200 laps in 27 hours for visually impaired fundraiser
A charity challenge will see a motoring enthusiast take on the virtual challenge of one of motor racing's toughest circuits.
Drew Hanslow from Kidderminster will be driving 200 laps in 27 hours without sleep to raise money for charity Speed Of Sight, which delivers track days for disabled people.
The visually-impaired 25-year-old will be completing 200 laps of the 14-mile Nürburgring circuit on PS4 game Gran Turismo Sport on April 24 to raise money for the charity that helped him fulfil a lifelong dream of driving a real car.
Drew has albinism and nystagmus, which causes poor vision and a sensitivity to light, meaning that he is not eligible to hold a driver’s licence, but he has always loved cars.
In 2015, his mother found the Speed Of Sight charity and booked him an experience day, something that six years on, he still says is one of his favourite memories.
It was this day that encouraged him to pursue his dreams, and now he races in E-Sports for Year One Racing.
He said: "I’m really excited to take on this challenge and hopefully raise lots of money for Speed Of Sight.
"I’ve only attended one of their track days, but it’s something that’s stuck with me and I know it will be really important to other people with disabilities.
"It’s an unexplainable feeling to be able to drive a real car on your own, something that I never thought would have been possible."
Speed Of Sight is based in Bolton and run by blind race car driver and multiple World Record holder, Mike Newman and his co-founder John Galloway.
Mr Newman said: "It’s for people like Drew that we started Speed Of Sight, because I understand what they feel when they get into one of our cars and race around a track, it’s exhilarating.
“We really admire Drew for all that he has achieved and we’re very humbled that six years after his experience, he still remembers us and wants to help us continue these days for other disabled people.”
People can donate to Speed Of Sight at goldengiving.com/fundraising/speedofsight27hourrace and watch Drew’s race at youtube.com/channel/UCIlv6VctzvFeIDQtHN8oIZw
