Infiniti BTCC team visits F1 cousins
New British Touring Car Championship team, Infiniti Support Our Paras Racing, took the opportunity to learn from the masters in motorsport today by spending time with the Infiniti Red Bull Racing F1™ team at its factory in Milton Keynes.
In preparation for the season opener at the beginning of April at Brands Hatch, ISOPR, based at Mallory Park, Leicestershire, made the short trip to Milton Keynes to see how Infiniti Red Bull Racing work and prepare for the F1™ season and individual races. The team had a behind-the-scenes tour and met staff from various departments, with an emphasis on race prep.
ISOPR’s program for the year involves training their rookie crew, which includes injured paratroopers, not only for the specific mechanical jobs associated with running a professional motorsports team, but also the environment around it, including the logistics, the forward planning, even the mundane-but-vital details like keeping everyone fed, rested and fit. The visit to the factory was designed to give them a few things to think about ahead of the season.
“It is great seeing the motivation of the BTCC Infiniti Support Our Paras Racing team and how they work together,” said Infiniti Red Bull Racing team manager Jonathan Wheatley. “Hopefully the day has given them a good insight to the Infiniti Red Bull Racing factory and how we go about starting the season.”
Infiniti Support Our Paras Racing team principal, Derek Palmer Sr, acknowledged the benefits of the visit. "This has been a once in a lifetime opportunity not just for the Paras, but for any team on the BTCC grid. It's clear our boys have benefitted a huge amount from the time they've spent working with the Infiniti Red Bull Racing crew, who I need to thank for giving us this unique opportunity."
The BTCC team, who will be driving Infiniti Q50s in the Championship, have been entered with the aim of raising awareness and funds for Support Our Paras, the official charity of the British Army’s Parachute Regiment. The team will employ injured paratroopers to prepare the cars, and have a long-term goal of eventually training an injured paratrooper to compete behind the wheel.