For the second year, renowned motorsport insurance specialists, Richard Egger Insurance, are sponsoring a milestone project that helps introduce disabled drivers to grassroots motorsport. Called DIAL 09, it will allow two selected drivers to contest the Loughborough Car Club’s summer series of AutoSOLO and grass autotests for FREE at the wheel of a specially-adapted Nissan Micra.
Sisterly support
Sisters Alice and Leanne Franklin of Leicester are this year’s beneficiaries of the scheme – both suffer from muscular dystrophy. They more than proved their potential at the selection day last year and will now have the fun of competing against each other as well as the able-bodied entrants in the series. The climax of their season will be taking part in a round of the National AutoSOLO Challenge.
The bar is already set high, however, as last year’s drivers of the converted Nissan, Gary Edgecombe and Mick Brennan, finished first and third overall in the championship!
Fastest growing area of motorsport.
Said sponsor and project co-ordinator Richard Egger, himself a well-known club rally driver: “Motorsport is often seen as an elitist pastime and relatively difficult for anybody to break into. Arguably it is therefore even harder for the disabled to get involved.
“AutoSOLO events were evolved to solve these problems. They are a relatively new form of low-cost, non-specialist motorsport that is carried out by novice drivers in street-legal road cars. Helmets, overalls and competition licences are not required, the main aim being to keep costs to a minimum – small wonder it is now the fastest growing form of motorsport in the UK.
“By adapting the Nissan we are able to give disabled drivers the chance to join in the fun. At present the scheme is unique to the Loughborough Car Club, but in due course I’d love to see it extended to a network of three, four or five clubs, and perhaps even go national in years to come.”
Photocall at Nuneaton & Bedworth ‘Communities Day’
The Nissan is provided, prepared and maintained by the Loughborough Car Club and sponsored by: Richard Egger Insurance, Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, DIAL (the national network of disability and advice line services), and 30 signal Regiment of Bramcote.
