Team BRIT is a motor racing team of disabled ex troops, which includes Tony Williams, a military veteran from St Helens who suffered extreme injuries whilst serving in Afghanistan. They were featured by ITV News, during the team’s race at Oulton Park on 14th October, in what was the season finale of the FunCup 2017 Championship.
Tony Williams said “The Oulton Park race was really special for the team as it rounded off the Fun Cup championship for 2017 – and what a season it has been. We’ve grown significantly – taking on new civilian rookies as well as some more military veterans and have seen our profile rise as more and more people hear about what we’re trying to do.
“Unfortunately injury has ruled me out of the last few races but it has been great to be involved at each event, and I had the pleasure of meeting some truly inspirational people at Oulton Park who we’re hopefully going to help in getting behind the wheel. This weekend sees our final race of the year – the Birkett 6-hour relay, followed by an end of year celebration, and we’re all looking forward to marking what has been the best year yet for Team BRIT.”
Full race report follows the video
Team BRIT featured by ITV News from Team BRIT on Vimeo.
Team BRIT competed in the final round of the Fun Cup 2017 championship at Oulton Park, entering 2 cars in a field of 30.
This was an important race for the team, as it saw the debut outings of three new rookies.
Car 312 was driven by Team BRIT veterans Warren McKinlay and Jimmy Hill, who were also joined by rookie Jamie Falvey.
Car 158, fitted with the team’s hand controls, was driven by veteran Andy Searle, with rookies Ash Hall and James Russell.
The Fun Cup’s random grid selection process saw 312 and 158 starting in 24th and 30th respectively, so the drivers would have some work to do make their way up the grid.
As the 4-hour endurance race got underway just before 2:30pm, both cars settled in well and began to record some great lap times. The three rookies impressed the team and crew with some excellent performances in their first competitive outing for the team.
The technical crew once again worked tirelessly to keep the cars on track throughout numerous driver changes.
Both cars steadily climbed the grid with 312 moving up to 16th position and 158 to 24th as the chequered flag came down.
Seasoned driver Warren McKinlay said “This was a great race for us. We pushed on throughout the race to make up a lot of places and it was brilliant to see our new team mates driving so well.”
Rookie Jamie Falvey said, “I went in to this determined to impress with some decent lap times and I’m pleased with my performance overall. With some more track time and coaching I hope that very soon we’ll all be driving at the same level and starting to put up a serious challenge to the other front runners.”
The team were lucky to have a number of special visitors to the race. Major Bernie Broad, the GB captain at this year’s Invictus Games came to meet the team and hear about its goal. Having been seriously impressed by what he saw, the team will be inviting him to have a go behind the wheel very soon.
14-year-old quadruple amputee, Isabelle Weall and Invictus Games medallist and triple amputee Lamin Manneh also spent time with the team. Team founder Dave Player will be working with prosthetics experts to create a new version of the team’s world-leading hand controls to enable them both to drive.
The team will compete in their final race of the season in the Birkett 6-hour relay at Silverstone on Saturday 28th October.
