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Duke of Sussex visits the Invictus Games Racing team
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The Duke of Sussex met the Invictus Games Racing team, and got to inspect one of the Stilo ST5 F 8860 helmets that have been supplied to the team by Nicky Grist Motorsports, as part of his visit to The Royal Marines Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon.
The Duke met the team’s drivers, their families and the various engineering personnel before being given an overview of both specially commissioned Jaguar GT4 race cars, which were parked on the parade square.
Formed in 2017, Invictus Games Racing is a collaborative project with the Invictus Games Foundation, of which The Duke of Sussex is Patron, that has seen injured ex-service personnel compete in two Jaguar GT4 race cars in the 2018 British GT Championship.
The team comprises four ex-service personnel from: the Royal Marines; the RAF and the Parachute Regiment, in addition to two professional drivers. Two of the drivers, Steve McCulley and Paul Vice MC, are former Royal Marine Commandos.
Steve, Paul and wider Invictus Games Racing team met The Duke as part of a team bonding day – which included a Royal Marines assault course – ahead of their final race of the season at Donington Park (22-23 September).
“No one in our team can quite believe what a season we have had – meeting The Duke was a perfect way to celebrate it,” said Major Steve McCulley, who was pivotal in organising the visit. “I know I speak on behalf of my team-mates when I say that the opportunity to be part of the Invictus Games Racing team has been nothing short of incredible. Moreover, it has given us all the feeling of being part of a team again – with a healthy competitive edge thrown in!”
Invictus Games Racing is the brainchild of James Holder, co-founder of clothing brand Superdry. A keen racer himself, Holder noticed that, during his own inaugural race season in 2016, drivers missing lower legs were still able to race competitively against able bodied counterparts. This provided the inspiration for him to create Invictus Games Racing.
“We wanted to create a high-octane charity that paid homage to all of the amazing things that the Invictus Games represents and recreate that spirit of fierce competition and personal challenge in a motorsport team dedicated to the wounded injured and sick community – Invictus Games Racing,” said Holder.
“We are now nearing the end of our first season of competing in the British GT Championships where our four drivers have met the extreme challenges with professionalism and true grit. Meeting The Duke of Sussex today was a fitting way to close the season and a just reward for the drivers, and team, for all of their hard work and spectacular commitment throughout our first competitive year.”
The Duke of Sussex became Captain General Royal Marines in December 2017 and assumed the role in succession to his grandfather The Duke of Edinburgh who was Captain General for 64 years. The Commando Training Centre at Lympstone selects and trains all Royal Marines Officers, recruits and reserves. On average, 1,300 recruits, 2,000 potential recruits and 400 potential officers attend training courses and acquaint courses there every year.
