Pages 3, 4 & 5
Issue 08 | Summer 2022
IN THIS ISSUE:
SUPERSTARS CHAMPIONSHIP SO FAR Taking a look at the start of our biggest year of racing yet. Page 8
BRINGING TEAM BRIT TECH TO THE OFFICE We’ve been taking our sim and cars to the offices of our sponsors... Page 16
PARALYMPIC ROWERS MOVE TO THE RACE TRACK A team of paralympic rowers test life as a racing driver with Team BRIT. Page 20
THE WORD FROM What a mixed season we’re having – incredible highs and frustrating lows – but that’s probably summing up motorsport in one sentence! Our inaugural year of British GT has been going fantastically well. We always knew this would be a huge challenge for the entire team, with our crew learning the new rules and regulations of the championship and our drivers stepping up to an entirely new level of competition.
IN THIS ISSUE: CHAMPIONSHIPS SO FAR We take a look at the start of our biggest year of racing yet with four cars across three different Championships.
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The fact that we have safely finished every race so far, more than earning our place on the grid is testament to the way that every member of our team has stepped up to the challenge and then some. With only a small number of teams in our class, we have had the honour of podium finishes every time. This is silverware that will forever hold a special place on our mantle of honour! Luke and Andy have been firing on all cylinders in every possible way in the British Endurance Championship. They have every chance of winning their class with the performances they’re delivering so far – read on for a full round up. Then there’s Chris and James in the BMW M240i who are stunning the field. This is a pair of drivers who have never entered a season of racing before, have never raced together and have extremely limited track experience but as I write, are winning their class and the entire Britcar Trophy championship. Paul and Tyrone have had the worst of luck so far with their BMW 118 being damaged in testing and our replacement car having a technical issue at Silverstone. We’re doing everything we can to get them back out on track at Donington on the 14th August. Anji continues work on her training with a view to racing later this year. Outside of racing, we’ve had some fantastic media coverage once again - check out our main feature story for details of our feature on a childhood classic for many of us! We’ve also had some really interesting engagement opportunities with our sponsors and their staff. This is one of the best parts of our job as we really get the chance to meet the people and the businesses who make everything we’re doing possible. Read on for more information. As ever, thank you to each and every sponsor and supporter for being part of this brave, bold and ambitious journey.
DAVE PLAYER Team BRIT Founder
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INTRODUCING NICKY HAGAN We welcome Nicky Hagan into the role of office and events manager, which is based with the crew at our Dunsfold HQ.
DISABLED SIM RACER TO TRACK RACER 28-year-old disabled sim racer Yvonne Houfelaar is set to move from the virtual track to the real track in our latest pioneering project.
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BRINGING TEAM BRIT TECH TO THE OFFICE
PARALYMPIC ROWERS MOVE TO THE RACE TRACK
We’ve been out and about taking our sim and cars to the offices of our sponsors to visit their staff and customers.
A team of paralympic rowers taste life as a racing driver after spending the day with Team BRIT.
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PLUS: FIVE REASONS WHY BUSINESSES SHOULD DEVELOP DISABILITY AWARENESS
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DAF STAFF GET HANDS ON AT SILVERSTONE
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SPONSOR FOCUS: ADRIAN FLUX
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7-YEAR OLD MASON TASTES LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
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McLAREN DEBUTS IN THE ALGARVE
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FIVE QUESTIONS WITH TYRONE MATHURIN
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TRACK EXPERIENCES AT TEAM BRIT HQ
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SUPERSTARS In May, we were lucky to welcome not one but two national TV crews to our Dunsfold HQ to film features for primetime shows. Each with major reach across completely different audiences, the shows, which aired in June, helped take our story to even more people.
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STEPH’S PACKED LUNCH First up to visit our HQ and the iconic Top Gear test track, was a crew filming for Channel 4 lunch time show, Steph’s Packed Lunch.
In what became one of the wettest days we’ve ever had at the Dunsfold track, Steve spent time learning how our hand controls work on our Vesaro simulator before heading out on the track with Aaron.
The team sent along popular presenter Steve Brown, who is also known as a regular presenter on BBC Countryfile and the One Show.
After some adrenaline fuelled hot laps in our Mclaren 570S GT4, Steve then took to the wheel himself with some wet and wild laps in our Academy car.
Steve is a tetraplegic after falling from a balcony whilst working for a holiday company and breaking his neck. After recovering at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, he went to watch a game of wheelchair rugby which is inspired his love of the sport. He went on to play for Team GB at the European Championships in 2007 and in the 2012 London Paralympics.
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As seen on Channel 4
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S U P E R S T A R S
Steve also interviewed rookie drivers Paul Fullick and Anji Silva-Vadgama about their stories and time with the team so far. Catch the full feature at www.teambrit.co.uk/media/in-the-press
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BLUE PETER An iconic part of many of our childhoods, Blue Peter is the longest running programme in the world, first airing in October 1958. Now broadcast on CBBC and BBC iPlayer, it continues to reach thousands of young people with factual news, entertainment and fun. When PR Manager Lucy Sheehan got in touch with the production team to tell them about Team BRIT, they were instantly keen to know more. At the end of May, a 6-strong crew visited Dunsfold on a beautiful day, bringing along popular presenter Richie Driss to for a full day of TB action. Also joining us was 11-yearold Hadley Brisdion. Friend of the team, Hadley has cerebral palsy and is a keen sim racer. Richie had the full academy experience, learning about our hand controls on the sim with Hadley before getting the low down on racing on the Top Gear Track from Bobby and Aaron.
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As seen on BBC One
The piece is available to view on BBC iPlayer on the link below, starting around 23 minutes into the show. https://www.bbc.co.uk/ iplayer/episode/m00183fq/ blue-peter-youre-in-chargeof-the-show Aaron Morgan, who starred in both features said, “It was great fun spending the day with both film crews. It’s always fascinating seeing just how much work and time goes into creating what are often short pieces for TV. Both pieces looked fantastic, with the Blue Peter piece also including some beautiful drone videography. “Steve and Richie were great to meet and were genuinely interested in our technology and our story. Anyone who gets the chance for a spin around the Top Gear track loves it and I know that both of them had a brilliant time – even Steve who drove in torrential rain! I hope that viewers enjoyed watching the shows and finding out more about us!”
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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
Driven to succeed
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.
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.
Redefining what’s possible
To find out more about us visit: britinsurance.com and Linkedin
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.
the perfect partnership: Team BRIT & Brit Insurance
INTRODUCING
NICKY HAGAN
In April this year, our team grew in size yet again with the creation of a new post of office and events manager. We welcomed Nicky Hagan into the role, which is based with the crew at our Dunsfold HQ. With team requirements growing year on year, Nicky supports Al and Dave with team and championship administration, and helps Mike with the running of our hospitality and events. Here we find out a bit more about the latest addition to the Team BRIT family: How did you get introduced to Team BRIT? Until very recently, motorsports weren’t even really on my radar, but I discovered Team BRIT because of my volunteering in a not-for-profit cafe in Woking called The Cosy. After being made redundant in Dec 2020, I took some time out to think about what my next step should be and found out about volunteering options with The Lighthouse - the charity that the cafe is part of. After 5 months there, one of the Lighthouse employees came to speak to me as Mike Scudamore had been in touch with her to see if she knew of anyone looking for parttime work. Anna used to work in Formula One and Mike had been part of the events team. What roles have you worked in to date? My most recent role was as global social media manager for a large FMCG corporation. My major focus was on recruitment marketing and talent attraction and I managed the company pages on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Glassdoor. I was with the company for nearly 10 years and started out working on reception, then became PA to the UK IT lead and a communications steward within Global HR before my promotion into my final role within the company.
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It was an amazing opportunity to establish and develop a career, but in hindsight, the corporate world just isn’t for me as I have always been happier when knowing I am making a difference - not something that is possible when you are one small cog in a big machine. Why did you want to get involved with the team? Having lost my job in the middle of the pandemic and losing my sense of self and identity, I knew I needed to make sure that my next role was something that would offer me a level of fulfilment on a deeper level and with the ability to do some good or make a difference. It was why the Cosy was such a good fit for me, and why Team BRIT appealed to me. Charity work had always been in the back of my mind, but what Team BRIT had to offer was something more. This ethos of empowering individuals and showing the world just what is possible really spoke to my own values and made me excited at the prospect of working again, which was quite something after a 14-month break.
Describe your day to day work for the team Now this is a hard one as the supporting role I play can stretch from producing invoices and paying bills, to networking and connecting the team to existing contacts who could help raise the profile of the team. One day I could be on hand to help ensure our sponsors have an amazing time while supporting the team through hospitality events, and the next I could be wondering around Costco buying snacks for the crew to have at race meetings. So far, no two days have been the same, but I really value that. And I love knowing that even the small things I can do for the team (like making sure there are enough capsules for the coffee machines or having a chat with one of the drivers after a race) can make a bigger difference than I realised.
Nearly 4 months in with the team, I know that this was the perfect next step for me and an ideal fit. TB management, the crew, the drivers and everyone who helps make the team a success - they have all made me feel so welcome and so easily a part of something that I so recently knew nothing about. That feeling of wanting or needing to be included in some way stretches across all humans for many different reasons, but with TB, it feels like a reality. I’ve felt part of something bigger since my first day.
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CHAMPIONSHIPS SO FAR What a start to the season in what is our biggest year of racing yet. Team Engineering Director Al Locke is leading our crew running 4 cars across three championships. Here’s a look at the season so far.
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CHAMPIONSHIPS SO FAR
BRITISH GT CHAMPIONSHIP Our inaugural year in British GT has been everything we expected and more. At the time of going to print, we’ve completed three rounds and are enjoying life in the pinnacle of UK GT endurance racing. With limited cars in our GT4 Pro-Am Class, we’re lucky to have been on the podium every race so far – an incredible honour.
Round 1
15-18 APRIL 2022
OULTON PARK
Race Results: P2 in Class
Round 3
Bobby and Aaron have delivered round after round, safely completing every race and accruing vital race skill and experience.
Round 2
15-18 APRIL 2022
OULTON PARK
P2 6-8 MAY 2022
SILVERSTONE
Race Result: P3 in Class
We’ve welcomed sponsors from a range of industries for top class views of the track and garage access as part of our hospitality offering.
P2
Race Results: P2 in Class
Round 4
28-29 MAY 2022
DONINGTON PARK
P3
Race Result: P2 in Class
P2
Championship Standings: P2 in Class, P9 Overall
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BRITISH ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 has seen the launch of the first ever British Endurance Championship, hosted by the organisers of Britcar. Team BRIT drivers Luke Pound and Andy Tucker have given everything to the series so far, driving in our Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4.
Round 1
12 MARCH 2022
SILVERSTONE
Andy and Luke got off to the best possible start with a win in round 1 and a P2 in round 2. Their luck changed with a race retirement following fire damage to the car in round 3, but they were back giving it everything in the wettest conditions either have ever driven in by round 4.
Round 2
P1 14 MAY 2022
SNETTERTON
Race Result: P2 in Class
Round 4
P2 18 JUNE 2022
SILVERSTONE
DNF
Race Result: DNF
Race Result: P5 in Class
Championship Standings: P3 in Class, P7 Overall
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2 APRIL 2022
OULTON PARK
Race Results: P1 in Class
Round 3
This is the first time the pair have teamed up, having raced separately in Britcar last year.
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P5
CHAMPIONSHIPS SO FAR
BRITCAR TROPHY Our rookies are completing their first ever season of racing in the Britcar Trophy, with Chris Overend and James Whitley driving our BMW M240i and Paul Fullick and Tyrone Mathurin teaming up in the BMW 118i Chris and James are proving to be a pairing to be reckoned with, winning almost race to date despite never racing cars before and never teaming up.
Round 1
14 MARCH 2022
SILVERSTONE
We’re all hoping that their luck with change for the latter part of the season.
Round 2
15 MAY 2022
SNETTERTON
Race Results: BM1 118i: P5 BMW M240i: P1
P5
Round 3
4 JUNE 2022
P1
SILVERSTONE
Race Results: P1 (Race 1), P1 (Race 2)
Paul and Tyrone have unfortunately been plagued with bad luck. After a strong start to the season, the BMW 118i was severely damaged in testing and has not yet made it back on track. A replacement car was brought in for the pair to return to the grid, but was forced to retire to the race with technical issues.
P1
Race Result: P1
Round 4
19 JUNE 2022
SILVERSTONE
P1
P1
Race Results: P2 (Race 1), P1 (Race 2)
P2
P1
Championship Standings: P1 in Class, P1 Overall
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DISABLED SIM RACING DRIVER SET TO MOVE FROM THE VIRTUAL WORLD TO THE REAL GRID
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28-year-old disabled sim racer from Rotterdam is set to move from the virtual track to the real track in our latest pioneering project.
Yvonne Houfelaar 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. She would visit the karting track up to three times a week alongside weekend racing. 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, including for the GTWR R8G Academy, as part of which she runs the ladies’ team. In December 2021, she joined eTeam BRIT, and now, in a unique project, Team BRIT and eTeam BRIT experts are coming together to support Yvonne in moving from the virtual grid to the real grid. Yvonne is receiving coaching from Team BRIT Driver Coach Jamie Falvey and having secured her UK race licence, she will compete in the 750 Club Enduro championship from July, driving a Volkwagen Scirocco fitted with our hand controls. Her first race will be on the 31st July at Snetterton. After a successful season in Club Enduro, she then hopes to join us as a rookie driver and compete in the 2023 season in the Britcar Trophy Championship. She is currently looking for sponsors to support on this journey. 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. When Dave Player, the founder of Team BRIT got in touch with me to suggest this could happen, I just couldn’t believe it. I had to read his message twice to be sure it was real. “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. I want to race at an international level, I want to make it to Le Mans and I want to win. Finally, after all these years I will be racing back on the real life track.”
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FIVE REASONS WHY BUSINESSES SHOULD DEVELOP DISABILITY AWARENESS There are numerous benefits that disability awareness training will bring to your business. Here, Chris Jay- the Managing Director of Bascule Disability Training- gives Team BRIT readers five...
1 GROW YOUR MARKET Did you know that the spending power of people with disabilities continues to increase and is currently estimated to be worth £274 billion per year to UK businesses? Gaining disability awareness is the first step in making a change, and with a few basic alterations to the way you operate, your business could appeal to a whole new market.
4 ENHANCE YOUR WORKPLACE CULTURE In a recent poll conducted by Scope it was revealed that 53% of people with disabilities have been bullied or harassed in the workplace because of their impairments. Also- 1 in 3 people see people with disabilities as being less productive than non-disabled people. Raising awareness in the workplace will unify your team, develop understanding and empathy, whilst also encouraging those who haven’t ever disclosed their disabilities, to feel they can openly discuss them with their line managers and co-workers, should they want to.
2 GAIN NEW CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES Developing your awareness of disability will not only increase your appeal to a whole new customer base- it will also attract a whole new group of talented staff members. Becoming an openly inclusive organisation will clearly demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity, as both an employer and a business, which will inevitably improve staff and customer loyalty.
3 IMPROVE MORALE AND INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY If you feel your business is unaffected by disability, you might want to think again. There are 14.6 million people with disabilities in the UK (one in five), and vast numbers of people have what are known as non-visible disabilities- such as depression and mental health conditions, epilepsy, diabetes, sensory impairments, cognitive impairment, autism spectrum conditions- to mention just a few. So, it’s quite likely you already employ a team member with a disability, that you don’t even know about.
5 IMPROVE THE WAY YOUR BUSINESS INTERACTS WITH THE PUBLIC In 2014, it was discovered that two-thirds of the British public (67%) admit they feel uncomfortable talking to people with disabilities (Scope). This means your customer or client facing staff could potentially display a sense of awkwardness to as many as one in five of your customers. Awareness training directly addresses this, and a firmer understanding of all areas of disability - such as correct use of language, customer service, etiquette and communication- can be developed.
If you are interested in improving your organisation’s disability awareness you can book onto Bascule’s online training courses via the website or contact them to commission a bespoke session for your whole team or certain departments of your organisation
Furthermore, it is also worth considering that disability is something that can occur - in fact, only 17% of people are actually born with a disability, 83% acquire it later in life. Being an inclusive organisation will allow the people who work for you to feel comfortable in disclosing their disability- as well as create a more understanding and empathetic workforce. If your company develops awareness and inclusivity, staff will be more likely to work to their full potential and bring their best selves to the workplace.
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Upcoming open sessions can be found on www.bascule.com use the code ‘BRIT’ and receive 33% discount.
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SPONSORS BRINGING TEAM BRIT TECH TO THE OFFICE
B
eing a Team BRIT sponsor comes with some pretty incredible perks that you won’t find in other partnerships.
Over recent months, we’ve been out and about taking our sim and some of our cars to the offices of our sponsors for some funfilled visits with their staff and customers. Team BRIT Commercial Director Mike Scudamore explains: “This is one of the best parts of my job. Whenever we agree a new deal with a sponsor or team partner, we look to over deliver by giving them the best possible experience in return for their support. “It’s fantastic to see our partners making the most of these opportunities and one of the ways they can do this, is by inviting us along to their headquarters or offices for a visit with some of our team and our tech. Recently, we’ve taken our top-of-the range V-Rig racing simulator to some of our sponsor offices so that their staff, colleagues or clients can get their hands on the world-leading hand control technology that our disabled drivers use on the track. “We also have opportunities to take our McLaren along for the extra wow factor and to give staff a real taste of the incredible work their organisation is helping to become a reality. “At every visit, at least one of our drivers comes along to chat to staff, sharing more of their personal story and their experiences on the track so far. Every time we carry out these visits, we leave the place buzzing with excitement and enthusiasm for our team and everything we’re trying to do. For me – that’s the real impact of our partnerships – you can’t help but get really involved and behind our project when you see its impact through the effect it has on the people we support.
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To find out more about the opportunities available as part of a Team BRIT sponsorship, contact mike@teambrit.co.uk
W W W . T E A M B R I T . C O . U K
OPENING SUMMER 2022
PROUD SPONSOR OF
www.hgi.com
Photography courtesy of Mark Ballantyne
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“We compete in endurance racing, so reliability is key. In my experience, there is no battery more reliable than a premium ODYSSEY® Battery. They’re consistent, they’re unaffected by temperature, they work!” Al Locke, Race Engineer – Team BRIT
CONVENTIONAL BATTERIES
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© 2022 EnerSys. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of EnerSys and its affiliates unless otherwise noted. Subject to revisions without prior notice. E.&O.E.
PARALYMPIC ROWERS MOVE FROM THE WATER TO THE RACE TRACK
“If you want to be successful, surround yourself with good people.”
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team of paralympic rowers have tasted life as a racing driver after spending the day with Team BRIT.
On Thursday 7th April, three of the rowers, along with team coach Nick Baker, headed to our Dunsfold base to try out our world-leading technology. The GB Para-Rowing Team is hugely successful, winning 50% of the gold medals awarded in paralympic rowing since its introduction in 2008. Rowers visiting included Oliver Stanhope who took a gold medal in the Tokyo Paralympics, Ben Pritchard who took 5th place in Tokyo and Ed Fuller who hopes to compete in his first paralympics in 2024. This was the second visit of the paralympic team to the Dunsfold base, where the rowers received coaching on our top of the range racing simulator. They then were taken out on the iconic Top Gear test track for hot laps in our Mclaren GT4 before getting to grips with the hand controls themselves in our BMW M240i which is being raced in the Britcar Trophy this year. Paralympic Head Coach Nick Baker said “We are so grateful to Dave and the Team BRIT family for inviting us down to their home base for the day and offering the opportunity to drive a race prepared team car. I remember an old boss of mine saying once “if you want to be successful, surround yourself with good people”, well we found some very good people at Team BRIT and I hope the two teams can collaborate again in future …. Maybe we’ll even get some of the drivers in a boat in the summer!” Paralympic Champion Oliver Stanhope said “This was my first track day and an incredible experience, the team were so welcoming, I immediately felt the same sense of focus, fun and determination around the place that we have at our training centre in Reading. I really hope we can collaborate on other experiences in the future.” Team BRIT Founder Dave Player said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome Nick and his team to our HQ. The paralympic rowers have a range of disabilities, similar to our drivers, but not one of them lets this hold them back from achieving their dreams. That’s exactly what we’re about and I hope they enjoyed trying their hands at an entirely new sport. We can’t wait to welcome them back to the track.”
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DAF STAFF GET HANDS ON AT SILVERSTONE
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wo members of staff from team sponsor DAF trucks have had an unforgettable experience after spending the weekend as part of our crew at Silverstone.
Truck technicians Dan Johnson and Elliot Dinnage were invited along to work as part of the crew as an exclusive prize in recognition of their excellent performance during their apprenticeships. The pair were awarded the prize at DAF’s recent Technical Apprentice Graduation Celebration. Dan graduated in 2020 and Elliot in 2021, but have both have had to wait to celebrate in person as a result of the pandemic. Dan and Elliot also won the Commercial Motor Apprentice of the Year Award in their respective graduation years. As part of their prize, they were invited to join our crew during our recent race weekend at Silverstone for the British Endurance Championship and Britcar Trophy. They got stuck in with everything from general car maintenance to pit stop support, tyre changes and garage set up. Elliot said “This was hands down one of the best things I’ve ever done, I truly loved every second, what a great team they all are.” Dan agreed: “I had a fantastic weekend, definitely my new hobby and hope to see them again soon.”
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From family cars to racing cars KEEP GOING
HAVOLINE, KEEPING TEAM BRIT GOING
/HavolineEurope europe.havoline.com © 2020 Chevron. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC or their respective owners.
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Insurance for the individual Proud sponsor of Team BRIT
At Adrian Flux we have over 45 years worth of experience tailoring insurance to suit specific needs and we don’t believe in “one size fits all” when it comes to insurance. With specialist policies available for classic vehicles and track events, we’re in pole position when it comes to finding you the right cover.
Adrian Flux can help with all of your insurance needs, offering cover for: Disabled Drivers
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Call us today on 0800 085 5000 adrianflux.co.uk Authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Trustpilot rating checked on 1st June 2022
SPONSOR FOCUS
In recent months, team partner Adrian Flux has been spending time getting to know every part of our team. One of the UK’s leading motor insurance brokers, Adrian Flux was announced as an official partner in October last year and the branding is prominently displayed on our Mclaren 570S GT4.
Earlier this year, a team of Adrian Flux digital producers spent time with our drivers at our Dunsfold HQ, and have also visited the team on the track at races throughout the season.
Adrian Flux was a disabled driver himself and founded the company that bears his name in 1973, after struggling to get insurance for his beloved kit car.
This month, they released the first in what promises to be an incredible series of content. Now available on the motorsports pages of the Adrian Flux website is ‘the inspirational tale of how Team BRIT drivers became professional racing stars.’
The team at Adrian Flux put a great deal of energy into digital content for their hugely diverse audience of consumers. They’ve jumped at the chance of integrating our team and story into this, creating incredible content to share the impact we’re making and their commitment to supporting us all the way to Le Mans.
Focusing on British GT Championship drivers Aaron Morgan and Bobby Trundley, the film explores their personal stories of disability and how they have worked to overcome challenges to be the history-makers they are today.
View the video at adrianflux.co.uk: The inspirational tale of how Team BRIT drivers became professional racing stars
More information on Adrian Flux can be found at www.adrianflux.co.uk
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Liverpool youngster gets a taste of LIFE IN THE FAST LANE with Team BRIT
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-year-old Mason Palmer from Liverpool has enjoyed a day experiencing life as a racing driver after a day at our Dunsfold HQ.
Mason, who attends St Paul’s and St Timothy’s School in West Derby was born without his left hand and was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. On Monday 18th April, Mason’s dad, Alex Palmer, took him to Oulton Park Circuit to watch the British GT Championship where he visited our garage, met Bobby and Aaron and saw our technology at work in our Mclaren 570S GT4. After posting about the visit on Linkedin, Alex was contacted by Team founder Dave Player and invited along to the team HQ in Surrey to spend time with the drivers and learn about the technology. On Wednesday 11th May, Mason and his parents made the trip to TB HQ, where he spent lots of time on our high-tech full-motion simulator, fitted with our hand controls. He then had a high speed ride in the McLaren, driven by Aaron, before being shown around the workshop and spending time with some of the drivers. Mason said: “I had a really good day with Team BRIT. I loved driving on the sim and having a ride in the McLaren with Aaron. Now I really want to be a racing driver.” Mason’s Dad Alex said: “We’re really grateful to Team BRIT for giving Mason such an incredible experience. When we visited Oulton Park, Mason said to me “I can’t be a racing driver, can I dad?” It was quiet special to be able to show him that he absolutely can and that these guys are out there doing it. They’re really inspirational and they’ve had a fantastic impact on Mason.”
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McLAREN DEBUTS IN THE
A L G A Back in February, the Team BRIT crew, headed by Engineering Director Al Locke, jetted out to the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão for the first ever testing session with the McLaren 570S GT4. British GT drivers Bobby Trundley and Aaron Morgan joined the full crew for three days of winter testing at the iconic track. Winter testing enables the drivers and crew to test the car in temperatures likely to be similar to those in the UK at the start of the racing season and provided crucial scenario testing experience.
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After a busy day of setting up the garage, Bobby and Aaron were able to spend the next three days in glorious Portuguese sunshine, getting to grips with their new ride. Al and his team facilitated a range of practice exercises including pit stops carried out with military precision based on the British GT Championship rules and regulations. It was also a chance for Al to test out the integration of the hand controls with the McLaren technology.
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Al says: “Our time in Portimão was a vital part of our preparation for the British GT Championship. There is so much that goes into planning for the race season – to do it ahead of an entirely new race series for us and with a completely new car, added major new challenges into the picture. “Winter testing allows us to spend time purely focused on the car set up, driver skill and crew responsibilities and we learnt a huge amount from this. It’s now paying dividends in our British GT entry, with every race to date safely completed with performances if which we can be proud.”
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A R V E Aaron explains: “Visiting Portimão in February was one of the greatest weeks of my life. Everything about our time in Portugal was incredible. The track, the crew, and of course the car. Our team worked so hard to fine tune the car, developing the best set up, ironing out any issues with the hand controls, and coaching Bobby and I to drive the car to its maximum performance. “It’s an incredible car and I quickly made progress, setting some of the best lap times in my career. This is just the start – Bobby and I have so much to give and we’re going to shock so many people with our performance on the track this year. Disability does not have to stand in the way of anything you set your mind to.”
Bobby continues; “My autism means that my anxiety can be crippling at times, especially when dealing with new situations, so even getting to the airport was a massive challenge for me. What the team has taught me over the last three years, is that anything is possible with belief and with the right support around you. “If you had told the nervous, terrified 10-year-old who was persuaded into a go-kart that he would be driving a GT4 McLaren around one of the most iconic tracks in the world, supported by one of the most professional and specialist technical crews in the industry, he would never have believed it.
Driving the McLaren was everything I hoped it would be – incredible – and I was really pleased to have posted such good lap times in my first sessions. “This is the most exciting, rewarding chapter in my life and I can’t wait to show the world that autism does not have to close a single door, in fact it can open them.”
“Our time in Portimão was a vital part of our preparation for the British GT Championship”
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#GODO
Spelunkers: Incomparable. Indomitable. Unpronounceable Let’s hear it for the ‘spelunkers’. The subterranean explorers of the 1970s who did for caving what Jacques Cousteau did for scuba-diving – and the inspiration behind ‘GMT-explorer’ watches, which provided 24-hour timekeeping for lightstarved cavers. Now we’ve resurrected the genre with the C63 Sealander GMT. Not only does it boast a twin timezone movement, a hi-vis 24-hour hand and a dial that’s as legible as it is beautiful, but, happily, you don’t have to be a spelunker to wear one.
Sealander. Go anywhere, do everything. christopherward.com
FIVE QUESTIONS with Team BRIT rookie Tyrone Mathurin We catch up with Team BRIT rookie driver Tyrone Mathurin who is competing in the Britcar Trophy Championship this year: How would you describe your experience with Team BRIT so far? To be honest it’s been life changing. Getting to know the motorsport scene is surreal and partaking in team events and open days – it’s all something I never would’ve seen myself doing. How steep has the learning curve been to get you race ready? For me it’s been a progressive one. Having no motorsport background at all, I came up through the team academy, going through a series of assessments to ascertain whether or not I have the capabilities to handle track conditions. Then, a day of karting which was a stepping stone into higher ranking motorsports, where I was analysed by one of the team’s experienced drivers. Once approved, the next stage was at the team HQ to tackle the hydraulic sim rig to test my skills, which replicates real life on track. I think learning anything new can be tricky, depending on how quick you take to it, but as I’m someone who’s a bit of an adrenalin junkie, I took to it like a duck to water. It took 4 coaching sessions before taking my licence to being race ready. What has been the toughest part of Team BRIT life so far?
How has it been teaming up with Paul? Ah Paul is such a great fella. We met at a team sponsor karting event and from the off we’ve gelled like we already knew each other. Our friendship has blossomed since, not only on the track, but off, as we regularly stay in touch to solidify our co-driver spirit. What do you hope to achieve by the end of the year? It’s not how you start the season – you’re often remembered how you finish. Most importantly I’d like to at least grab some silverware to show the great efforts the team have made, but if we don’t, just experiencing going through a championship and supporting my teammates is very much of an achievement for me. I have so much more in the tank for the foreseeable years ahead and I’m truly thankful to be a part of.
So far, the most challenging part of this journey is not racing. We’ve had some bad luck after non-starting following an incident in testing and then having to retire from a race because of mechanical issues which weren’t an easy fix for the crew. On the upside, seeing the team maintain their resilience and drive with such a positive attitude, really shows why this is the most inspirational team in motorsport.
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K C A R T
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R E P X Q H E T I R B M A E T T A
Looking for an experience you and your colleagues won’t forget?
AT THE C
I ICONEAR TOP G TESTK TRAC
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 nicky@teambrit.co.uk for available dates and package options including catering
