Global manufacturer backs disabled driver in history-making team
Sleaford-based manufacturing firm, SHD Composite Materials Ltd (SHD Composites), has backed a disabled driver from Southampton as he follows his racing dreams with a history-making team.
41-year-old Paul Fullick is a driver for Team BRIT, the world’s only competitive team of all-disabled racing drivers, which aims to become the first ever all-disabled team to race in the Le Mans 24 hour. SHD Composites have now pledged their support of Paul throughout the 2023 racing season.
The team made history in 2022 with two of its drivers becoming the first ever disabled pairing to win a national racing championship.
SHD Composites, which has its HQ in Sleaford and manufacturing facilities in Slovenia and the USA, manufactures and develops advanced composite prepreg materials, supplying to industry-leading manufacturers on a global basis.
The prepreg materials manufactured at SHD work to reduce weight, increase strength and increase speed in race cars like those driven by the team. Not only supporting the motorsport industry, the benefits of prepreg are utilised in a range of applications from sport and leisure, to automotive, aerospace and marine.
The firm first began supporting the team back in 2019 and has previously sponsored former driver Luke Pound.
Now they are backing Paul, who uses the team’s world-leading hand control technology to race. Paul was involved in a motorbike accident in 2021, which resulted in the lower part of his leg being amputated. A lifelong fan of moving fast, he was soon back on his motorbike, and just a few short weeks after leaving hospital, was trying out for the team at its base in Dunsfold, Surrey.
Paul began racing for the team last year, competing alongside Tyrone Mathurin in the Britcar Trophy Championship. This year, the pair return to the series, moving up a level by driving the powerful BMW M240i. The first race of the season took place at Silverstone on the 26thMarch and saw Paul and Tee make a fantastic start to the year, showing incredible pace and holding P3 for much of the first race. Unfortunately, a clipped kerb meant they moved back down the grid to finish 9th overall.
Helen Doughty, Director, SHD Composite Materials Ltd said:
“It is fantastic to be supporting Paul, and Team BRIT. Paul’s attitude and achievements are inspirational and everyone at SHD is excited to be part of his team”
Paul Fullick said:
“I’m incredibly grateful to all at SHD for their backing and belief this year. It takes a real family of supporters to get us to the track throughout the year, and to help us with our goals to make motorsport accessible for all.
“It’s a massive year for me and for the whole team. Tee and I are stepping up to a much more powerful car and we know how competitive we’ll be. We hope that other disabled drivers will see what we’re achieving and believe that nothing is out of reach.”
Watch Paul here: Inspiring disabled motor racing team with big ambition at Brands Hatch | ITV News Meridian
Team BRIT is fielding 10 drivers in four cars across four championships this year.
For more information on Team BRIT, visit www.teambrit.co.uk
