Patients at Salisbury Hospital have experienced life in the fast lane after a visit from all-disabled Team BRIT.
On Monday 5th September, two of the team’s drivers visited the spinal injury unit at the hospital with two top-of-the-range racing simulators to give the patients a taste of racing. The team has developed the world’s most advanced hand control technology which enables disabled drivers to compete on equal terms against able-bodied drivers.
The simulators are equipped with the team’s hand controls and give users the chance to try out the technology on sim-versions of iconic UK racing circuits.
Drivers Steve Crompton and Tyrone Mathurin gave the patients lessons in how to use the controls and shared their experiences of racing with the team. Steve is a former patient at the hospital having suffered a spinal injury following a car crash and Tyrone has limited use of one side of his body after a motorbike crash which caused brachial plexus injury.
Team BRIT’s ten drivers are racing across four championships this year and have made history by becoming the first all-disabled team to race in the British GT Championship.
Spinal Unit physiotherapist Rebecca Hobbs said: “A huge thanks to everyone at Team BRIT for visiting our hospital.
“Patients have been telling me how much they loved it and one of them said it was their ‘favourite day in 4 months’ which is pretty amazing feedback.
“It was so nice to see them enjoying it so much and doing something really different. It definitely opened their eyes to what is possible now.”
Team BRIT driver Steve Crompton said: “It was really special to be able to come back to the hospital that supported me as I recovered from my injuries and began to rebuild my life as a paraplegic. I’m coming back at a completely different stage in my life, having recently joined Team BRIT and setting out on the start of my motorsport journey.
“When I was here in the hospital, it was seeing another patient coming in for a check-up and arriving by car that inspired and encouraged me to know that I could still drive and still have my independence. I hope we have shown the patients that there are still incredible opportunities out there even after injury. We’d love to welcome them along to a race soon.”
