We’re lucky to meet some incredible people throughout the year, and our final race weekend of the season at Snetterton saw us welcome one of the best, with a very special guest popping in to the Team BRIT paddock.
Six-year-old Rory Cullum joined us and quickly became part of the team, spending the day behind the scenes with our drivers and crew as we celebrated the conclusion of another successful racing season.
Rory’s story is one of remarkable resilience. At just three weeks old, he became critically ill with sepsis and meningitis, leading to life-changing complications that ultimately resulted in the amputation of his right leg before his first birthday. Since then, he has undergone numerous surgeries and extensive medical treatment, which means he now uses a prosthetic leg and wheelchair.
Despite everything he has faced, Rory’s focus remains firmly fixed on the future and on a dream he shares with many of our drivers during their childhoods. He wants to become the first amputee Formula One world champion.
Rory’s parents, Charlotte and Pete have always been committed to making life as open and exciting for him as possible. When they realised they were lots of sports where Rory couldn’t compete fairly, they found motorsport, which allowed him to take participate on a level playing field.
They bought him a kart and had it fitted with a hand throttle and pretty quickly, Rory was hooked. Charlotte remembers, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile as much as when he got out of the kart for the first time.”
After taking part in his first race this year, he is now aiming for a full bambino karting campaign in 2027 and is actively looking for sponsors to get behind him.
It was when Rory was at a kart circuit that they were told about our work and our achievements in disability racing. Pete reached out to us and we quickly invited the family to join us at Snetterton, to give him a real taste of life in a professional racing team.
He spent time with our drivers and crew in the garage, learning about the preparation that goes into running race cars at the highest level. He got up close to the GT Championship machinery and was able to ask plenty of questions about racing, driver development and what it takes to build a career in motorsport.
One of the highlights of the day was Rory meeting several of our drivers, including Paul Fullick, who also races with a lower-limb amputation. He also joined us for one of the most memorable moments of the weekend, climbing onto the podium to celebrate our GT3 success alongside the team.
Throughout the day, Rory’s passion for racing was impossible to miss. As his mum Charlotte explained: “His dream is to be the first amputee to win a Formula One Grand Prix and he really believes he’s going to be a world champion. You cannot take that dream off him. He is adamant that’s his future.”
Team Principal Mike Scudamore said: “It was such a pleasure to welcome Rory and his family to Snetterton. We’ve proven that disability is not a barrier to success in motorsport, and Rory embodies that same spirit. While his racing journey is only just beginning, we are already exploring ways we can support him as he progresses through the sport.
“Motorsport talent alone is rarely enough to reach the highest levels. Drivers also need guidance, mentoring, industry connections and commercial support. As Rory develops, we hope to help him navigate those challenges by sharing our experience, connecting him with disabled drivers who have already forged successful racing careers, and providing advice on everything from sponsorship and fundraising to driver development opportunities.”
Charlotte summed up the family’s determination when she said: “We’re doing all we can just to open doors for him and let him pursue his dream.”
You can follow Rory’s progress on social media at @builtdifferentracing
