Two military veterans from Essex who have been making waves in national motorsport as part of tan all-disabled team will step up to British GT and international endurance racing this year.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ash Hall has joined the Team BRIT Fun Cup squad. Picture: DAVID ARCHER/KINGSIZE PHOTOGRAPHYAsh Hall has joined the Team BRIT Fun Cup squad. Picture: DAVID ARCHER/KINGSIZE PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Archant)

Warren McKinlay, 35, from Braintree and 27-year-old Colchester veteran Ash Hall are part of the all-disabled Team BRIT squad, which last year ran in the Fun Cup series.

The team aims to be the first all-disabled outfit to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans by 2020.

Now, as it continues to work towards the prestigious endurance event, the team has announced the pair will compete in various GT series this year – with high profile categories British GT and the Creventic 24 Hour Series.

McKinlay said: “Having been with the team since its early days, I am so proud to be part of the move to GT racing.

East Anglian Daily Times: Team BRIT driver Warren McKinlay. Picture: KINGSIZE PHOTOGRAPHYTeam BRIT driver Warren McKinlay. Picture: KINGSIZE PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Archant)

“This will be a huge achievement for us, and I will do everything I can to get on the GT team this year.”

The team has acquired a full-spec Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4, in which it will compete selected rounds of those two series, as well as races in the Aston Martin Owners Club GT4 Challenge and other GT events.

It marks a significant step up for the two drivers, where the team will compete against factory Aston Martin and Bentley squads in British GT, and race on some of the best international circuits in Creventic such as Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Silverstone and Barcelona.

Hall said: “It’s fantastic that the team has been able to share the news of our Aston Martin with the world.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4, which Team BRIT's Essex drivers will compete in Creventic 24H Series and British GT in 2018. Picture: DAVID ARCHER/KINGSIZE PHOTOGRAPHYThe Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4, which Team BRIT's Essex drivers will compete in Creventic 24H Series and British GT in 2018. Picture: DAVID ARCHER/KINGSIZE PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: DAVID ARCHERk <)

“This cements our position as serious competitors in motorsport and shows what can be achieved by disabled drivers.

“Our ethos is ‘Believe and Achieve’. We want to show disabled people all over the world that anything is possible.

“We are normalising disability and proving that we can compete on a totally level playing field with able-bodied drivers.”

The innovative controls developed by the team allows drivers of differing disabilities to compete in the same car, such as double leg amputee Hall and McKinlay, who has a brain injury.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4, which Team BRIT's Essex drivers will compete in Creventic 24H Series and British GT in 2018. Picture: DAVID ARCHER/KINGSIZE PHOTOGRAPHYThe Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4, which Team BRIT's Essex drivers will compete in Creventic 24H Series and British GT in 2018. Picture: DAVID ARCHER/KINGSIZE PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: DAVID ARCHERk <)

Hall survived a bomb explosion while serving in Afghanistan in 2010, but had to have both legs amputated.

McKinlay had been involved in a motorcycle accident in 2005 aged 23, which left him with a traumatic brain injury and “walking corpse syndrome” – a condition which left him believing he was dead.

The team will also continue in the Fun Cup when it kicks off at Oulton Park in April.