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STEVE JACKMAN which specialises in competing with adapted cars. This, and a lack of prior driving experience helped fast-track his progress.“ It was very intuitive,” he says.“ I wasn’ t in the habit of using my feet for pedals, so I never had to get my head over that hurdle. It was second nature from the beginning, using the throttle on the paddle of my right hand and braking with the left paddle is all I’ ve known. That gave me a head start.”
Currently competing in the Britcar Endurance Championship, this season is only Cosby’ s fourth in competition and second in GT machinery. Last year he began with a previous-generation GT4 but given that car was a McLaren 570S GT4, it’ s been a mighty step up.“ Now this year it’ s the BMW M4 GT4, which is front engine, rather than midengine, and it’ s a completely different car,” he says.“ It’ s been a very steep learning curve which is incredible development for myself.”
The chassis differences mean the balance of the car is transformed, which presents a much bigger challenge for Cosby’ s personal requirements.“ My injury is at T6, just under where my rib is finished, and from there down the feeling is either not there or very patchy. Getting used to feeling the car underneath me, through my shoulders, is a challenge; it’ s strengthened my driving abilities in other areas, visually being aware of the car and physically feeling it move in other places, where able-bodied drivers wouldn’ t have to. The McLaren and BMW are such polar opposite cars; that’ s been really interesting to uncover.”
Another challenge has been pitstops, with extra consideration and preparation required. Not just for movement in and out of the car, but controls suitable for each driver’ s often unique requirements.“ All of our cars are set up and adapted to have
PAUL CHERRY
Cosby’ s intricate helmet design is inspired by the Japanese tradition of Kintsugi
Cosby typically drives the first stint as getting him in the car is more complicated than exiting
42 Revolution Magazine