'We all want those last points': Fareham racing driver eyes GT Cup Championship title ahead of final round
“The biggest thing for me is inspiring people to get into sport.”
An Army veteran turned racing driver has one hand on his first championship - but isn't getting distracted ahead of the season finale.
Paul Fullick, from Fareham, is leading the GT Cup Championship's GT3 category with one round to go; this weekend, he and the rest of Team Brit will head to Snetterton for the title decider.
Having already raced at Donnington Park, Brands Hatch and Silverstone this season, Fullick and teammate Jamie Falvey - a former Royal Marine - are on 309.5 points, driving a BMW M4. The 44-year-old is in his fifth season in the sport, having previously ridden motorbikes.
He said: "We're approaching it like any other race weekend. That's the best way to go at it, and helps you to focus on the race itself, rather than everything going on around it.
“We have won at Snetterton before, it's a track we seem to run well at. It's a circuit that's very technical, you have to be on your A-game the whole time.
"In terms of who our main rivals are, it's everyone - we all want those last few points that could swing the championship.
"I joined the team immediately after my surgery, messaging them from my hospital bed following my operation. The surgeons didn't want me back on a bike, but racing is a big part of who I am.
"An Army colleague came to visit me and told me about this car racing team that takes disabled drivers."
Paul had an accident in 2006, leaving the Army a few years later, and says racing is what helped him to readjust to civilian life.
This year, at the wheel of the BMW M3, the Fareham racer has taken victories at Donnington Park and Brands Hatch, with a handful of pole positions in qualifying too.
Speaking about how powerful his car is, Paul said: "This season has been the biggest jump in performance I've ever seen while racing.
"The grip with this car actually increases with speed, so it's a real leap of faith to take into the corners. Trusting the mechanical grip, and your aero package, is the key."
When he's not behind the wheel, Paul has been coaching Team Brit's younger drivers, helping out on track days, and attending events for sponsors and charities alike.
He added: "The biggest thing for me is inspiring people who are either going through injuries, or have a disability, to get involved in sport. It doesn't have to be motorsport, but it's about applying yourself to something positive."
Paul joked that Snetterton is a circuit he "doesn't really like", despite seeing success there in the past.
"My favourite track in the UK is probably Donnington Park," he said. "The undulation makes it a great track to drive. We did pre-season testing at Portimão in Portugal, which is a phenomenal circuit too.
"Last year we visited Virginia, which might just be the most beautiful racetrack I've ever seen."
For a live race feed from Snetterton this weekend, people can visit Team Brit's fanpage.