Motorsport UK has donated a Pinzgauer 6×6 car to the Armed Forces of Ukraine after over two years of fundraising. It’s anticipated to reach in Lviv this weekend earlier than being despatched to Kyiv the week after. From there, it will likely be transferred to the forty sixth Airmobile Brigade to be used as an armoured ambulance.
The venture launched in Might 2022, lower than two months after the full-scale Russian invasion started. A GoFundMe was began with the objective of elevating £60,000 to donate to the Ukrainian Embassy, who then used the cash to buy the Pinzgauer. David Richards CBE, the chairman of Motorsport UK and Prodrive, supplied the opening and largest salvo of £25,000.
The British Motorsport Belief pitched in £5,000, the second largest donation forward of the £3,000 from the village of Duns Tew. Contributions from Northern Eire had been spearheaded by the Affiliation of Northern Eire Automotive Golf equipment’ £2,000 alongside the Ballynahinch & District Motor Membership and Ulster Rally (£1,000 apiece), Ulster Car Membership (£500), and Dungannon Motor Membership (£250). From Scotland, the Scottish Affiliation of Motor Sports activities Membership and RSAC Motorsport every donated £250. Different donors included the Affiliation of Motorsport Restoration Operators and Shenington Kart Racing Membership, each doing £250 as effectively.
Bicester Heritage, a former navy airfield, hosted occasions just like the Bicester Scramble and Flywheel to boost consciousness for the trigger. In June 2023, a sales space was arrange at Flywheel with the Pinzgauer on show; Victoria Prentis, then the MP for Banbury who has helped Ukrainian refugees in Britain, visited the sales space and remarked the car “appears to be like extra like a tank than an ambulance, nevertheless it has to contemplating the place it’s going.”
Though Austrian rooted as a part of the Steyr-Puch line, the Pinzgauer was produced in the UK by BAE Programs and its subsidiaries from 2000 to 2007, the final iteration being the Pinzgauer Vector PPV (Protected Patrol Automobile). Whereas new fashions are not made, the Goole-based Venari Group is presently chargeable for constructing emergency autos in addition to restoring and changing former British Military inventory for such functions. Different navy autos within the firm’s portfolio embrace an armoured Land Rover, Mercedes Vario, and a Unimog. Venari beforehand labored with the Embassy of Ukraine for Belgium and Luxembourg to provide fourteen Pinzgauers to Ukraine in March 2023.
First developed in 1971, the Pinzgauer is a multi-role car that may also be used as a tow truck and troop service. It’s lined with modular armour that protects it from enemy hearth, which might show very important when evacuating wounded troops from the frontline. It has even been utilized in motorsport, competing on the Paris–Dakar Rally through the race’s early years within the Eighties and being eligible for the Dakar Traditional.
The Venari Pinzgauer options STANAG 3 ballistic safety, which shields it from direct small arms hearth like bullets from machine weapons and sniper rifles. This mixed with the ground additionally protects the occupants from explosions and rollovers. On the within, the bottom mannequin comes with requirements like a stretcher and trauma lights, together with hearth extinguishers and electrical gear.
Kostyantyn Bevz, a lead official within the Car Federation of Ukraine and FIA steward, wrote to The Checkered Flag after confirming its supply, “I used to be ready for it 2 years…”
Britain’s preeminent auto racing federation has been vocal about supporting Ukraine for the reason that begin of the invasion. Only a week after it started, Motorsport UK introduced drivers with Russian and Belarusian licences wouldn’t be allowed to compete within the nation, preserving according to the FIA’s coverage. Federation member and rallycross driver Fynn Watt has made a number of journeys to Ukraine to donate ambulances and off-road autos, together with serving to out at Bicester Flywheel.
