Injured servicemen on track for Le Mans
A GROUP of ex-servicemen is trying to become the first disabled team to compete in the 24-hour Le Mans race.
Team Brit, which stands for British Racing Injured Troops, has met with race organisers to discuss the possibility of them making history by competing as an all-disabled team. Its members are all former military personnel who were injured during their service.
The talks with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), focused on allowing them to use advanced hand control technology, which would allow its drivers to compete on equal terms. The hand controls are some of the most sophisticated in the world and involve an electronic throttle, clutch and gearchange, which is common in motorsport, but also introduces an electronic braking system. David Williams, a for- next few years when we want to exhume them. “I don’t know what went through my head, I’m not a scientist, I didn’t know this was going to happen, I just had a hunch that perhaps this was the way to keep them.
“It really just peeved me to bury these guys with their mums not knowing about it.” mer competitive racer who is Team Brit’s coach based in Le Mans, met with ACO sporting director Vincent Beaumesnil and says the meeting was positive.
“I was very encouraged with the warm reception from Mr Beaumesnil to Team Brit’s ethos and plans to make motorsport more accessible,” he said. “He was very positive and sees the importance of further development of motorsport for the disabled.”
The team is hoping to be allowed to participate by 2020. Mr Beaumesnil will be taking the proposals to ACO’s next committee meeting.