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Meet the world’s only armless racing driver who steers with his feet and dreams of becoming the first disabled competitor at Le Mans.
Callum Smith, 23, was born without arms but has already hit speeds of more than 110 mph on track thanks to a custom foot-steering plate.
The finance assistant from Nuneaton, England, has signed his first driver contract with Team BRIT, the world’s only competitive racing team made up entirely of disabled drivers, and is now chasing a place on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.
Callum fell in love with racing at just two years old after watching bike racing with his grandad, Michael Smith.
He completed his first track day in July 2025 and maxed out at 90 mph around Donington Park’s 2.5-mile iconic track.
Then in April he clocked an impressive 100 mph top speed on Silverstone’s 3.66-mile GP circuit in his own Audi A3.
Now he is putting Team BRIT’s modified BMW 1 Series through its paces at Donington Park while working towards gaining his racing licence.
Callum said: “I’m going to be the first person to be racing without any arms, the first one ever.
“I grew up in the motorsport world, my grandad was a massive biking fan and I loved it from such a young age.
“Once I started getting into driving, I always had that self-belief that I had what it took to be a racing driver and knew that I could do it.
“Thankfully through Team BRIT, they recognise that and have given me my own opportunity not only to prove that but to also showcase my skills.”
The racer uses a specially designed steering plate created by Jim Doran Hand Controls.
His left foot turns the steering plate while his right foot operates the accelerator and brake.
Callum explained: “I use my left foot to steer, and then the right foot does everything else as normal.
“On top of the accelerator I have an indicator switch – I have a Lodgesons Bleeper System which gives me buttons for the horn, main beam, window wipers etc.
“I steer with my left foot. It’s a steering wheel in the footwell that operates the steering wheel.”
Callum was born without arms due to an unexplained bilateral upper-limb disability.
But he says growing up without arms has never stopped him doing what he loves.
He said: “My feet are like my hands – I write with my right foot, I play Xbox with my feet like FIFA and Call of Duty.
“I play guitar with my feet, and I eat by myself with and use a normal knife and fork.”
His racing dream began with a bold email to Team BRIT.
Callum said: “The racing started off with an email to Team BRIT expressing my interest in racing and I said if they were interested in making my dreams come true, I’d be forever grateful.
“They got back to me and I passed some tests with instructors and did a skid test -=– it went from there.”
The youngster hopes to gain his full racing licence, something that requires him to prove he can undo his harness and open the car door unaided.
Despite the challenge, he remains determined.
On driving the race car, he said: “It’s hard, there’s a lot of eye-to-foot coordination. The biggest surprise to me is how heavy the steering feels in a race car, everything is stiffer.
“But I love it and I’m quite keen to get it sorted, I’m motivated to get it done.
“Confidence I’m not short of, but it’s going to be a lot of hard work.”
Also joining Team BRIT’s driver line-up is quadruple amputee Harvey Phillips, 21, from Louth, Lincs.
Harvey lost parts of both legs, his right arm up to the elbow and fingers and thumbs on his left hand after suffering meningitis at nine months old.
He drives using a lever for accelerating and braking and a 3D-printed cup attached to his right arm to steer.
Harvey said: “Driving this car was fun. To accelerate and brake I have a lever, I twist it down to accelerate and push it down towards the dash to brake.
“I have a 3D printed cup to slot my right arm into to turn the steering wheel.”
Looking ahead, Harvey added: “Getting comfortable with the car and getting a race pace down are the main aims for me.
“The team’s ultimate goal is to be the first team to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a fully disabled team.”
Both drivers are now seeking sponsors ahead of a year-long training programme as Team BRIT continues its push towards motorsport history.
