Inclusive racing project - W&S Motorsport cooperates with PARAVAN

At the age of 32, Tim Horrell already has a remarkable track record. The Pennsylvania-born, Florida-based driver won one race in the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America in 2021 and finished on the podium in four other events. In 2022, he managed a second place in GT4 America. He finished the drivers' standings in an excellent tenth place after six contested races. Tim Horrell is starting a new chapter with W&S Motorsport and ventures into Europe in 2023. The ambitious driver, who had a car accident at the age of 21 and has been paralysed from the waist down ever since, spends a lot of time doing sports, in the simulator or with his dog.

In order to drive the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, the bolide with the starting number #75 was customised for Tim Horrell by PARAVAN Mobility Experts. He will operate the vehicle by hand with a throttle ring installed on the steering wheel as well as a brake lever. W&S Motorsport has already supervised several projects together with the company from Pfronstetten-Aichelau, which specialises in adapting vehicles for people with physical disabilities. PARAVAN managing director Roland Arnold likes to take the wheel of his racing car himself in the GTC Race. His son Luca Arnold contested the 2021 and 2022 seasons together with the team of Patrick Wagner and Daniel Schellhaas. 

At the age of 16, Henry Schwalbach is still at the beginning of his driving career and, after guest starts in the 2022 GTC Race, would like to fight for the series' free GT3 sponsorship slot together with W&S Motorsport. In the GTC Race, young talents present themselves to qualify for a free GT3 cockpit for two years in the series at the end of the season in a sighting test. The first promotional driver and now in his second year in a fast racing car alongside professionals is Finn Zulauf. The W&S Motorsport youngster from the Taunus region is contesting the ADAC GT4 Germany and the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) with the team from Ofterdingen this year in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and has already celebrated a class win and a podium in the NLS.

In the GTC Race, three races are held each weekend. Two of them will be over 30 minutes each without a driver change. The third competition over 60 minutes offers the opportunity to hand over the wheel to a teammate, plan tactics accordingly and score points through teamwork. Five stages at exciting race tracks in Germany are on the schedule of the up-and-coming series in which professionals, amateurs as well as young talents can compete on equal terms. The GTC Race will be held as part of the ADAC Racing Weekend and can be followed via livestream on YouTube.

Quotes before the season 

Daniel Schellhaas, Team Principal W&S Motorsport: "It is my personal incentive, based on my professional background in development, to provide Tim with a car that is perfectly adapted to his needs and that allows him to deliver his top performance without restrictions. In PARAVAN we have found the perfect partner and can react quickly to Tim's needs. The speed with which PARAVAN can implement special constructions is a great help to us here - within 24 hours, a complete development can be realised, from design to production to installation. Due to the distance, I have only had contact with Tim by phone so far, but immediately sensed his ambition and will, and that fits perfectly with W&S Motorsport! We are very much looking forward to the season with Tim and PARAVAN, which will serve as preparation for the GT4 European Series. That will be a great thing! Henry is still at the beginning of his career, and we are looking forward to accompanying him on his way. The common goal is to bring him a bit closer to the development cockpit through good training and to further open the door to professional racing."

Roland Arnold, Managing Director PARAVAN GmbH: "Whether enabling mobility in general or in racing with a handicap is part of the corporate DNA of PARAVAN GmbH and is at the same time a challenge for us to make the seemingly impossible possible. We are delighted that Tim Horrell has accepted the challenge on the race track. He has a strong partner in W&S Motorsport. It is important to live inclusion in this area as well, to show that apparent limits, be they physical or technical, can be overcome."

Tim Horrell, Driver W&S Motorsport: "I grew up with a love of cars and speed but only took up racing after my accident. It is my passion, which I burn for. And it has helped me to regain the zest for life that I had lost after my injury. It gives me the motivation to achieve something in my daily life, my goal to be a successful racing driver on a professional level. I am grateful for the opportunity to start the next chapter of my racing career in the GTC with W&S Motorsport. It will be the first time I race in Europe. I am looking forward to the challenge of competing at a higher level, which will push me to become a better driver overall."

Henry Schwalbach, Driver W&S Motorsport: "Last year was purely a learning year for me as a newcomer with three guest starts. The opportunity to present myself in the GTC Race is unique and, together with the W&S Motorsport team, I want to make the most of this chance to hopefully drive a GT3 racer in the future. The competition will certainly be close and we will have to hold our own against tough competition. With the great experience of the professional team, we can succeed. To compete in such a project together with Tim is super and I am sure we will achieve strong results together." 

Calendar GTC Race 2023 

28 - 30 April: Hockenheim

02 - 04 June: Lausitzring

30 June - 02 July: Nürburgring

28 - 30 July: Oschersleben

13 - 15 October: Nürburgring