A former superbike champion from Japan will be joining Team BRIT for the final race of the British Endurance Championship taking place at Donington next month.
Takuma Aoki from Tokyo, is a former motorbike racer, who competed in the World Superbike Championship in the 1990s, before winning the All Japan Superbike Championship in 1996 and coming 5th in the world championships with Honda in 1997.
In 1998, he was involved in a crash which left him paralysed below the waist, and he has gone on to support disabled drivers into motorsport.
On Saturday 14th October, Takuma will team up with Team BRIT driver Aaron Morgan in the 2-hour season finale of the British Endurance Championship at Donington. Like Aaron, Takuma will use the team’s hand control technology to enable him to compete on equal terms.
Since his injury, Takuma has worked with Honda, helping them develop cars for disabled drivers and he runs a racing school for people with disabilities.
He now drives specially adapted cars and has competed in major events such as the Le Mans 24 Hour race as part of Frederick Sausset’s SRT41 team in 2021, and won the Asia Cross Country Rally Championship held this year.
Takuma said: “I’m really looking forward to racing with the team next month. The technology used by Team BRIT is different to anything I’ve used before, so I’m excited about trying it for the first time. Having competed in Le Mans myself, it’s great to be part of a team that has its sights set on doing the same. I hope to return there to race again soon.
“I hope that Aaron and I can build on the team’s success in the British Endurance Championship so far this year. Together I hope we’re showing that if you have the right technology and the right support, disabled people can compete equally.”
Team BRIT Principal Dave Player said: “It’ll be great to welcome Takuma to the team later this year. His experience in racing is extensive and he’s doing great things for inclusivity in racing in Japan. I’m sure our drivers will learn a great deal from him, and I know he’ll be impressed by our technology and everything we’re achieving.”
