He is not able to hear but wants everyone to hear about him. A UK teen aims to become the world’s first deaf F1 driver.
The South Wales resident, who became deaf when he was just two years old, has learned how to feel the car rather than listen to it.
Caleb McDuff suffered severe ear infections as a baby. But now he has a moderate level of hearing thanks to cochlear implants.
After cochlear implants were fitted, Caleb’s parents were instructed that the kid shouldn’t play contact sports such as football and rugby. So, his dad, Ian, began looking for other sports his son could enjoy.
Inspired by a Canadian driver
Ian was inspired by Kris Martin, a Canadian deaf racing driver. When Caleb was five, Ian bought him a go-kart for Christmas and began supporting him in his new hobby—one that Ian had also enjoyed for many years.
Until last year, Caleb wasn’t able to comfortably wear his cochlear implants under his helmet, which meant taking them out and driving in complete silence. However, he said that this challenge has made him the driver he is today, reported the BBC.
“I think it helped me focus more on what’s ahead of me than what’s surrounding with the sound,” said Caleb “It makes me a unique person, because people will be like, ‘how do you race in silence?’, and I’m like ‘that’s just me.”
Caleb actually felt the car
His father, Ian, claims that from an early age, Caleb felt the car changing in different situations, which was very impressive. “He could even feel the presence of another kart because the air vibration was different.”
Before long, Caleb was showing natural talent, and began competing in kart races. By 2019, he won the South Wales Karting Championship and came 3rd in the Super 1 National Championships in 2020, despite missing some races due to a crash.
Ian runs a vehicle repair business, and he built Caleb a racing car, they spent 2021 testing to get Caleb as much experience as possible at this higher stage of racing.
In 2023, he competed in his first full year of car racing in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, finishing 18th overall out of 33 competitors and 8th in the rookie class. By the end of the season, he was winning awards for the most overtakes.
However, there were still limitations to the level at which he could compete. That changed earlier this year when he joined Team BRIT, the world’s first competitive all-disabled team.
“When I was offered the chance to race with Team BRIT in the BMW, I couldn’t say yes quick enough. I know I’m never going to want to get out the car,” said Caleb.
“It’s really exciting to be moving up to a BMW. It’s always been my dream to be a racing driver, and being part of the team means I’ll be learning more to get better and better. I’m really looking forward to being part of a team and also showing other Deaf people what is possible.”
Caleb will now hear the car
The young racer may be able to hear the car, as a team at BRIT developed technology that allows him to wear the sound processors of cochlear implants outside of his helmet.
These sound processors listen and transmit signals through his skull into receivers connected to the nerves in his ears.
If it works well, for the first time, he will be able to communicate with his engineer and team radio.
With the help of this technology, Caleb believes that one day, he will be able to compete with his idol, Sir Lewis Hamilton.
“That’s the top motorsport you could ever be in. If I was to make it to F1, I will be the first deaf F1 driver. If we get there fast enough,” said Caleb, according to BBC.
