勒芒 24 小时耐力赛是一项传奇赛事。该耐力赛最早于 1923 年举办，每年都吸引大量精英赛车手参加。这场比赛持续 24 小时，每辆赛车配备三名车手，交替驾驶，最终行驶圈数最多者获胜。赛车时速高达 340 km/h，行驶里程往往超过 5,000 km。这样的比赛不仅对赛车的要求极为严格，而且会将车手及其耐力推向极限。但是有野心的车手怎会因为这些而不去参加这场颇受欢迎的经典耐力赛？
改变人生的体验
BRIT 车队希望能够参加 2020 年勒芒耐力赛。但是，这个车队的特别之处在于：存在身体缺陷的车手要参加标准比赛，与健全车手公平竞赛。“对于这些车手而言，参加耐力赛将改变他们的人生轨迹。”BRIT 车队创始人 Dave Player 解释道， “追求速度、突破极限和团队合作让这场赛事显得如此具有吸引力。车手不仅可以突破身体限制，而且能够获得精神上的满足。” 2015/2016 赛季，BRIT 车队的车手参加了 Britcar 耐力系列赛和银石 24 小时耐力赛。现在，他们的目标是 2020 年的勒芒耐力赛。他们有可能成为有史以来第一支参加这场赛事的全残疾车队。
A racing car for people of all physical abilities
But this all depends on the racing car having a flexible control system that can be used regardless of the driver’s physical limitations. The British motorsport Team BRIT and the Slovenian company MME Motorsport have achieved just that: the newly developed control system enables the accelerator, brakes, gears and clutch to be controlled with pedals as well as with levers on the steering wheel. The specially adapted steering wheel can be taken out and replaced with a conventional steering wheel if necessary. "The control system is very flexible and can cater for different requirements," explains Al Locke, Team BRIT engineer. "The hand controls allow the drivers to keep both hands on the steering wheel and perform all of the required functions. At the same time, the foot pedals work as normal, which adds to the flexibility of the system to suit different disabilities. This system also allows able-bodies drivers to drive the car as normal.’
The brakes, gears and clutch are controlled using Festo automation technology. The proportional pneumatic controls of the hydraulic brake system allow the brakes on the front and rear axles to be operated separately. A pneumatic cylinder controls the sequential gearbox. The clutch is engaged and disengaged using a proportional pneumatic cylinder.
A big step towards equality in driving
The new hand controls are not only set to make the world of motor sport accessible for disabled drivers in the future, but will also be used in driving simulators. They could also potentially be used in road vehicles, which could open up opportunities for test drives and vehicle rental for disabled people. So, what's next for Le Mans 2020? Following rigorous testing and successful trial use in races, Team BRIT now has complete confidence in the technology and is currently seeking formal safety approval from the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the motor sport’s governing body. Once this is granted, nothing will stand in the way of their bid for Le Mans.
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