Team BRIT

Last updated
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Team BRIT
TeamBRITlogo.jpg
Founded2015
Team principal(s)Al Locke, Mike Scudamore
Current series Britcar
Noted drivers James Whitley, Jon Allan Butterworth, Caleb McDuff
Teams'
Championships
Britcar Trophy winners 2022
Websiteteambrit.co.uk/about/

Team BRIT is a British auto racing team formed in 2015, originally based at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, home of the Top Gear test track, but now in Washington, West Sussex. The team is composed of disabled drivers and currently (2024) competes in two British motor racing series, Britcar Endurance and Britcar Trophy, with the ultimate aim to race in 24 Hours of Le Mans

Contents

The key element which allows physically disabled drivers to compete is the specially developed hand control system fitted to all the cars.

History

Team BRIT was formed as an offshoot of the charity Kartforce, [1] which provides military veterans with the opportunity to take part in karting events to support their physical and mental rehabilitation and recovery. Team BRIT gives people with disabilities the chance to compete with able bodied drivers in national motor racing events. 1996 Formula One world champion Damon Hill is a patron of the team.

From its inception in 2015 with a single small racing car and three former military disabled drivers, the team has grown in size and scope. [2]

By 2022 it consisted of five cars and eight drivers with diverse backgrounds and disabilities, competing in three racing competitions.

In 2023, 9 drivers competed across four championships.

History of Cars Available

2015, 2016 - VW Golf GTI

2017 - 2 x Fun Cup Volkswagen Beetle

2018 - 3 x Fun Cup Volkswagen Beetle, Vw polo gti, Aston Martin Vantage GT4

2019, 2020 - 3 x BMW 116i, Aston Martin Vantage GT4

2021 - BMW 1 Series, Aston Martin Vantage GT4, BMW M240i Racing

At the end of 2021 the Vantage GT4 chassis became ineligible for competition in British GT, [3] which follows SRO Motorsports Group international homologation rules. The team continued to campaign it in the Britcar Endurance Championship where it remained eligible in the equivalent "Class D" under Britcar series rules.

2022 - BMW 1 Series, Aston Martin Vantage GT4, BMW M240i Racing, McLaren 570S GT4

2023 - 2 x McLaren 570S GT4, BMW M240i Racing, 2023 also saw the addition of a Citroen C1 endurance race car, adapted and entered to the Silverlake C1 Endurance Series [4] [5] which includes a 24h round at the Silverstone circuit. - the addition of a second McLaren 570S replacing the Aston Martin in the Britcar Endurance Championship. [6] - The other McLaren 570S will continue in British GT and McLaren Trophy [7] The BMW M240i Racing will continue in the Britcar Trophy Championship.

Hand Control Technology

Team BRIT worked with MME Motorsport, a Slovenian gearbox control specialist, to develop electronic hand control systems for throttle, clutch, gear change, and brakes which work in a seamlessly integrated way with conventional controls. The adaptation allows a driver using hand controls to share a car with a driver using conventional controls in race meetings; the car will respond to both sets of controls, giving priority to whichever input is highest if there is a conflict. [8]

The growing development and realism of Sim racing systems allows a disabled driver to use the same steering wheel on the simulator as the racing car which aids a more seamless transition from sim racer to track racer.

Championship Results 2022

Team BRIT drivers James Whitley and Chris Overend made history in 2022 becoming the first disabled team [9] to win a British national motor racing championship, [10] [11] claiming the Britcar Trophy Championship in an adapted BMW M240i Racing.

In Britcar Endurance the team ran the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in class D with six classes in each race.

In British GT Championship the team ran the McLaren 570S in class GT4 ProAM with four classes in each race.

While the McLaren was entered for a couple of races in Britcar Endurance, it wasn't registered for the championship but took part as an invitational entry.

In Britcar Trophy the team ran the BMW M240i Racing in class 2 and the BMW 118i in class 3 with five classes in each race

Race Results 2023

CompetitionCircuitDatePosition in ClassDriver 1Driver 2Driver 3Driver 4
Silverlake C1 EnduranceSilverstone GPMarch 1954Yvonne HoufelaarAsha SilvaNoah Cosby
Britcar EnduranceSilverstone GPMarch 255Chris OverendJames Whitley
Britcar TrophySilverstone GPMarch 26Race 1: 7, Race 2: 9Paul FullickTyrone Mathurin
Intelligent Money British GTOulton ParkApril 10Race 1: 6, Race 2: 6Aaron MorganBobby Trundley
Britcar EnduranceBrands Hatch IndyApril 223James WhitleyChris Overend
Silverlake C1 EnduranceOulton ParkApril 2229Yvonne HoufelaarAsha SilvaNoah Cosby
Britcar TrophyBrands Hatch IndyApril 232Paul FullickTyrone Mathurin
Intelligent Money British GTSilverstone 500May 7DNFAaron MorganBobby Trundley
Silverlake C1 Endurance 24hrSilverstone GPMay 20-21st47Noah CrosbyAsha SilvaPaul FullickSteve Crompton
Britcar TrophyOulton ParkMay 27Race 1: DNS, Race 2: 2Paul FullickTyrone Mathurin
Britcar EnduranceOulton ParkMay 274Chris OverendBobby Trundley
McLaren TrophyPaul RicardJune 32Aaron MorganBobby Trundley
McLaren TrophyPaul RicardJune 42Aaron MorganBobby Trundley
Silverlake C1 EnduranceDonington ParkJune 1840Asha SilvaPaul FullickNoah Cosby
Britcar EnduranceSilverstone GPJune 24Did not enter
Britcar TrophySilverstone GPJune 253Paul FullickTyrone Mathurin
McLaren TrophySpa FrancorchampsJune 302Bobby TrundleyAaron Morgan
McLaren TrophySpa FrancorchampsJuly 1Race cancelledBobby TrundleyAaron Morgan
BARC Britcar 6 hourDonington ParkJuly 22570S P2 in raceBobby TrundleyChris OverendPaul FullickJames Whitley
Silverlake C1 EnduranceSnettertonJuly23rd26Gabriela JílkováPaul FullickAsha SilvaAnji Vadgama Silva
McLaren TrophyNurburgringJuly 291Bobby TrundleyAaron Morgan
McLaren TrophyNurburgringJuly 30DNFAaron MorganBobby Trundley
Silverlake C1 EnduranceBrands HatchAug 19th21Asha SilvaNoah CosbySteve Crompton
Intelligent Money British GTBrands HatchSep 106Aaron MorganBobby Trundley
Britcar EnduranceDonington ParkOct 141 (D Invitation)James WhitleyPaul Fullick
Britcar EnduranceDonington ParkOct 144Aaron MorganTakuma Aoki

Following a crash at Silverstone 500 on May 7 when the car suffered extensive damage, the team decided to withdraw from the majority of the remaining rounds of the British GT championship and instead drivers Morgan and Trundley will race the remaining Maclaren 570S in the MacLaren Trophy Championship [19] [20]

Championship Results 2023

Paul Fullick and Tyrone Maturin finished 21st overall in the Rowe Britcar Trophy Championship and 2nd in class driving the BMW M240i.

Chris Overend / James Whitley / Bobby Trundley / Aaron Morgan / Takuma Aoki finished 13th overall in the Motorsport Uk British Endurance Championship and 5th in class driving the Mclaren 570S GT4.

In the Intelligent Money British GT Championship neither the team or the drivers gained any points.

Race Results 2024

CompetitionCircuitDateCarPosition in ClassDriver 1Driver 2
British EnduranceDonington ParkMarch 29thMcLaren 570S4Aaron MorganPaul Fullick
Britcar TrophyDonington ParkMarch 30thBMW M240iRace 1 : 4 Race 2 : 2Noah CosbyAsha Silva
Britcar TrophyDonington ParkMarch 30thBMW 118iRace 1 : 4 Race 2 : NCDom ShoreCaleb McDuff
British EnduranceSnettertonApril 13thMcLaren 570S1Aaron MorganPaul Fullick
Britcar TrophySnettertonApril 14thBMW M240iRace 1 : 1 Race 2 : 2Noah CosbyAsha Silva
British TrophySnettertonApril 14thBMW 118iRace 1 : 5 Race 2 : 3Caleb McDuff
Britcar TrophyBrands HatchMay 4thBMW M240iRace 1 : 4Noah CosbyAsha Silva
Britcar TrophyBrands HatchMay 4thBMW 118iRace 1 : 4Bobby TrundleyCaleb McDuff
Britcar TrophyBrands HatchMay 5thBMW M240iRace 2 : 2Noah CosbyAsha Silva
Britcar TrophyBrands HatchMay 5thBMW 118iRace 2 : 3Bobby TrundleyCaleb McDuff
British EnduranceSilverstoneJune 15thMcLaren 570S2Aaron MorganPaul Fullick
British EnduranceSilverstoneJune 15thMcLaren 570S4Bobby TrundleyCharles Graham
Britcar TrophySilverstoneJune 16thBMW M240iRace 1 : 1 Race 2 : 2Noah CosbyAsha Silva
Britcar TrophySilverstoneJune 16thBMW 118iRace 1 : 2 Race 2 : 2Bobby TrundleyCaleb McDuff
British EnduranceDoningtonAugust 10thMcLaren 570S3Aaron MorganPaul Fullick
Britcar TrophyDoningtonAugust 11thBMW 240iRace 1 : 2 Race 2 : 2Noah Cosby
Britcar TrophyDoningtonAugust 11thBMW 118iRace 1 : 2 Race 2 : 1Caleb McDuffDom Shore
British EnduranceSnettertonSeptember 14thMcLaren 570S2Aaron MorganPaul Fullick
British EnduranceSnettertonSeptember 14thMcLaren 570S3Takuma AokiNoah Cosby
Britcar TrophySnettertonSeptember 15thBMW 240iRace 1 : 2 Race 2 : 1Caleb McDuffAsha Silva
Britcar TrophySnettertonSeptember 15thBMW 118iRace 1 : 1 Race 2 : 1Dom ShoreBobby Trundley

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References

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  4. Sheehan, Lucy (2022-11-28). "New rookie racing project launched". teambrit.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
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  6. "https://twitter.com/teambritracing/status/1615761144861560834". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-01-21.{{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  7. "2023: Morgan and Trundley return with unchanged Team BRIT line-up". 2023: Morgan and Trundley return with unchanged Team BRIT line-up. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
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