true Team BRIT style, they kept positive and gained some vital track time and experience at the start and end of the season. This year they move up to the more powerful BMW M240i, and will be looking to make their mark and challenge for podiums.

McLAREN 570S GT4 | BRITISH ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

CHRIS OVEREND & JAMES WHITLEY

Chris and James had the best possible season last year, culminating in them winning the Britcar Trophy and making history as the first ever disabled team to win a national championship. This year sees them step up to the British Endurance Championship, driving the newest addition to our fleet, our second McLaren 570S GT4.

McLAREN 570S GT4 | BRITISH GT

AARON MORGAN & BOBBY TRUNDLEY

Bobby & Aaron return to the British GT Championship for the second year, following their P2 Pro-Am finish in 2022. It will be a tough season, with all other Mclaren teams driving the newer Artura, but they’ll be giving everything to battle for class and wider GT4 podiums, building on their experience from last year.

the perfect partnership: Team BRIT & Brit Insurance

In late 2016, we saw one of Team BRIT’s drivers interviewed on TV. Their ambition, passion – and of course the Brit name – resonated strongly with us. A few months later, we launched our multi-year partnership with Team BRIT; not just to provide funding, but also to give our employees the chance to get to know the team and get involved.

The business behind the logo Brit is a global specialty insurance company. We are a leading syndicate of Lloyd’s of London, the world’s oldest specialist insurance market. Combining technical expertise with industry knowledge, we create bestin-class insurance solutions that help people and businesses face the future and thrive.

Redefining what’s possible

Like Team BRIT, our collaborative culture embraces difference. It empowers and enables talented individuals, whatever their background, to deliver outstanding results. We’re committed to growing the skills of every single employee; helping them fulfil their potential in a supportive, respectful and inclusive work environment.

Driven to succeed

Both our organisations share the passion and pride that go with working as a team towards a common goal. Our partnership with Team BRIT continues to be as exhilarating and rewarding as ever. We look forward to being part of its continued success.

To find out more about us visit: britinsurance.com and Linkedin

ork doesn’t stop in the off-season, and we’re constantly looking for ways to grow and develop as a team.

TEAM LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT W

As we get bigger and our goals get more challenging, every person needs to up their game and give their all to help us move forward.

Development doesn’t just happen on the track. We need our drivers, crew and management to perform to their best in every way, so we set up a team development event in February, aimed at bringing everyone together for a unique day of learning.

For two days, we were based at the stunning Hilton Garden Inn at Silverstone, an incredible new property set right on the iconic track, with bedroom views overlooking the straight. The hotel joined us as a partner last year and is supporting us by providing hospitality and accommodation throughout the year.

Also providing extremely valuable services were a team from Fieri Leadership – experts in learning and development, with years of expertise in F1. They helped us consider our team’s vision and mission, and how everyone can play a part in delivering this.

From wood chopping ice breakers to mind boggling missions, the day stretched the team and made everyone think in entirely new ways.

On day two, Team PR Manager Lucy Sheehan led a morning of practical media training, sharing hints and tips on how best to deliver your message in an interview situation.

Team Commercial Manager Mike Scudamore explains: “This was a fantastic couple of days, which really took people out of their comfort zone and made us all think differently about our influence and impact on the team.

“It’s very rare that we all come together apart from on the race track, so some of our drivers and crew can often feel that they don’t have an impact on the wider team, day to day. This couldn’t be further from the truth, every one of us plays our part, and Fieri’s training helped us all understand this, along with strategies to help us each further support the team’s goals. A huge thank you to Al Peasland and his team for delivering a fun, challenging and extremely worthwhile day of learning.”

www.fierileadership.com

www.linkedin.com/in/alpeasland

INTRODUCING OUR ROOKIES

2023 sees a new line up of drivers, entering an entirely new championship. Our rookies will compete in the Silverlake C1 Endurance Championship and we have some new faces joining the ranks. Here’s more on the newest additions to the Team BRIT family.

ASHA SILVA

Age: 39

Disability: Autism and ADHD

Asha Silva from Barton Seagrave was diagnosed with adult autism and ADHD a year ago, and hopes that her story will encourage others to seek help and understand the battles they face, whilst also encouraging more women into the sport.

Asha began to realise she may need support with her mental health after going through conflict with her family and temporarily losing contact with them. She has also always struggled with traditional communications, making day to day working life difficult.

In 2021, Asha’s wife Anji, who has multiple sclerosis joined Team BRIT. The IVF treatment she is undergoing, and the treatment for her condition meant she needed to pause her racing plans, whilst Asha steps into the driving seat.

Asha said: “To be honest, it feel like a dream that this is happening. I am a real believer that if you think big, anything can happen, and life has a funny way of making things happen if you believe.

“I’ve faced many battles throughout life, as a gay woman, and also as a woman working in a maledominated industry. I know that I will be in the minority in the racing paddock too, but I’m proud to be doing what I am. If I can inspire other women to get into a sport such as this, or to inspire someone who might think they could have a hidden disability to get some help, then that makes me really happy.”

STEVE CROMPTON

Age:45

Disability: Paraplegic

Steve, from Southampton, sustained life changing injuries in 1998 when he was in the back seat of a car that was hit by another vehicle and veered off the road after hitting black ice. He was operated on, with metal put into his spine, and after two weeks he was transferred to Odstock Spinal Unit in Salisbury Hospital where he spent nine months working on his rehabilitation and recovery.

Despite the accident, Steve soon got back into his passion – driving. He converted a car with the adaptations he needed and had it shipped to America to take part in the Gumball Rally, driving from New York to Los Angeles. He went on to take part in the race 4 years in a row. He also went on to play wheelchair tennis for more than ten years.

Steve said: “Being a racing driver has been my lifetime dream since I was 6 years old. After my accident, I thought it was game over, and that the opportunities to compete in motorsport just wouldn’t be there.

“To finally have the chance to compete in the sport I love is just amazing. My ultimate dream is to be racing a GT3 car, so I want to continue to learn and improve with the team with the goal of joining them in Le Mans.”

NOAH COSBY

Age: 18

Disability: Paraplegic

Noah Cosby, from Heathencote was a motocross free rider for years, and was set to move to the USA to pursue a professional career in the sport. In 2020, he overshot a jump, landing flat and breaking his back, paralysing him from the ribs down. An art scholar, he returned to school to finish his A Levels, receiving 100% for his final piece – an incredible life size sculpture of his legs after his injury. His sculpture has been entered into consideration to be displayed at the Royal Academy of Art this Summer.

He says: “I’m really excited about the season ahead. I’ve always loved cars but with my passion for skateboarding then motocross, car racing was never part of my plan. I’ve already got back into sport since my injury and in November won a downhill mountain bike race on an adapted hand cycle. Even that felt so good – I enjoy being out of my comfort zone and pushing myself hard.

“Being given this chance has given me lot of the confidence I had lost back. I’m not like I was before the accident. I was always proud of my physicality, my strength and my fitness. Not being able to do the things I loved with my friends has been really hard, but now knowing I can compete in this way makes me feel more whole again.”

YVONNE HOUFELAAR

Age: 30

Disability: Scoliosis

Yvonne, who is from Rotterdam was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of five, which had a major impact on her racing dreams. A long-term fan of motorsport, Yvonne was kart racing from the age of 7, despite having to wear a brace to straighten her spine. When she was 13, Yvonne had surgery on her spine, which meant she lost some of the feeling in her legs, making her less able to compete at the level she was aiming for. She continued racing for some time, securing her race licence at the age of 15, before stopping due to the limitations of her condition. Yvonne then looked for alternatives and discovered the world of esports. She has been racing online since the age of 22, and began working with Team BRIT, managing eTeam BRIT, in 2021.

Yvonne explains: “I have had a huge passion for racing since I was a little girl. Having been forced to stop competing due to my condition, it has always been my dream to go back into a racing car. I stopped racing because the technology wasn’t available to enable me to compete in the way I wanted. Team BRIT’s solution is incredible, it’s a fantastic system and a real enabler. I want to use this to become as competitive as I’ve always hoped.”

AUTOSPORT 2023

In February, we were lucky to be invited to the Autosport Show by our sponsors, Clerksroom.

For two days, we joined Stephen Ward and his colleagues on their stand promoting their motorsport legal services, and meeting visitors to the show.

The drivers also met

A huge thank you to Stephen and all at Clerksroom for the fantastic opportunity!

Drivers Bobby Trundley, Chris Overend and Tyrone Mathurin each spent time on the stand, welcoming people on to our simulator and showing them around our championship-winning BMW M240i, complete with the 2022 Britcar Championship trophy.

some famous faces, chatting with pro drivers including Matt Neil, Gordon Shedden and Jade Edwards.

NEW DROP! MERCH

The 2023 Team BRIT merchandise range is now available to buy online. Visit www.teambrit.co.uk/shop to get your hands on this epic teamwear!

OFFICIAL 2023 TEAMWEAR

TEAMBRIT.CO.UK/SHOP

PICTURE PERFECT WINTER TESTING IN PORTIMÃO

In mid-February, the team travelled out to Portimão in Portugal for the second year in a row, to carry out winter testing on our two Mclaren GT4s.

Taking charge of the most important job of the week was Team Truckie Rob Willshire, who drove the team’s prized Mclarens more than 1500 miles from their home in Dunsfold, Surrey to the Algarve in our brand new trailer.

The test event, run by Black Falcon Motorsport, sees teams from all over the world arriving at the iconic Autodromo Internacional Algarve for the opportunity to test on the stunning track in perfect conditions with very few other cars on the track.

Engineering Director Al Locke took crew members JJ, Drew, Brandon and Charlie for three days of continuous testing. Monday and Tuesday were all about set up, preparing the garage to simulate real race conditions.

Drivers Chris Overend and James Whitley were first on track on Wednesday and Thursday, experiencing driving their Mclaren for the first time, gaining valuable track time ahead of their debut entry in the British Endurance Championship.

On Friday, Bobby Trundley returned to the Portuguese track for the second consecutive year, but was sadly unable to drive his McLaren for long before an engine fault ended his time on track. Thankfully, with another McLaren on board, he switched over and continued with his testing, even taking some special VIP guests out for a spin.

With two new crew members, the test was as important for the crew as it was for the drivers. Mechanics Drew and Brandon are entirely new to racing, so spent time learning the set up of the cars, how to master pit stops and the regulations of each championship.

Al Locke explains: “Winter testing is now a key part of our calendar. Preparation is a critical part of racing, and with so many factors impacting on a car’s performance, gathering data and feedback in conditions similar to those we can expect in the UK from May onwards is so important.

“By travelling to a warmer climate, we can analyse how the car will perform in mild, dry temperatures. It’s also a chance for us to drive on a quiet track, without the busy distractions of a race, so that drivers can get to grips with a car, we can perfect our set ups, and the crew can carry out real-time race simulations.

“Overall it was a massive success. Chris and James took to driving the McLaren fantastically well and it was a vital learning opportunity for the crew. It was a shame that Bobby didn’t get much time in the car he’ll be racing, but we quickly got him back out in the BEC car so he spent an entire day on one of the best tracks in Europe.”

“Overall it was a massive success. Chris and James took to driving the McLaren fantastically well and it was a vital learning opportunity for the crew.”

For those who don’t want to be seen wearing the emperor’s new clothes

We love quality watches – so much so that in 2004 we started making our own. Combining award-winning English design with the finest Swiss watchmaking skills, and concentrating on craftsmanship rather than salesmanship, we’ve created watches that are the equal (or better than) the world’s most celebrated brands in every respect. Apart from price. The C1 Moonglow is one such watch. Do your research.

christopherward.com

JOIN US TRACKSIDE IN STYLE

We can’t wait to welcome fans, guests and sponsors to our races this season.

We’re offering official Team BRIT partners a selection of premium events, giving you access to the best possible experience in the most exclusive venues across British GT, The British Endurance Championship and the Britcar Trophy.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

All Team BRIT hospitality packages include the following as standard:

• Unbeatable venue locations with views of the circuit

• Parking a short walk from the circuit

• A knowledgeable team host

• VIP accreditation and lanyard

• Shared race day programmes if published

• Guided tours of the pits and paddock

• Chances to meet the drivers with Q&A

• Quality food and drinks (package varies by event)

• Cash bar

HOSPITALITY OPTIONS 2023

Sunday 7 th May

Team Commercial Director Mike Scudamore said: “Raceday hospitality is a great day out for friends, family, clients and employees, in relaxed settings with stunning circuit views, whatever the weather!

“There is plenty to keep everyone entertained whether you are 8 or 80. The highlight for me is showing the guests around the garage and explaining how our hand controls work, which allow our drivers to compete with able bodied competitors.

“Due to it being a full day experience there is no rush to arrive at a certain time or expectation to stay, just come when works for you. A relaxed environment always leads to more productive networking too. A compliance-friendly price point also ensures maximum chances of guest acceptance and attendance. I look forward to welcoming you trackside this season.”

For more information and to book, email mike@teambrit.co.uk.

Sunday 23 rd July

Sunday 10 th September

Brooklands Suite

Pit Lane Suites

MSV Centre

THE NEW CREW ON THE BLOCK

It’s all change at Team BRIT Headquarters as we welcome two new crew members to the workshop. Former crew members Raquel Esteban and Dean Roberts have moved on to exciting new roles, taking big steps up in their racing careers.

Last month, Al and JJ welcomed Drew Kershaw and Brandon Souter to the team, taking on full-time roles as mechanics. It was a fast-paced start to the job, joining as Al and JJ worked at a furious pace to prepare for winter testing in Portugal and to ensure the team’s new C1 was race fit and ready for the start of the Silverlake C1 Endurance Championship.

So who are the current faces at Team BRIT HQ?

AL LOCKE ENGINEERING DIRECTOR

Age: 39

Hometown: Angmering, West Sussex

Previous roles: Working on karts, single seaters, saloons, GT cars

Why you joined Team BRIT: I joined to have the opportunity to combine my passions for innovative engineering and motorsport, with the added reward of working towards a level playing field for all competitors.

Best thing about the job: The team! The mix of fantastic characters all pulling together, from crew to drivers to sponsors; it’s more like being part of a family than having a job.

Predictions for the year ahead: I think we’ll see a solid championship finish for Aaron and Bob in British GT while they continue to hone their craft at the highest level in the UK, continued trophy collecting for James and Chris in their big step up to GT4, and a well-earned payoff with regular silverware for Tee and Chris after their commitment last year to learning fast - something they’ll be looking to do again this season as they tame the mighty M240i.

The rookies have already shown great promise in the C1, they’re in the perfect position to learn racecraft from the bottom up, and I’ve no doubt they’ll be looking to eye up some podiums towards the end of the season. Along with our championship campaigns, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to get a few other unique events in the diary for later in the year...watch this space, it’s already shaping up to be our most exciting season to date!

ANDREW KERSHAW #2 MECHANIC

Age: 24

Hometown: Ashington, West Sussex

Previous roles: I spent just over 5 years at Ricardo UK, working in a high performance engine manufacturing facility, supplying engines to McLaren Automotive. I started as an apprentice and worked my way up to a Project Engineer before moving to Team BRIT.

Why you joined Team BRIT: I joined Team BRIT to start my career in motorsport. I have wanted to work in motor racing for as long as I can remember. After getting a good mechanical background both in a professional environment and via my hobbies I was looking for any opportunity to move into any role at a race team. Team BRIT had an opening for someone with little to no motorsport experience which sounded perfect, after reading about their goals and ambitions it looked like the perfect opportunity to live my dream and help others live theirs.

Best thing about the job: My favourite part of the job is the satisfaction of watching a car that we’ve put a lot of hard work and effort into being absolutely smashed around at track. Nothing better than seeing a race car on the limit!

Predictions for the year ahead: This year is going to be a steep learning curve for me personally, being new to the motorsport scene. But I’d like to think we can get another Britcar Championship win.

JOSH ‘JJ’ SPENCER CHIEF MECHANIC

Age: 26

Hometown: Ashington, West Sussex

Previous roles: I was an assistant manager at a Fast-Fit centre

Why you joined Team BRIT: I was really keen to move into the motorsport industry and the team offered such a unique opportunity. It’s a team like no other and I really wanted to join the mission to give people the chance to access racing, who may never have had this before.

Best thing about the job: The fast pace, the variety, the people. It’s really hard work with long hours and big challenges, but I love it. Seeing the hard work pay off with drivers who love what they’re doing is just brilliant.

Predictions for the year ahead: I’ve got really high hopes for Chris and James as they step up to GT4 racing. They were such a powerful pair last year and I think they can put in a really impressive performance again this year. Bob and Aaron will be building on last year’s experience and I think they’ll do well in class, and Tee and Paul deserve a fantastic year after their bad luck in 2022. The rookies are also set to have a brilliant first year in the C1.

BRANDON SOUTER #2 MECHANIC

Age: 24

Hometown: Worthing

Previous roles: I started my career working on go-karts – I just work on bigger ones now!

Why you joined Team BRIT: I joined Team Brit because I love the passion of the team, and the mission to be the first all-disabled team to reach Le Mans. I’m loving being a part of that journey.

Best thing about the job: The best part of the job is helping the drivers achieve success. It’s the most rewarding feeling seeing them progress and put in great performances.

Predictions for the year ahead: I expect this year we’ll challenge for the top spot in class in the British GT Championship. We’ll also be looking for many podiums in Britcar and BEC. I expect I’ll be putting up more shelves to hold more trophies!

PAUL’S UKRAINE DIARY

In January, Team BRIT driver Paul Fullick returned to Ukraine with his charity ‘Ukraine Sunflower Aid’ to deliver crucial aid. He talks us through the trip, why he supports this crucial work and his plans for the future.

Our January trip had four main objectives:

1. Deliver aid to the Orphanage that we support in Lviv. Toys and supplies were collected in London from ‘The White Eagle appeal’ which is a charity that we work closely with.

2. Deliver medical supplies for the main hospital in Kiev. We collect them from ‘British Ukraine Aid’, a charity that specifically collects medical aid, and we deliver them to places such as the hospital in Kiev. This time we were also able to donate one of the Draper generators, donated via Team BRIT.

3. Meet with other charities. This is part of almost every trip and it’s a way for us to assess who needs what aid and to ensure we know exactly where our aid is destined for.

4. Combine aid that is partly from the UK, including that donated by Team BRIT partners CDW, Draper and Adrian Flux, and partly from stocks in Western Ukraine, then deliver it to the Eastern fronts where the largest number of displaced people are. On this trip, I teamed up with ‘Siobahn’s Trust’ who travel around a number of sites in eastern Ukraine cooking pizza for people who are left in these regions. They provide an extremely popular and needed service to these areas, and they are supported by the local Ukrainian security and police services. This gives us an ideal base to attach onto to and hand out aid in an organised and secure manner.

The aid we delivered this time was a mixture of medical supplies, generators and front line aid. The medical aid is always our priority, and any space we have left is filled with front line aid. The generators are increasingly important as the power network is a constant target and power outages are common. This leaves people with no heat or light and during winter it’s not uncommon for the temperature to reach well below zero. While this affects everyone in Ukraine, people in the eastern regions are generally the ones who can’t leave for specific reasons. Some will be too elderly or sick, others have stayed to look after them.

The environment we see is one of hardship and heartbreak.  I’ve not met a single person that is unaffected by the situation: most of them have lost someone, or something. Many are missing limbs, and whilst I can relate to this, I find it extremely hard to imagine what it’s like to lose an arm or a leg in the middle of a world falling apart around you. Despite this, almost every encounter I have ends in the same parting words“Slava Ukraine”. It is a phrase coined back from the war of independence in the 1920s and means ‘Glory to Ukraine’. I’ve started to understand the mindset of the people here: they have a blitz-type spirit and will not accept anything less than victory. I find it admirable, relatable and commendable in the face of such adversity. In any conflict, the moral of the fighting forces and the people they are defending is a force multiplier. You can do more with less, if your heart is in it. The people of Ukraine are steadfast in their ability to succeed, even if there isn’t a clear vision of what victory looks like. You might get a different answer depending on who you ask, but still- victory none the less.

Looking ahead, our priority is our application to become an official charity. When we started, we were just a bunch of people who met in a pub and started taking aid to Ukraine. It was somewhat ad hoc, but it worked out and part of our success was our ability to react quickly to the needs on the ground. As we have grown and settled, we’ve had time to take stock and get our house in order: our application to gain charity status is the accumulation of this effort. Secondly, we are in talks with DAF trucks who are interested in supporting us as we are looking into the possibility of using one of their trucks to upscale our operations significantly and reducing our operating costs. Diesel isn’t getting any cheaper!

We’ve accomplished a lot as a small charity, but we have so much more to do. The aid that we bring to these people is important from a supply point of view, but it’s also essential to show them they are not forgotten. As many of them often tell us, they think no one cares and they are always delighted to see that someone has travelled so far to visit and help them. To us, they will certainly never be forgotten.

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

A huge part of Team BRIT’s work is inspiring others to try new things, think big and chase dreams. Back in January, team drivers Paul Fullick and Chris Overend spent an evening with students from Southampton University, sharing the story of the team, but also getting to the nitty gritty of our tech and engineering innovations that enable the team to race.

Chris is a technical instructor of photography at nearby Solent University, and ‘Team Southampton Motorsport’ students got in touch with him to ask for an input on the tech behind the team.

Chris and Paul spent the evening explaining how the team’s hand controls have led to a truly level playing field for our drivers, how the innovation has been developed in recent years, and how the two of them have assisted in the development of bespoke set ups for individual drivers through 3D-print protoyping and through developing sim hand controls

Chris explains: “It’s probably one of the best bits about our team when we get to speak to other people who are then inspired to follow a new journey.

“Whether that’s young people who come to see us at our races, or inspiring engineers who begin to think up new possibilities when they see what we’re doing – that’s a real privilege.

“Some of the students at Southampton University’s ‘Team Southampton Motorsport’ got in touch to learn more about what we do at Team BRIT and we couldn’t wait to meet them. After telling them what we do and why, they were so engaged and full of questions, it was great to see their imaginations firing once they understood what our tech had enabled. I hope we left them inspired and motivated to get out into motorsport and challenge the norm.”

ROOKIE TO RACING DRIVER PROGRAMME

New for 2023, Team BRIT is launching a new ‘rookie to racing driver’ programme to support disabled drivers with their racing goals.

Since 2019, the team has offered racing academy experiences to disabled drivers looking to experience the thrill of the race track with the assistance of the team’s hand control technology and professional coaching support.

The academy, which charges clients for attending track days, is now being paused, with clients being directed to charities ‘Spinal Track’ and ‘Limitless Racing’ – charities that are able to offer similar experiences free of charge.

The Team BRIT ‘rookie to racing driver’ programme offers tailored support to disabled drivers looking to progress into racing. Services include:

• Bespoke coaching

• Support to pass an ARDS test

• Advice around MSUK medical requirements

• Guidance around technical adaptations with the option to use the team’s technology

• The option to hire full crew services and Team BRIT’s BMW 1 series

Team Founder Dave Player explains: “For years we have enjoyed offering track day experiences to disabled clients looking to have a fantastic day of driving on an iconic racing circuit, supported by our technology and expertise.

“As we continue to grow and focus on our racing progress, we have had to move away from this arm of our work, and instead recommend the fantastic experiences offered by charities ‘Spinal Track’ and ‘Limitless Racing’. These organisations are run by teams who can provide these opportunities for free.

“Instead, we want to provide consultancy-style support for people who want to race on their own or as part of their own teams. We have years of experience in helping people towards these goals and can tailor packages based around individual requirements. Some people need help with bespoke coaching, others need guidance to navigate the MSUK process of achieving an ARDS licence as a disabled driver. We can then also offer a full crew service for anyone with their own car, or a crew and a car if required.

“We hope this flexible offering will be exactly what some of our clients need to achieve their own racing goals, whilst benefiting from the skill, passion and expertise of our team.”

FIVE QUESTIONS

WITH TEAM BRIT ROOKIE ASHA

SILVA

Asha has started her 2023 season – her first ever year of racing. We shot over some quick fire questions to find out a bit more about the newest woman in the TB family.

How did it feel to race for the first time at Silverstone in March?

To be honest it was very scary as it was my first race ever! But it was also exhilarating, it felt like a dream! I definitely started to physically feel the heat while racing in the car, despite it being cold outside, your body cooks up a sweat!

What do you think you’ll be focussing on most in terms of your driver development?

I feel like I’ll need to build on my confidence with holding my place on the track. I’ll also be taking lots in from the coach in regards to the racing line for best entrance and exit speeds. The entire grid is competing in the same car, so we need to really squeeze out my potential.

Your team is 50% female – how does it feel to be part of such a diverse team in a male-dominated paddock?

I’m very pleased to be part of a 50% female team, it just shows the world that this sport isn’t something only men can do! It should also be a sign to other women out there to get stuck in – if this is something they want to do, don’t shy away from it!

How is the dynamic in the new C1 team?

We have a fantastic team, with great comradery! We have people from all different walks of life, and the team isn’t just the drivers, it’s made up of the engineer and the coach within the C1 team - without them all, we wouldn’t be where we are. By sharing information when we drive and learn about the car, we create some great connections between driver, coach and engineer. That aside, the C1 team as a whole is close knit and we all want the absolute best for one another. At the end of the day we are a team, so if one wins we all win!

What are your predictions for the 2023 season?

It’s very early in the series to say, but the Mac Tools team have really pulled it out of the bag in the 1st race. There are a number of teams that won’t be running the full series, so it’s anyone’s game, including ours! We’ve just started out and this is our time to learn, create a baseline and give it everything we’ve got.

SPONSOR FOCUS:

Following sponsorship of Team BRIT in 2022, RS decided to continue this support for the next three years. Building on the successes of 2022 is key for the team, and RS is committed to helping this mission and aiding increased access to motorsport.

The innovation underpinning Team BRIT in its development of cars with controls that allow disabled drivers to race on a level playing field with other competitors, is synergistic with RS’ commitment to supporting innovation in engineering. It particularly piqued the interest of RS because of the use of RS components in the world-leading hand controls that facilitate driving equality for Team BRIT’s drivers.

Alongside financial support, RS provides access to components like connectors and electronic products for hand controls. This year, RS has also provided a rapid prototyping machine (3D printer) so the team can design and test parts, which offers a fast route to test and development to enable to team to stay at the forefront of engineering and have the tools to compete at its best. And as RS offers a range of 80,000 quality products under its own RS PRO brand – all quality and performance tested and developed with sustainability in mind – there is no shortage of solutions to help the team reach its goals.

RS also invited Team BRIT to exhibit at the recent RS Connect event in Telford: a trade show event with industry networking attended by more than 75 industrial product manufacturers sharing information on the latest product and technology developments.

The two-day event saw Team BRIT’s Commercial Director, Mike Scudamore, and rookie driver, Steve Crompton, host one of the seminar sessions for visitors. RS hopes this kind of partnership working will open further doors to support for Team BRIT, as well as introduce the team to potential new technology developments.

Team BRIT has exciting times ahead, having added a new championship to provide an entry-level offering for rookie drivers and with the addition of four new team drivers. But there will be challenges and RS hopes the support, components and technology it supplies will go some way to helping the team overcome these and achieve continued success throughout 2023.

More information about RS and its products and solutions for innovation in technology can be found at: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/content/m/practical-prototyping?intcmp=UK-WEB-_-HP-HB2-_-Mar-23-_-PP

AT TEAM BRIT HQ

Book a track experience at Team BRIT HQ. Each half-day session for up to 10 guests includes:

• Tour of the facilities

• Time on our Vesaro simulator

• Helmets and driving tuition

• Hot laps in our GT4 McLaren

• The chance to drive the iconic Top Gear Track in our VW Polo academy car

• Video footage and still photography

£350+VAT per person

Exclusive and shared sessions available

Email info@teambrit.co.uk for available dates and package options including catering