NEWPORT racing driver Andrew Tucker will have to wait for his first action on the track after the Britcar Championship was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tucker is part of the 2020 driver line up for Team BRIT, an all-disabled racing team.

The 32-year-old from Llandevaud, who sustained serious injuries in a road traffic collision, had been gearing up for his first year as a driver and he was due to make his racing debut at Donington Park next month.

Team BRIT aims to be the first all-disabled team to race in Le Mans, and supports people with physical and psychological challenges in accessing motorsport through its Racing Academy.

Tucker was riding his motorbike in Newport in January 2013 when a car collided with him when he was stationary at traffic lights, causing a range of serious injuries.

He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, which required partial reconstruction, he has an inverted right ankle, muscle damage to his lower leg and a large piece of muscle has had to be removed from the back of his calf.

He also has limited movement and deformity in his right shoulder, trapped nerves in his neck, scoliosis and spondylitis in his spine and a deformed right hand and foot.

Alongside the physical damage, Tucker suffers with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.

After attending a Team BRIT Academy day in 2019, where he was able to drive using the team’s world-leading hand control technology, he was awarded ‘driver of the day’ by a team instructor.

After an assessment from team founder Dave Player and race engineer Al Locke, he was invited to become a rookie driver with the team.

Tucker will race in a BMW 116 alongside three teammates in the Trophy Category of the Britcar Championship, while experienced racers Aaron Morgan and Bobby Trundley will race the team’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 in the Endurance Championship.

“I am extremely excited to be racing for Team BRIT this year and look forward to the challenges ahead,” said Tucker.

“I have a fantastic crew behind me for the season, we're raring to go and I can't wait to put all that I have learned through the team into action, with my sights set on the podium!

“I'm incredibly appreciative to Leigh Hussain and Jason Awatar at Inspired Business Media for sponsoring me, also to Gareth Davies at GRDetailing & Valeting. It's truly amazing to have the support of businesses based in Wales, even more so from Newport and the surrounding areas.

“I'd also like to take the time to say a big thank you to the team’s founder, Dave Player, for providing my teammates and myself with the opportunity of a lifetime that will never be forgotten.”