Racing driver born without arms takes to the track for the first time

A man born without arms has had his first taste of life as a racing driver, after taking his newly adapted race car out on a circuit for the first time.

Callum Smith, 23, was spotted by recruiters at Team BRIT earlier this year, but it has taken several months to adapt a race car for him, adding a steering wheel that can be controlled with his feet.

Now the rookie driver has had his first opportunity to take the car out for a spin at Donington race circuit and said the "raw emotion" of the day was "just completely different to how I had it planned out in my head."

"I don't think there's too many words to describe the feelings and the sensations of it all", Smith added.

Paul Fullick is Team BRIT's GT3 driver and was in the passenger seat for the track day giving advice on the circuit and car.

He admits it was a "nerve-wracking" first for him too.

"First time out for me going with someone with no arms, 100 miles an hour, you get to the straight and you just hope that steering wheel is going to turn."

"There was a moment when I thought it might not, but it did, the steering wheel just magically turned."

"Obviously he's turning it with his foot in the footwell but that's quite a nerve-wracking moment."

Smith, from Nuneaton, learnt to drive a couple of years ago using a car that has the steering wheel in the footwell and set his sights on becoming the first racing driver with his disability.

Team BRIT, who have taken Smith on, are an all-disabled racing team and have had to make many adaptations to their cars.

They have eight drivers on the team and four cars adapted for various disabilities including amputees and neurodiverse drivers.

Smith's car was modified over the summer by Jim Doran Hand Controls (JDHC) in Coventry.

The first opportunity for Callum to try out those newly fitted controls was at a track day at Donington race circuit on Thursday.

"My first impression was, wow! The steering feels completely different." Smith said.

"Even though I've got the same setup in terms of how I operate it, just the actual feeling of the steering, it's completely different to a road car."

Mike Scudamore, Team Principal at Team BRIT, said they were already pleased with the car's set up and Callum's progress.

"This is the very first time the car has gone out with the controls", Scudamore said.

"One of the challenges he [Smith] found first of all was the steering was a little bit stiffer than he imagined, and that's one of the things we're going to be working on with him."

More track days are planned for the future and Smith hopes to get the car to a place where he can start setting competitive times.

"A lot of it is just ergonomics", Smith said.

"Getting everything fit for me in terms of seat positioning and stuff, and then hopefully again in another couple of months we can take on another test day and build on from my progress today."

To become a full-time driver for Team BRIT, Smith will also have to secure a sponsor.

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