Team BRIT eZine: Issue 14, Summer 2024 by Team BRIT

THE WORD FROM...

This is the first time I’ve been the author of our regular ‘word from HQ’ ezine intro. Earlier this year we said goodbye to Dave Player, who decided to move on from his role as team principal, having led the team since 2015.

At the time of his announcement, Dave shared his thoughts on his time working within the motorsport sector. We remain indebted to him for the incredible impact he has made in the world of disability motorsport and for everything he achieved in the role.

I’m delighted to take on the role of team principal following Dave’s departure. Having been part of the team almost since its inception, I’ve been lucky to be part of all the ups, downs, highs, lows and everything in between, and its not just a job for me, it’s a passion. I’m excited to work with the rest of the team and crew to drive us forward into the next stage of our journey.

Al, Lucy and I have been working hard progressing a range of projects, sponsor activations and of course, race preparation.

We’ve enjoyed some incredible success on the track, with silverware at Donington, Snetterton and Silverstone. It was a blow to have to withdraw from our entry at Oulton Park as we battle with budgets, but we’re doing everything we can to enhance our income following unforeseen costs, and get us back out on track and winning races.

It’s been a pleasure to welcome some community groups to our HQ in recent weeks, we’re always delighted to show others everything we’re doing to improve accessibility in racing and to create opportunities for our drivers. The positive reaction we receive from any visits to HQ always reminds us how lucky we are to be part of such an incredible project.

In this edition you’ll also read about some exciting new young drivers that have been introduced to us and who already have the racing bug! And you’ll hear about our travels all over the country meeting the staff, clients and customers of our fantastic sponsors.

I hope you find this ezine an interesting read. Thank you as ever for your continued interest in and support of our team, we hope to see you trackside soon.

PAUL RETURNS TO UKRAINE

Delivering critical goods with the help of the Motability scheme.

Page 12

MEET THE COACH: MICHAEL BROADHURST

Since 2023, our drivers have benefited from the expertise and experience of racing coach, Michael Broadhurst.

Page 18

KARTING FUN AT DAYTONA

We give community groups a ‘behind the scenes’ look at all things Team BRIT.

Page 14

ON THE ROAD WITH OUR SPONSORS

Being a Team BRIT sponsor isn’t just about having a sticker on the car or securing some hospitality tickets...

Page 24

BEHIND THE SCENES AT TBHQ Team

Page 07

DRIVER SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAMME LAUNCHES Page 17

BESPOKE SOLUTIONS

Page 22

ADAPTING OUR HQ FOR TOTAL INCLUSIVITY Page 27

UPPING OUR GAME WITH BLAZEPOD Page 28

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH PETER MARKWICK Page 29

ROUNDUP SEASON

O SO FAR

ur 2024 season is well and truly underway and we’ve enjoyed some incredible successes, with the occasional ‘typically motorsport’ lows.

With new drivers, new pairings, new cars for our drivers and a host of new supporters, we knew this year would be epic and so far it hasn’t disappointed.

Focusing our race strategy here in the UK, across two championships held on the same weekend, has let us bring our crew and wider team together throughout, maximising efficiency and enabling our drivers to support one another.

Let’s look at the picture so far….

SEASON ROUND UP SO FAR

ROUND 1 MARCH DONINGTON

Aaron and Paul could not have started any stronger, with an epic qualifying session placing them 1st in class and 5th overall.

They took this pace into the race and were dominating until a brake failure in the closing stages denied Paul from securing the P1 finish that was well and truly in sight. A P4 finish.

Asha and Noah also set out in the best way possible, securing impressive lap times in qualifying, finishing P2.

The pair saw a challenging start to race 1, with engine issues causing problems which the crew worked hard to diagnose. A temporary solution was put in place, resulting in reduced engine performance.

In race 2, Asha went out first, giving it her all and trying to make up for the reduced performance of the car. She handed over to Noah who took full advantage of an excellent pitstop and brought it home in P2.

It was a frustrating start for Caleb and Dom, with an error from Dom in qualifying causing damage to the front suspension. The crew did what they do best and prepared the car in record time to get them ready to race.

Caleb was first out and showcased his years of karting experience, making up two places and reaching P2 in class before a safety car was called. A long stop in a driver change pushed us back, but Dom did all he could to bring them back up the grid. Sadly, he went off-track in the closing stages of the race, requiring a pit stop to rectify the fault and placing them 4th in class.

ROUND 2

APRIL SNETTERTON

Once again, Aaron and Paul delivered the goods in qualifying, putting our McLaren in P1 for the start of the race.

Aaron was first out and his flying progress was stalled due to a safety car, which forced a mandatory pit-stop. Paul then took over, rejoining the track in P2. The car ahead were still due a pit-stop, so Paul was able to capitalise on this, storming ahead to a P1 finish!

Asha and Noah repeated their P2 finish in qualifying, before Asha took the first of the race stints. She had a superb start, overtaking and stealing P1 on the first lap. She defended her position expertly for the majority of her stint before losing the position narrowly. A faultless pit-stop then sent Noah out for the second half of the race in P1, a position he held, taking them to their first ever P1 finish!

In race 2, Noah was first out, clocking some epic lap times before handing over to Asha. She kept the pace until the final moments where she was overtaken by the Audi in our class. On the last lap, she had the pace to catch them and re-take P1, but a puncture robbed her of the chance, meaning a P2 finish.

Caleb drove solo for this round, and narrowly missed out on P3 in qualifying. Starting mid-pack, he showed fantastic consistency and focus. A mid-way, impeccable pit-stop at just 0.2 seconds over the minimum pit time, saw him leapfrog to P1. Caleb kept up the pace until a technical issue called for an unscheduled pitstop. The crew dealt with it in moments, sending him back on track where he finished P5.

In race 2, he was fired up to fight for the position we all know he can get. After his mandatory pit-stop, he rejoined the track first in class but had to serve a stop-go penalty for a short pit-stop.

He battled on, re-joining 3rd in class and showed fantastic development in the car, holding his position until the chequered flag.

ROUND 3

BRANDS HATCH

MAY

It was just the BMWs out at Brands Hatch, with no racing for Paul and Aaron in the McLaren this time.

Asha and Noah secured the P2 spot in qualifying once again, but race 1 didn’t go to plan. A mechanical fault meant they finished 4th in class.

This fired up the pair for a strong performance in race 2. Noah started the race, safely avoiding an incident on track and overtaking only 7 minutes into the race. He came into pit under the safety car to saves as much time as possible and to swap with Asha, also allowing for a re-fuel. Asha then gave it everything to retain their position, bringing them home P2 in class.

Caleb was joined by the legendary Bobby Trundley for this round, who set the pace in qualifying, setting them up in P2 for race 1. Due to the balance of performance, we had a 20 second longer pit-stop than the Ginettas in our class, meaning our crew and drivers had to work with exceptional focus to offset the time.

Bobby looked as strong as ever, pushing forward to P1 before a safety car halted our lead, bunching the field and eliminating the gap. Shortly after the re-start, another safety car was brought out ahead of the driver change. Caleb immediately tried to pull back our position from those who had leapfrogged us during the pit-stop, doing brilliantly to get back to P1 before an engine issue forced us to retire early.

In race 2, the pair were determined to secure the success they deserved. Caleb started the race, clocking some fantastic times before handing over to Bobby under the safety car. Leaving the pits, he was first in class before an engine issue forced a pit-stop, halting their chances once again, and finishing P3.

ROUND 4

SILVERSTONE

JUNE

It was all change at Silverstone with both our McLarens heading out together for the first time this year.

Aaron and Paul delivered the perfect qualifying session, putting them first in class and pole overall, meaning our first ever ‘front of the grid’ start.

Aaron was first out for the team, battling with the most extreme weather of every kind. As it poured in the pit-lane, other parts of the track were rain-free, making tyre strategy difficult. Aaron handed over to Paul who continued with Aaron’s fantastic pace. Ultimately, our tyre strategy didn’t pay off, meaning we didn’t quite take the win we were hoping for. A fantastic P2 in class at the end of the race.

In our second McLaren, Bobby Trundley was joined by personal sponsor Charles Graham of Daytona Motorsport. The pair finished P4 in class during qualifying. Charles then started the race, quickly taking them up to P4 overall, but also battling with the unpredictable weather.

Bobby then took over, doing fantastically well to keep up the pace, before finishing the race 4th in class.

Bobby was then back out with Caleb in the BMW 1 series on Sunday, securing the pair P1 in qualifying.

Bobby was first out in race 1, pulling a great lead straight away. Unfortunately we missed the pit window by 4 seconds, resulting in a stop-go penalty. Despite this, Caleb shot out, fought hard, and secured the pair’s well deserved P1!

In race 2, Caleb started the race in P2, but once again missed the pit window, resulting in a penalty. After the driver change, Bob’s experience shone though as he battled on to bring them home P2.

It was a frustrating first race for Noah and Asha after a promising P1 start. Noah was first out and dropped down to P2 after a first lap battle. He then picked up a puncture, causing us to miss the pit window by 3 seconds. Asha pushed on regardless, finishing second in class.

In race 2, Asha started fantastically, reaching first in class and 5th overall, Noah took over and was pushing on well before a power issue brought them back into the pits. Noah tried to gain as much back as possible, but couldn’t reach the win, bringing them home P2 in class.

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 a supportive partnership with Team BRIT; so our employees had 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 best in-class insurance solutions that help people and businesses face the future and thrive.

Redefining what’s possible

Like Team BRIT, our collaborative culture embraces diversity. It empowers and enables talented individuals, whatever their background, to bring their authentic selves to work, and 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. We look forward to being part of Team BRIT’s continued success.

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

AT KARTING FUN

One of the most eagerly awaited events on the Team BRIT calendar is our karting event for sponsors.

Every year, we welcome sponsors from a whole host of industries, based all over the country, to join us for an afternoon of racing fun, with the help of our friends at Daytona Motorsport.

At the end of June, we welcomed 26 teams, made up of more than 100 people to Daytona Milton Keynes, for an endurance race.

On one of the hottest days of the year, the teams lined up with the aim of clocking as many laps as possible within the allotted time, to take away the team trophy.

We had fierce competition as always, with prizes for our ‘nonpro’ podium teams.

In first place were the brilliant team from bott UK, who had travelled all the way from Cornwall to be with us!

Finishing in second place, were the incredible team from Absolute Mobility - one of our newest supporters. And finally in third place, the speedy team from Vesaro!

We had some epic prizes to share, also from our generous supporters, including a Christopher Ward watch and goodies from Kärcher UK.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, and for the continued support of our team. Special thanks also to Charles Graham and the team at Daytona for hosting us so brilliantly as they always do, year after year.

We look forward to this event every year and love getting our supporters together to give away lots of prizes and to enjoy some fierce but friendly competition! We’re already buzzing for the next one!

BRIGHT FOR YOUNG ASPIRING ROOKIES THE FUTURE’S

We’ve recently been introduced to some young, aspiring disabled racing drivers, with their eyes firmly set on a seat with our team.

We create opportunities for racing at all levels, so no matter the level of experience, we try and help new racing drivers with their first steps into competitive motorsport.

ALLY CHALMERS

Age 16, Glasgow

Ally was shooting to success on skis, competing regionally, nationally and internationally in the slalom, giant slalom and Super G. He secured podium wins including the Scottish Children’s Championship and both British and Scottish Schools championships.

In 2022 he fell while skiing with his family in Glencoe and broke his neck, collar bone, ribs and back. It was the injury to his back which meant he could no longer walk.

From a young age, Ally loved cars and knew minute details about makes and models, much of which he had learned from his favourite Top Gear book.

Following his accident, his mum Carole was keen to get him back into sport but was struggling to find something that interested him. They came across Team BRIT when Ally was just 14 and he was immediately interested. When he was 16, they got in touch with the team for information, and founder Dave Player was keen to help.

Dave provided advice over how Ally could get racing, from the medical and licence requirements to information on where to test and train. He also worked with Al and Mike to create a package for Ally, sending our Citroen C1, which was raced by our rookies two years ago, up to Scotland for Ally to begin practising in. He’s now using the car at Knockhill, which is fitted with our hand controls, as he gains experience behind the wheel, with full coaching provided by expert racing coaches.

He’s already been cleared by doctors as fit to race and has met with Disability Motorsport Scotland to gain advice and tips. Ally wants to become the first disabled racing driver from Scotland.

In June, Ally also spent time visiting the team at the British Endurance Championship at Silverstone.

Ally says: “I really love the fact that racing with Team BRIT means competing on an even playing field. I don’t know any other sport where that happens.

“I’ve tried out the hand controls, which are so much better than those in standard road cars. I also met Noah, who has almost an identical injury to me and gave me some great tips when I visited Silverstone.

“Long-term, I want to be part of the team and race the McLaren. I want to be on the podium as regularly as I was on skis, and make motorsport part of my life, long-term.”

LEWIS

PALIN

Age 18, Tamworth

Lewis was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 10, which affects how he deals with emotions and social situations.

He grew up in a family that loves cars. His late grandad was a grass track racer and both raced and restored minis. Since he was a child, he has admired F1 stars including Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo.

Lewis is a customer of the Motability Scheme and met Team BRIT drivers and crew at the Motability Big Event where he was able to try out our hand controls on our simulator, clocking the fastest lap of the weekend! He also joined Team Principal, Mike Scudamore’s winning team at the recent sponsor karting event at Daytona Milton Keynes.

Lewis said: “I would be called a ‘high functioning autistic’, however, I believe all autistic people are high functioning, just in different ways. It makes me who I am, and even with the negatives it brings, I’m very proud of it.

“It was great to meet Team BRIT at the Motability Big Event and trying out the hand controls was an amazing and unique challenge. I’m definitely faster with pedals, but the beauty of the system is that I can use either set up with no change to the car, which I think is an incredible innovation.

“I recently took part in the team’s annual karting event and ended up on the top step of the podium. Not a bad start to my first event with the team! My focus is now on raising sponsorship to enable me to race the team’s BMW 1 series in 2025.

“My long term ambition is to be a full-time racing driver. It doesn’t matter what I’m racing, I don’t mind what car I drive, it could be anything. I just want to turn the one thing I love the most into my career, and I want to grow up and be able to tell people that I race very fast cars for a living! It’s always been my dream, I’ve just never thought it was attainable until now.”

PAUL RETURNS TO

UKRAINE

DELIVERING CRITICAL

GOODS

WITH THE HELP OF THE MOTABILITY

SCHEME

Team BRIT driver Paul Fullick has once again travelled to Ukraine to deliver essential aid as part of his organisation ‘Ukraine Sunflower Aid’.

Paul is chair and trustee for the community group, that serves as the vital link between charities and organisations in the UK and Ukraine, transporting aid that is required throughout the country.

For this trip, Paul had been given an extra special piece of aid to deliver – a minibus supplied by one of our team sponsors, the Motability Scheme. The minibus was destined for an amputee centre in Kyiv, which does incredible work for soldiers that have been injured and suffered amputations as a result of their time on the front line.

The centre helps the troops with their rehabilitation and recovery through sport, organising and hosting wheelchair basketball training and matches. In Paul’s most recent trip, he delivered more than 800 prosthetic limbs to the centre.

On the 20th June, Paul headed out in the minibus, which was packed full of essential aid, joined by a producer from a film company who is creating a documentary on the work of the charity.

Paul also took a basketball wheelchair from UK manufacturer RGK, to add to the centre’s fleet of wheelchairs used by the patients for sport.

Paul explains: “There are 50,000 new amputees in Ukraine who are waiting for treatment, some who have been waiting since the conflict began. We may not see as much coverage of the war in UK media anymore, but it is very much still happening, and the need for aid has never stopped.

“The centre we are supporting does incredible things for the people it supports. These men and women have come directly from the frontline, having lost a limb, and are spending time recovering before going back out. They want to help the defence efforts and protect their country on behalf of their families, so want to recover quickly and return to their duties.

“The volunteers at the centre are working to keep them busy and get them physically fit through wheelchair basketball and other activities. You can’t just come away from a war zone and be sedentary, something I have experience of myself from being injured when I was in the army, so this kind of activity really helps. We were lucky enough to see the inter- Ukraine wheelchair basketball final when we were there, and delivered a wheelchair that was instantly used in the match. It was brilliant seeing how much they’re all getting from this.”

The new minibus, will be based at the centre and will be used to take the patients to and from their appointments for treatment and for physiotherapy, so will be a critical part of their recovery.

Paul explains: “The bus will be a game changer for them. The one they had, which was an old, donated UK ambulance, was really on its last legs, so was no longer fit for purpose. The ex-Motability Scheme vehicle is fantastic and will allow them to do more trips, for more people, more regularly.

“Recovery is critical for these men and women. I sat with them on the sidelines of the match we were watching, and 80% of them will end up retuning to the frontline. Until they do that, they want to get better, play sport and get fit. It’s really quite humbling to see their utter determination to return and defend their country.

One guy I spoke with had sustained a foot injury in the conflict but I could see he had had his leg amputated right up to his hip. He explained his friends had tried to carry him from the battlefield to get him help, but ended up having to drag him for an hour, causing massive damage and infection. These people have been through horrific circumstances and I’m glad that we can play a small part in helping with their recovery, with the support of the Motability Scheme.”

Ukraine Sunflower Aid has now delivered 600 tonnes of aid to Ukraine and continues to deliver to hospitals, orphanages and the frontline, right across the country.

Anyone who would like to donate to these ongoing efforts can contact Paul via paul@teambrit.co.uk to find out more.

ACCESS AT TB HQ BEHIND THE SCENES

One of the most important parts of our work, is inspiring others to dream big and achieve.

We meet young people, disabled people, community groups, and friends both old and new, wherever we go. Whether that’s welcoming people into the garage at a race, meeting staff, colleagues and customers of our sponsors at our activation events, or out and about promoting the team.

In recent weeks, we’ve also welcomed community groups to our HQ to give them ‘behind the scenes’ access to all things Team BRIT, meeting drivers, crew members and our wider team to learn more about who we are and what we do.

THE PRINCE’S TRUST

First up, we welcomed a group of young people taking part in The Prince’s Trust Team programme, delivered in partnership with the City of Portsmouth College.

‘Team’ is a 12-week personal development programme which supports young people aged 16-25 who are unemployed to build their confidence, gain new skills and earn a qualification. The visit was part of the ‘world of work’ phase of the programme, introducing the young people to new careers to consider in the future.

Paraplegic driver Aaron Morgan shared his story with the group, including how he became a racing driver, and inputs were given from team members on the different roles they carry out for the team, including mechanic Jack Webber, PR Manager Lucy Sheehan and Engineering Director Al Locke.

Finally, the young people got ‘hands on’, trying out the team’s hand controls on their racing simulators, carrying out a timed pit stop challenge and testing their reaction times on the team’s blaze pods.

The Prince’s Trust is supported by global IT brand CDW, which is also a Team BRIT sponsor and employer of team driver Aaron Morgan, who is an IT solutions specialist for the firm.

LIGHTYEAR FOUNDATION

Next, we welcomed three students from Woodlands Meed College in West Sussex, who visited the HQ as part of a visit arranged by Lightyear Foundation, which works to break down barriers to STEM opportunities for disabled children.

The trip was part of Lightyear’s ‘Work Inspiration Trip Programme’, which aims to encourage young disabled people to look at the STEM industry as a future career prospect. Despite making up 20% of working age adults, disabled people are underrepresented across all STEM career disciplines.

The group were given a tour of the HQ and were able to take a closer look at our fleet of four racing cars and hand controls.

They then got ‘hands on’ with the hand controls by trying them out on our simulator, before testing their reaction times with our blaze pods.

The visit was hosted by Team BRIT driver Paul Fullick, who is a lower leg amputee, and team ambassador Tyrone Mathurin, a former driver who has limited use of one side of his body.

Team BRIT PR Manager Lucy Sheehan, who hosted the Prince’s Trust group explained: “It was great to welcome the groups to our HQ to learn more about our team and everything we do. The world of motorsport provides so many career opportunities, involving everything from engineering and technology to communications, social media, sponsorship and event management. It was fantastic to be able to demonstrate this to the young people and show them the range of roles within Team BRIT.

“They all had a great time getting to grips with our hand controls on our sims, and trying their hand at being a race mechanic with our pit stop challenge. We were really impressed with the effort everyone put in, and even had a ‘best ever’ score secured by Luca on our blaze pod reaction time exercise. A huge thanks to everyone at the City of Portsmouth College and the Prince’s Trust for coming along.”

Luca, who attended the visit with the Prince’s Trust said: “Team Brit was an enjoyable experience as it taught me about how they provide people with disabilities the chance to enjoy a career that they enjoy by providing the accessibilities to do so. I also enjoyed the activities that they allowed us to do as it gave me the chance to experience what it’s like to be part of the pit stop crew and a racer.”

Ellie Cook, Partnerships Manager CDW UK&I said: ‘It was inspiring to witness two brilliant partnerships joining forces to empower the young people of The Prince’s Trust. Their excitement and involvement were great to see, especially as they relaxed and celebrated coming to the end of a demanding 12-week course. This exemplifies the essence of successful partnerships, and CDW was delighted to contribute to this introduction and facilitation.”.

DRIVER SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAMME LAUNCHES

New for this year, we’ve launched a new programme, offering our sponsors, partners and supporters, a completely new way to get close to the team, whilst also improving on their own driving skills.

Our Driver Safety Training Programme is designed to increase your confidence in driving your own car, through one-to-one coaching and advice from Team BRIT drivers and expert instructors.

Taking place at tracks and driving facilities across the UK, our bespoke courses give you the chance to take to the wheel on specially designed skid pans, letting you test out your driving skills, whilst receiving tips on how to drive more safely.

We recently welcomed a group of clients to the skid pan at Thruxton where they were able to drive in their own cars whilst also having passenger experiences in Team BRIT racing cars, handled by our drivers.

Each half-day experience is bespoke to the needs of a group and includes:

• Classroom tuition

• Skidpan tuition in your own car

• Passenger experience in a Team BRIT car

These opportunities are open to our sponsors, supporters and partners in groups of 10 minimum.

For more information, email mike@teambrit.co.uk .

MEET THE COACH:

MICHAEL BROADHURST

Since 2023, our drivers have benefited from the expertise and experience of racing coach, Michael Broadhurst. We catch up with Michael to learn more about his route into racing and his thoughts on the progression of the Team BRIT drivers.

Tell us about your own racing career

I came into racing via the normal route. I started karting when I was 8. It was me and my dad running a kart out of the back of a Land Rover Discovery. We had barely any budget for it, so it was all done on a shoe string.

I then moved into single seaters, racing in Formula Ford where I was consistently winning races, and Formula Renault.

In 2007 I moved into GT racing, and in 2008 competed in British GT, winning the first race in a Ginetta. In 2009, I won the opening race in European GTs and was leading the championship but ran out of budget so had to withdraw.

Since 2010, I’ve been lucky to race as a career, driving as a pro in pro-am pairings. I’ve been working with Greystone and raced in Europe last year. I hope to be doing the same at the end of this year, probably in the McLaren Trophy.

What got you into racing from such an early age? I’ve always just absolutely loved it. As a kid, I was racing obsessed, it was the only thing I could think about. At any moment I could, I was playing racing games on the PlayStation, and always saw it as such a privilege to get any time in the car.

I’ve always known that time in the driving seat is limited, so I carried this view of seat time as a privilege through to my racing career. Even when I’m working with the ‘am’ guys, sometimes the most time I’ll spend in the car is 2-3 laps in practice to get the car set up and to do a data lap. As a result, I always put a high level of expectation on myself to get the absolute maximum out of any time I have in the driving seat.

How did you get into instructing?

It was quite early on, starting in 2008 at Palmersport at Silverstone. It’s actually how I then met a customer that would enable me to start racing professionally.

When I was racing in single seaters as a teenager, I received a lot of coaching and instruction and it seemed a natural thing for me to also do. I went to university in 2008-2009 to study mechanical engineering as a fall back in case racing didn’t work out, but I was always more driven by working in the car, so coaching was great for that. I went on to coach in the Ferrari Challenge, Britcar, British GT, the GT Cup and the McLaren Trophy.

I also run a training school for stunt drivers working in film and TV, so am coaching 5-6 days a week outside of racing.

How did you come to work with Team BRIT?

Back in 2022, I was racing in British GT and we were running the second Team BRIT McLaren as a pro-am pairing, directly competing with you guys. Al asked us for some data from the car so we got talking and eventually he asked me to come and do some coaching at the end of 2023.

I think the ethos of the team and everything it stands for is fantastic. It’s giving the drivers a platform to express themselves and develop. They each have limitations, as does any driver, but there’s always a solution and it shouldn’t be seen as something to hold you back. I don’t see these things as an excuse, and I know the Team BRIT drivers don’t. You can find a working solution to anything life throws at you.

What are you core training techniques and how are the drivers progressing?

Every driver is unique, some prefer a soft approach to coaching, and others harder. The key elements are consistency and preparation. They need to come into a race weekend or test day prepared, knowing the track.

They need to be healthy and in a good routine. We also talk a lot about reference points and vision, making sure all the basic instincts are on cue before they get in a car.

We try and plan sessions as much as we can, the driver order and objectives. Then, it’s about car handling and control. I always think if a driver knows what’s going on underneath them, it will give them far more confidence.

All the drivers have really come on in terms of this self-confidence. Especially Noah, who has really come out of his shell. He works so well with Asha – the two of them have very different driving techniques and character traits but they deliver similar lap times

Aaron has come a long way. He’s kind of taken on the role of team leader. Until now, he has played the am role to Bobby, but now as the most experienced driver in the team this season, he’s stepped up a level and is consistent and sharp. He’s taken on that responsibility really well.

Follow @mikeybroadhurst on Instagram.

MOTABILITY SCHEME - UNLOCKING ADVENTURES FOR ALL: DISCOVER 200+ ACCESSIBLE FAMILY DAYS OUT WITH THE NEW ROUGH GUIDE TO ACCESSIBLE BRITAIN

The Motability Scheme’s “Rough Guide to Accessible Britain” returns for its 10th edition offering over 200 ideas for accessible days out across the UK. This free Guide, ideal for disabled people and their friends, families or carers, provides inspiration for unforgettable summer adventures. For over a decade, this series has been an invaluable resource for planning accessible outings, particularly for those with disabled children or family members with additional needs.

Taking the guess work out of travel, the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is designed to help users to easily find destinations based on their interests, location, and accessibility needs. Every review has been written by an expert who has lived experience of disabilities and travelling with additional access needs. Readers will not only find detailed information on the physical accessible facilities such as parking but also services such as dedicated tours for neurodivergent individuals, British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters, relevant discounts for visitors and carers, sensory rooms, and much more.

From exploring historic castles, family-friendly museums, breathtaking natural landscapes, or adventurous activities, this Guide contains accessible activities for a range of interests:

• Family attractions: Enjoy animal and nature reserves, museums, railway adventures, costume tours, interactive craft workshops, and sensory spaces designed to engage visitors of all abilities.

• Free attractions: Discover 50 free experiences from the great outdoors to the best of Britain’s arts and culture spots.

• Scenic drives: Enjoy up to nine exhilarating driving routes across the UK, complete with recommended stop-off points.

• Arts and culture: Visit world-famous prehistoric sites, grand medieval architecture, and more, with hands-on introductions, audio-visual guides, and tours for a range of accessible needs.

• Outdoors and adventure: Try white-water rafting on an Olympic course, coasteering or indoor skydiving! Those in search of peaceful escapes can explore nature trails or beaches with off-road mobility vehicles to hire.

• New additions: This year welcomes a range of new entries including the Falkirk Wheel, Bamburgh Castle and Lakeland Motor Museum.

Motability Scheme Ambassador, Mark Ormrod MBE, highlights how the Guide has helped his family plan their days out:

“Planning a day out with my family can sometimes be a challenge, but the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is a game-changer. It empowers everyone, regardless of access needs, to experience what the UK has to offer. A particular highlight for me was our visit to the Tarka Trail and Tunnels Beach last summer and we can’t wait to explore more in 2024 using the new Guide.”

Created in partnership with Motability Operations, the company that delivers the Motability Scheme to over 760,000 customers, the newly refreshed Guide, celebrates over a decade of making British travel and tourism more accessible.

A free copy of the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain can be accessed at motability.co.uk/accessibleguide to unlock a world of accessible adventures this summer and beyond.

BESPOKE SOLUTIONS AT TEAM BRIT HQ

It’s not just race prep taking place at our HQ and workshop in West Sussex.

Engineering Director Al Locke, supported by full-time mechanics JJ and Jack, offer a range of bespoke engineering solutions for a range of clients.

From adaptations for disabilities, to standard motorsport modifications or upgrades, we’ve never come across a problem they can’t solve or an upgrade they can’t deliver!

If you’re in need of workshop support for your race or road car, contact al@teambrit.co.uk .

CASE STUDY: TCR HAND CONTROL INSTALLATION

Former British Supersport rider and Caterham driver Cedric Bloch sustained a life-changing spinal cord injury in a crash during qualifying for the Quattro Group British Supersport & British GP2 Championships in 2021, leaving him paralysed from the chest down.

He will be racing in touring cars this year, and has purchased an Audi RS3 LMS to enter the TCR UK championship.

In order for him to be able to compete at the sharp end, Cedric was looking for the best possible hand controls, so he approached us, having already tried out our hand controls on track.

Al and his team built and installed a complete hand control system, including custom gear control interface specific to the DSG gearbox used in the car.

ON THE ROAD WITH OUR

ADAPTING OUR HQ FOR TOTAL INCLUSIVITY – ABSOLUTE MOBILITY

Last month, we were lucky enough to welcome a team from Absolute Mobility to our Sussex HQ to transform our bathroom facilities, making them fully accessible for our disabled drivers and guests.

When we moved into our new HQ, we knew we wanted to create a bespoke interior set up, based around the needs of our team. Of course, that meant making sure it was as accessible as possible, which included our bathroom facilities.

Team Principal Mike Scudamore reached out to Managing Director of Absolute Mobility, Darren O’Connell to see if they could help.

Absolute Mobility specialises in accessible bathroom design and installations. Established in 2009 and based in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, it installs power baths, walk-in baths, easy-access showers and wet rooms for customers who require safe-to-use and easy-toaccess bathing facilities.

Our HQ is the home of our engineering crew, and is regularly used for team and sponsor events. That means our drivers, including those in wheelchairs and with limited mobility are regularly popping in.

We asked Absolute Mobility if they could help us by designing and installing accessible toilets. They didn’t hesitate in saying yes, and became the latest in our team of supporters, helping us with everything we need for the best possible set up.

By early July, the new, accessible bathroom was installed, ready in time for a ‘behind the scenes’ visit from a college supporting young people with learning needs and disabilities.

Absolute Mobility Director Darren O’Connell explains, “A self-confessed petrolhead, this partnership was a dream come true for me, so as soon as I heard from Mike, I didn’t think twice about getting involved and helping.

“Team BRIT’s mission to empower people with disabilities through motorsport resonates deeply with our own values and commitment to accessibility.

“We looked at the HQ set up and knew we could easily help with our bespoke solutions. The job went really well, thanks also to the supported of our colleagues at Nymas. Our installer Jamie had a great time helping the guys out and creating the perfect set up.

“It was really special to then visit the team during their race at Silverstone in June. Seeing the team showcase their incredible skill and determination on the track left us all on a high. It was an amazing experience and we’re proud to be involved.”

Team BRIT Commercial Director Mike Scudamore said: “We’re really good at finding organisations and brands that we know align with everything we’re about, and Absolute Mobility are a perfect example of this. The reason they exist is to make life easier for people with disabilities, so the synergy was clear.

“We’re all incredibly grateful to Darren and the team for their enthusiasm in helping us. The difference their work has made to our HQ is massive. We need to be inclusive in everything we do, and the first time many people meet us is where we’re based. We now have fully accessible facilities, making sure everyone we welcome is comfortable and at home.

“A massive thank you from everyone at Team BRIT.”

UPPING OUR GAME WITH BLAZEPOD

We’re proud to announce one of our most exciting partnerships to date, with the reveal of our new official supplier, BlazePod.

BlazePod is a smart reaction training platform that improves your reaction time and agility in sports performance, fitness, and therapy in an engaging and exciting way. Light up pods and a linked interactive app encourage physical and cognitive growth and are ideal for training athletes across a range of sports and disciplines.

Earlier this year, we reached out to the team at BlazePod to see if they could help us out with some of their incredible kit to help with our driver training.

They were quick to say yes, and before long we had our own set of BlazePods in our Sussex HQ. Since then, our drivers have been using the system whenever they’re with us at HQ, and we’ve been taking the kit to our sponsor events, where our staff teams have been enjoying the chance to test their reaction times and secure the best possible score.

Now, the team have provided BlazePod sets to every Team BRIT driver, plus our aspiring rookies and our driver coach, setting our entire team up with the very best in sports reaction training.

BlazePod’s training technology synchronizes mental and physical training, sharpening athletes’ minds to recognize patterns, process information swiftly, and make quick choices.

With 200+ drills and endless customization options, BlazePod offers an intelligent app, sleek agility light Pods, and real-time results to track and exceed your goals.

Head of Education and Professional Development at BlazePod, Simon Jacobs came along to meet the wider team at our recent Silverstone event, where he could also see our BlazePods in action as part of our sponsor hospitality suite.

Simon said: “Being able to assist and be part of the unique and wonderful work Team Brit are doing, is an honour and pleasure for us at BlazePod. We got to listen to some of the drivers and hear their stories which were extremely inspirational, and understating the lengths Team Brit go to, to provide equal opportunity for all their drivers, is super important to us and the way we think as a company. So providing the

team with kits and education to help the drivers with their neural priming, reactive intelligence training and essentially to be able to respond faster and smarter than imagined, was a nobrainer.”

Team Principal Mike Scudamore said: “This is a really exciting partnership, and one that has brought us so much already. Our drivers will now have use of a really effective training system to use at home. The fact that it is completely adaptable for individual needs, means it works for every one of our drivers, regardless of their disability.

“It’s also been fantastic for us to take along to our many sponsor activation events, and has really sparked interest and enthusiasm from everyone we’ve met. People have been keen to try the reaction speed test and see how quick they can get to a pro-driver’s super quick reaction times.

“A massive thank you to Simon and everyone at BlazePods for becoming part of our team.”

Peter Markwick QUESTIONS FIVE

Team photographer Peter Markwick has been trackside with us year on year. He helps capture every moment at the race track, saving these priceless moments and helping us tell our story. Here we get to know a but more about our beloved snapper….

How did you get into photography?

Well long story short, my father was an amateur photographer and I used to help him develop black and white photos in our bathroom in the late 1960’s. I bought my first camera - a Praktica BC3 Electronic SLR in the mid-70s and started to record my scouting camps and expeditions. In the late ’70s, I started to use Super 8 movie films to record these scouting events and holidays, then I’d edit them and put on shows for my parents, along with a slide show of events.

All this was a good grounding for the last ten years of my working life, where I had to build a photo/film studio in a small, long room to video engineers and scientists exiting the company and other company film projects. I had the use of two Panasonic film cameras, a Cannon 6D, and a top-of-the-range editing suite.

Why is motorsport photography a passion of yours?

I’m actually more of a generalist. I’ve been going to Goodwood Revival for 10+ years and I like to take photos of the older cars racing, and trying to capture images that the other people are not. I like to take candid shots, reflections, and bits of the cars that people ignore, like the engine cover that is discarded on the floor, the mechanic working under the car, the pool of oil in the drip tray with a reflection of the car, or people.

How did you come to work with Team BRIT?

It was all because of a thunderstorm that caused a power outage in the local area! When the power came back on, I had to retune the DAB radio, and the first station that came on was a local radio station and Aaron Morgan (who I didn’t know) was talking about Team BRIT.

It was a fascinating talk about Aaron, the team, how the controls worked for him, and how he was also seeking sponsors. I took his email details (I don’t know why but I think it’s the giving part of me), and I sent Aaron an email saying I could not offer any sponsorship in any shape, but I could offer my services as his photographer for free. We met at a local pub and I showed him some of my images, including my images in the Bentley Club magazine of the race at Goodwood that I had covered. He agreed to give it a go and my first trip was to Brands Hatch. Someone in the team liked my images and asked me to be in the garage.

What has been your favourite Team BRIT moment to capture so far?

That’s an easy one. Winning the Britcar Trophy with Chris Overend and James Whitley. It was quite hard having to contain myself so that I didn’t miss that all-important shot.

What would be your dream photography assignment?

Going on safari to photograph the Big 5, which I am about to do at the end of November courtesy of my wife as a birthday surprise.

Just to sneak another one in... to go Winter testing with Team BRIT somewhere with warm sun.

Locke, Race Engineer – Team BRIT

Photography courtesy of Mark Ballantyne

Less metal. Same mettle.

When asked for feedback on the C60 Trident, our Forum said “…make one that still gets noticed, without feeling its presence as much on your wrist.”

This new C60 Trident Pro 300 is the result. Same widths. Same lug-to-lugs. Yet an average 1.75mm lower pro le across the range. By using a sapphire case back, it’s an average 14.67g lighter, too. This means its depth rating is now only as good as a Submariner. To compensate: we’ve added extra lume, a new bezel and an optional screwed-link bracelet. Plus actual compensation of £94 average saving. Less. And more, then?

Do your research.