Disabled driver Pete Littler to enter British GT with Aston Martin
Former rally driver Pete Littler will become the first disabled British GT competitor next season as part of a new factory Aston Martin Racing effort
The 51-year-old has purchased a new Vantage GT3 from the Prodrive factory and will run it under his PFL Motorsport team.
Littler lost the lower section of his right leg through a military injury in 2004, and is classed as 40 per cent disabled as he also has false hips and a pin is his back.
He enjoyed a successful rally career, competing on various levels from national to World Rally Championship events until 2002, before returning to competition in circuit racing last year, finishing 17th in the Volkswagen Racing Cup.
"The first time I drove a competition car with my false leg was last year, and I fell immediately in love with it, so next year we're stepping it up," he said.
"I started speaking to Prodrive in the summer and a lot of the engineers that I used to rally with are still working there so it was like being part of the family, and it's spurred me on to make this jump into British GT.
"I considered GT4, but the noise, power and thrill of GT3 is just something very special."
Littler's team will include Prodrive mechanics and former Hyundai World Rally Team manager Paul Risbridger has been recruited to lead the squad.
A co-driver is yet to be decided and Littler says the Vantage GT3 required no modification for him to drive.
"The biggest modification was when I asked the engineers to cut 10mm off my spare leg because I was struggling to withdraw it from the throttle," he said.
"Due to it being a sequential gearbox I have no clutch to use and I'm used to left-foot braking from rallying. It's easier to drive the GT3 than my road car!
"I struggle for feel with the throttle, but as Niki Lauda says 'you feel a race car through your arse'. I can feel the revs and response through the chassis so you adapt quickly.
"Next season is about showing how disability can be put behind you and getting on with things as normal.
"We're not going in to be also-rans - we want to win. It'll be a big learning curve, but we have the right people and experience in the team to make some waves."
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