> Modified McLaren 570S GT4 signals next step towards Le Mans
Team BRIT will contest the Intelligent Money British GT Championship next season with an adapted McLaren 570S GT4 driven by Aaron Morgan and Bobby Trundley.
Established in 2015, Team BRIT has become the UK's leading motorsport programme for drivers with physical and psychological disabilities. Now, its journey towards becoming the Le Mans 24 Hours’ first all-disabled entry sees it arrive in British GT for an intended two-year programme initially built around GT4.
Its existing pairing of Trundley, who was diagnosed with severe autism as a child, and Aaron Morgan – a paraplegic following a motocross accident – finished third in class and fourth overall in this year’s Britcar standings driving a previous generation Aston Martin Vantage GT4.
However, with that car no longer eligible for British GT, the team has switched to a modified McLaren 570S GT4 featuring Team BRIT-designed hand controls that enable Morgan to race on equal terms with his able-bodied competitors.
The team’s 2022 programme and McLaren will be formally unveiled at a special launch event, hosted by BRIT Insurance, in London later this evening.
“This is a milestone moment for our team and something we have worked tirelessly to achieve,” said Team BRIT founder Dave Player. “Our plans have always been bold, ambitious and beyond belief for many, but we know we will achieve our goal of reaching Le Mans. On top of that, we are making changes to motorsport that are crucial for true accessibility.
“Our entry into British GT means we’re racing in the highest level of endurance racing in the UK and the most iconic British championship. Next year we aim to acquire our GT3 car which we will race in British GT and European Le Mans in 2023 before aiming for Le Mans in 2024.
“The strength of our intent should not be underestimated. We will do this and we will make history. Our work does not end there, we’re welcoming more and more disabled drivers into motorsport through our racing academy and through entry level racing. This is something we will continue for years to come – building a truly accessible ladder of opportunity for disabled drivers. This is the Team BRIT legacy we’re so proud to have created.”
McLaren Automotive’s Chief Marketing Officer, Gareth Dunsmore, added: “I am delighted to welcome Team BRIT to the McLaren family and to the 570S GT4. Their bold and innovative approach as a racing team is helping increase access to racing, which is hugely inspiring and demonstrates what can be achieved in the competitive world of motorsport. I look forward to following their progress next year in British GT.”
Team BRIT’s British GT entry adds an additional step to its ladder of motorsport development for disabled drivers. Andy Tucker and Luke Pound will take the Aston Martin seats vacated in Britcar by Trundley and Morgan, while new rookies will begin their racing journeys in the team’s bespoke-build BMWs.
In addition, disabled drivers looking to experience the thrill of the race track can book onto track sessions though the team’s Racing Academy, which has welcomed more than 100 drivers to track day experiences since launching two years ago. Equally, the team has helped more than 20 disabled drivers to obtain race licences.
British GT’s 2022 entry process formally opens on December 1.