Mentor Spotlight: Julian McBride - From Adversity to Advocacy in Motorsport

Mentor Spotlight

"Never stop striving to achieve what you want, never stop loving the sport and find a way to be involved. Keep your passion. Commit to finding a way to achieve. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness."

When Julian McBride found himself in a hospital bed in 2011 following a spinal injury from a back operation that didn't go as planned, he had a choice to make. In that pivotal moment, speaking with a nurse while his children visited, Julian made a decision that would reshape not only his own life but the lives of countless others in the motorsport community.

"Come on McBride, so life's dealt you a crappy hand. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get on with it!" That internal conversation became the foundation of an extraordinary journey from IT security professional to racing driver to dedicated mentor in the FIA Disability in Motorsport programme.

The Man Behind the Mission

Based near Oxford, England, Julian brings nearly four decades of professional experience to his mentoring relationships. His career in IT security since 1989 has taken him from the technical trenches to leadership roles in sales, but it's his personal journey with disability that gives his mentorship its unique power.

"When I first suffered my spinal injury in 2011, I thought my life was over," Julian reflects. "I have no idea how I was able to dig deep or where that determination came from, but I think I just love life so much I made a stand against my adversity."

That stand led him back to a childhood passion - racing - and into a world of possibilities he never imagined.

From Personal Triumph to Mentorship Purpose

Julian's transition into mentoring wasn't accidental. After achieving his own racing dreams despite his disability, he recognised an opportunity to give back. "I've always wanted to feel like I was doing something charitable, and when this opportunity to be part of the disability mentoring programme came up, I jumped at it," he explains.

His approach to mentoring is refreshingly direct and deeply personal. "It's a chance to give back, to share some of my own experiences both as a disabled racing driver and someone fortunate enough in life to have had chances that many wouldn't have."

The Ripple Effect of Possibility

One conversation particularly stands out in Julian's mentoring journey. During a session with one of his mentees - a talented esports racer navigating physical limitations - inspiration struck from an unexpected direction.

"He made some comment along the lines of 'Don't you think it would be amazing if we could make a story out of all the people we know around the world who are finding ways of overcoming disability and showcasing in the motorsport world?'" Julian recalls. "That moment of realisation that he could see possibility in a dream, in a moment of inspiration, was brilliant."

The exchange exemplifies what Julian finds most rewarding about mentoring: "seeing other people feel good about themselves and find hope. That sense of 'there is something out there for me' or 'yes, I can do this' or 'why let this small matter of a disability get in the way of living a dream?'"

"If I can just play my little part in this by impacting positively even just a few lives, then that's a few lives more than there might otherwise have been."

A Philosophy of Radical Possibility

Julian's advice to others considering becoming a mentor is that everyone has something valuable to offer.

"Don't think twice about it. Don't believe you can't do it. Don't think for one minute that what you have to offer isn't of value. EVERYONE has something to offer, something of value that can be shared with others."

For Julian, mentoring serves a critical function in levelling the playing field. "Not everyone has the same chance in life. Not everyone has the necessary support structure around them to guide and help them achieve what they are capable of," he explains. "We all need a 'leg up' from time to time."

His recommended resources: "It's many books, lots of reading and determination to find a way." For Julian, the path forward isn't about a single solution but about maintaining an unwavering commitment to possibility.

A Call to Action

Julian's story illustrates the transformative power of mentorship - not just for mentees, but for mentors themselves. "As a mentor, it really does bring home to you how lucky you are and how amazing people are when given the right opportunity," he reflects.

His message to anyone considering mentorship in the motorsport community is unequivocal: "Mentoring is a privilege and an honour. Embrace it. It will complete you."

In a world where barriers often seem insurmountable, Julian McBride stands as proof that with the right mindset, support, and determination, there truly is a way to find involvement, maintain passion, and achieve dreams - regardless of the hand life deals you.

The FIA Disability in Motorsport mentorship programme connects experienced professionals with emerging talent, creating pathways for inclusion and achievement in motorsport.