A SOLDIER who made a miraculous recovery after he was paralysed from the waist down after being shot in Afghanistan who turned to motorsports helped his team complete a race dubbed as the "longest in the world".

As the Star previously reported Tony Williams is a driver for Team BRIT, a motor racing team of disabled ex-troops which is aiming to become the first ever team of all-disabled drivers to compete in Le Mans in 2020.

Tony, who lives in Blackbrook, survived two grenade blasts and then three weeks later being shot at six times while giving treatment to an injured soldier in June 2010 when serving as a corporal in the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corp.

Tony and the team took on the Spa 25 hour motor race, known as “the longest race in the world”.

The team started their journey on the motor sport ladder with the Fun Cup championship this year, and their latest challenge saw them compete in the 25 hour race at Spa-FrancorChamps in Belgium.

Regularly voted as one of the top tracks in the world by leading names in motor sport, the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps has been the regular home of the F1 Belgian Grand Prix since 1985, and at a little more than 7 km, the longest in the world championship, it is known as "the most beautiful circuit in the world" and was given the title of longest longest race in the world, with its 25 hour timing.

After a successful start from team member Warren McKinlay, Tony jumped in the car for his first stint near twilight.

Despite the car having to be returned to the pits for extensive repairs, the team climbed their way back up the grid helped by quick driver changes and hard work as they came in 101st overall and sixth in the EVO 1 class.

Tony, who defied the odds to walk again and become a dad, described the race as "the hardest test" the team has faced adding it is "the perfect experience for what lies ahead in Le Mans.”

Further information on Team BRIT can be found at teambrit.co.uk.