‘Poking fun at myself and my disability is part of who I am,’ says inspirational racing driver who starred in hit YouTube sketch with ‘David Brent’
An amputee racing driver with a great sense of humour plays a starring role in a comedy sketch that has been watched more than 125,000 times on YouTube.
Paul Fullick appears alongside ‘David Brent’ in the humorous video that sees Tim Oliver – a well-known impersonator of Ricky Gervais’ character from The Office – make several awkward quips at the expense of Team BRIT members.
Mr Fullick has the last laugh though in the near eight-minute offering by leaving Brent screaming “I feel sick” after being raced around Thruxton circuit with him in the passenger seat.
“This was certainly a sponsor project like no other!” the 44-year-old from Fareham, near Portsmouth and Southampton, said about the video that was produced by Team BRIT sponsor Adrian Flux.
“I really didn’t know what to expect when the team told me about what was being planned, but the whole thing was absolutely hilarious and a joy to be part of from start to finish. It was refreshing to be part of something that involves portraying disability in a different way – being confident to have fun and to be funny.
“I’m really comfortable with poking fun at myself and my disability – it’s part of who I am. We shouldn’t shy away from that or be scared of having fun with who we are. I hope everyone enjoyed watching it – I loved being part of it, although I hope I don’t have too many coaching clients like ‘David’!”
Mr Fullick is the butt of several cringeworthy comments that lean into Brent’s iconic role as a self-promoting, hypocritical and inappropriate boss of a fictional company’s office in Slough. The Hampshire racer is seen smiling and laughing, along with other members of the world’s only all-disabled motorsport team, and gets in on the fun by declaring “you can walk round, I’ll wheel round” as the pair enter the car he drives in the film.
The BMW GT3 competitor is a former member of the British Army and was medically discharged in 2006 after sustaining injuries while serving. He joined Team BRIT in 2017 and has impressed behind the wheel despite also having to have his lower right leg amputated after a motorcycle crash in 2021.
“Paul is just one example of the inspirational people that are involved with Team BRIT,” said Gerry Bucke, the general manager of Adrian Flux, the UK’s largest specialist motor insurance broker.
“It’s been great to help shine more spotlight on what they’re doing and allow the team to be involved in some fun projects that portray a different side of living with disability. While there are challenges aplenty, there are also opportunities and Team BRIT is a great example of that.
“Our partnership with them is the perfect merging of two brands that share so many values around providing solutions for individuals and opportunities for the underserved. To play a small part in helping disabled racing drivers compete is something that fills us with immense joy.”
Adrian Flux, formed when its founder, a disabled driver, was struggling to get insurance, has been a Team BRIT sponsor since 2021 and has just agreed a two-year extension to that partnership. https://teambrit.co.uk/
