Caleb McDuff

Last updated

Caleb McDuff Caleb McDuff - Deaf Go Kart Racer.jpg
Caleb McDuff

Caleb McDuff is a British racing driver. McDuff is profoundly deaf and uses cochlear implants to hear, but can not be use them while racing in a crash helmet.

Contents

McDuff began his racing career in the Super 1 National Kart Championships, driving for AllStars Racing Team, managed by Luke Hines. In 2022 - 2023 he raced in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, driving for Orex Competition. During 2023 McDuff was also linked with Team BRIT as he is involved in a project to develop and test equipment to allow Deaf racing drivers to communicate with pit crews whilst they are racing. [1]

In January 2024 McDuff announced he would be racing a BMW 1 Series in the Britcar Trophy Championship, driving for Team BRIT [2]

McDuff in full race suit with custom designed crash helmet Caleb McDuff in full race kit.png
McDuff in full race suit with custom designed crash helmet

Racing

WIX Silence Racing livery Caleb McDuff WIX Silence Racing livery.jpg
WIX Silence Racing livery

From an early age McDuff showed an interest in cars and racing, and learned to drive electric-powered cars from the age of 18 months. [3] He had his first drive of a petrol-powered go-kart at age four. [4]

In 2014 McDuff joined the Bambino Kart Tour, a race series created by Darren Beavers to encourage children aged six to eight to enter go-kart racing. The tour takes place at seven tracks around the United Kingdom during the course of the year. McDuff raced on a zip chassis, powered by a 50cc two-stroke engine which reaches speeds in excess of 40 mph, whilst racing in Bambino class. McDuff moved to Honda powered Zip chassis for the 2018 Super One British Championship.

Whilst racing, McDuff is unable to wear the processors for his cochlear implants that allow him to hear. This means that he races in complete silence, and this inspired the team name he races under of 'Silence Racing'. McDuff relies fully on sign language and lip reading once his processors are off, and has learnt to adapt other senses to compensate for this, and 'feels' the go-kart and its engine rather than hearing it. [5] [6]

McDuff Welsh flag helmet design Caleb McDuff with 'Wales' inspired crash helmet.jpg
McDuff Welsh flag helmet design

In September 2014, McDuff received public nominations for Deaf Sports Personality of the Year (DSPY) 2014 (Young Player of the Year), and also Young Gun 2014 (under 13) by internet-based radio station DownForce UK. [7]

In January 2018, McDuff joined the AllStars Racing team, managed by Luke Hines. Hines, a former racing driver himself, worked with McDuff to prepare him for the 2018 Super One Karting Championship. [8]

In May 2019, McDuff became the first profoundly Deaf racing driver to step on the Super 1 National Championship podium, after finishing 2nd at Rowrah, Cumbria. At the time, McDuff was driving for the same works Zipkart Team that four time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton drove for during his karting career. [9]

In October 2019, McDuff won the Super 1 National Kart Championships, making him first ever Deaf person to do so. [10]

in 2020 McDuff returned to the Super One Championship, racing in the faster Rotax Max class. In the opening race of the Championship he was involved in a serious collision, causing him to have a dislocated shoulder and rib injuries. Despite missing a number of races whilst recovering, he still finished 3rd in the championship. In doing so, he also became the first ever Deaf driver to win a Super One Championship race.

Later in 2020 he went on to win the Super One annual 'O Plate' race in Cumbria, driving for the M-Sport racing team. Winning the O Plate was another first for a Deaf driver. [11]


In April 2024, McDuff made history by becoming the first Deaf driver to step on the podium at the BRITCAR Trophy Championship, taking his Team BRIT BMW 1 series to 3rd after a mechanical fault caused him to drop from 1st place lead. [12]

Sponsorship

McDuff in front of WIX Silence Racing teams Sponsor Backdrop Caleb McDuff with first podium finish trophy.jpg
McDuff in front of WIX Silence Racing teams Sponsor Backdrop

In February 2015, British Touring Car team, WIX Racing announced McDuff as a member of their driver line up as part of a sponsorship program. UK-based oil company Millers Oils also announced their support of McDuff's career development. At the time of announcements, McDuff was the youngest deaf racing driver in the world on a professional career path. [13]

McDuff is also sponsored by financial services comparison website Go Compare and house builders Taylor Wimpey, as well as several local businesses. [14]

In September 2020, McDuff announced that due to the global financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he had lost all financial support from his sponsors. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kart racing</span> Motorsport using go-karts

Kart racing or karting is a motorsport discipline using open-wheel, four-wheeled vehicles known as go-karts or shifter karts. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits, although some professional kart races are also held on full-size motorsport circuits. Karting is commonly perceived as the stepping stone to the higher ranks of motorsports, with most Formula One drivers—including Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, and Max Verstappen—having begun their careers in karting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Brabham</span> Australian racing driver (born 1965)

David Philip Brabham is an Australian racing driver and one of the most successful and experienced specialists in sports car racing. He has won three international Sports Car series and is one of four Australians to have won the Le Mans 24 Hour sports car race, winning the event in 2009. Brabham won the American Le Mans Series in 2009 and 2010. He also competed in Formula One, racing for the Brabham and Simtek teams in 1990 and 1994, respectively. Brabham is the youngest son of three-time Formula One world champion Sir Jack Brabham, brother to Geoff Brabham and Gary Brabham. He is also brother-in-law to Mike Thackwell, father to Sam Brabham and uncle to Matthew Brabham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Winterbottom</span> Australian racing driver

Mark "Frosty" Winterbottom is an Australian professional racing driver. He currently competes in the Repco Supercars Championship, driving the No. 18 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Team 18. His career highlights include winning the 2013 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, twice winning the Sandown 500 and receiving the Mike Kable Young Gun Award in 2003. Winterbottom has also won his maiden championship title in the 2015 International V8 Supercars Championship, making it the first title for Ford in five years. He also voices himself in the Australian version of the hit 2011 film, Cars 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Hines</span> British racing driver (born 1982)

Luke Hines is a British racing driver. He is the son of former karting champion and Zip Kart founder/owner Martin Hines.

<i>Aguri Suzuki F-1 Super Driving</i> 1992 video game

Aguri Suzuki F-1 Super Driving, released as Redline F-1 Racer in North America, is a Formula One racing simulator game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy. The game is named after and sponsored by the Japanese Formula 1 driver, Aguri Suzuki; his likeness and imagery were retained in the North American version despite the name change.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britcar</span> Endurance motor racing series in the United Kingdom

Britcar is an endurance sports car racing and touring car racing series in the United Kingdom.

The Super One National Kart Championships, also known as S1 or Super One, is a karting championship based in the United Kingdom. It has been in operation since 1983 and is regarded as the premier karting championship in the UK, producing professional drivers including Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, David Coulthard, Alexander Albon, Dan Wheldon, Anthony Davidson, Jason Plato, Zhou Guanyu and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Neate</span> British racing driver (born 1974)

Andrew Simon Neate is a British former racing driver.

Alexander Jones was a British racing driver, cyclist and artist from Anglesey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Gilham Racing</span> British motor racing team

Tony Gilham Racing , competing as Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD., Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils. and Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown. currently, is a British motor racing team based in Dartford, Kent and founded by Tony Gilham. The team raced under the Team HARD. banner in the British Touring Car Championship until the end of 2013. They now compete in the British Touring Car Championship, Volkswagen Racing Cup, Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Mini Challenge UK and the GT Cup series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Whitley (alpine skier)</span> British alpine skier

James Whitley is a British alpine skier, who competes in the slalom, giant slalom SuperG, Downhill and Super Combined events. A promising junior skier, Whitley qualified to represent Great Britain's team at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi for his debut Paralympics. In January 2018 it was announced by BPA and PSGB (ParaSnowSportsGB) that Whitley had been selected to compete in Pyeongchang in the 2018 Winter Paralympics. In February 2022, Whitley was named by the BPA as part of the ParalympicsGB squad for the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Igor Skuz</span> Ukrainian racing driver (born 1976)

Igor Vasylyovych Skuz is a Ukrainian professional racing driver currently competing in the Ukrainian Touring Championship since 2007 for a family-owned MasterKart Racing Team, that also has a role of main promoter of the series since 2018. Outside Ukraine he competed in Russian Touring Car Championship, European Touring Car Cup and TCR International Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arjun Maini</span> Indian racing driver

Arjun Maini is an Indian professional racing driver, currently competing in the DTM. He has previously also competed in FIA Formula 2 Championship with Trident Racing and Campos Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Thompson (racing driver)</span> British racing driver (born 1996)

Robert David Thompson is a British racing driver who currently competes in the British Touring Car Championship, driving for Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils. He was the 2022 Jack Sears Trophy winner.

Charlie Christina Martin is a British racing car driver and transgender rights activist, who competes in endurance racing. In 2021, she participated in the Britcar Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross Wylie</span> Scottish racing driver

Ross Wylie is a Scottish racing driver. He started his motor racing career contesting the 2004 Mini Max Kart Championship, becoming a multiple kart champion in his native Scotland over the next eight years, before moving up to car racing in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonny Edgar</span> British racing driver (born 2004)

Jonny Edgar is a British racing driver who is set to compete in the European Le Mans Series with AO by TF. He previously raced in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, winning a race in 2023. In addition, he was both a member of the Red Bull Junior Team and the 2020 ADAC Formula 4 champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Britcar Endurance Championship</span>

The 2021 Britcar Endurance Championship was a motor racing championship for GT cars, touring cars and sportscars held across England. The championship's field consisted of varying types of cars from sportscar to GT and touring cars that competed in four classes, depending on horsepower, momentum, etc. It was the 20th season of a Britcar championship, the 10th run as the Britcar Endurance Championship, and the 1st run as the Goodyear Britcar Endurance Championship. The season began on 24 April at Silverstone Circuit and ended on 14 November at Brands Hatch. This was the first season with the new Praga category, open to all Praga racing cars, which paved the way for a new one-make Praga series in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Team BRIT</span> British auto racing team

Team BRIT is a British auto racing team formed in 2015, originally based at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, home of the Top Gear test track, but now in Washington, West Sussex. The team is composed of disabled drivers and currently (2024) competes in two British motor racing series, Britcar Endurance and Britcar Trophy, with the ultimate aim to race in 24 Hours of Le Mans

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevan McAleer</span> British racing driver

Stevan Gordon McAleer is a British racing driver who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, GT World Challenge Europe, and Michelin Pilot Challenge.

References

  1. ↑ "Motorsport expert joins Team BRIT to lead innovative technology project - TEAM BRIT". 5 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "UK's only male Deaf racing driver joins Team BRIT - TEAM BRIT". 24 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "Inside Line: Caleb McDuff | Racingist is a fresh, new, Motorsport site that's fuelled by YOUR passions". Racingist.com. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Silence Racing - Caleb McDuff - Cochlear Implant - Deaf Kart Racer on ITV Wales News". YouTube. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Deaf Caleb McDuff, 6, becomes top young racing driver with dreams of Formula One". Wales Online. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "Pontypool pupil hopes to be first deaf F1 driver | Wales - ITV News". Itv.com. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Young Cwmbran Racer Up For Two Awards (From South Wales Argus)". Southwalesargus.co.uk. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Pontypool racer McDuff to go full throttle in top karting championship". South Wales Argus. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  9. ↑ "An 11-year-old from Pontypool has become the first deaf racer to podium in a national karting championships". South Wales Argus. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  10. ↑ "Deaf Pontypool racer, 11, celebrates winning prestigious UK karting Championship". 9 October 2019.
  11. ↑ "Profoundly deaf kart racer, 12, makes winning return to the track". South Wales Argus. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  12. ↑ "South Wales Deaf Driver Secures First Silverware Of The Season And Makes BRITCAR History". Herald Wales. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  13. ↑ "Young Deaf racer secures major investor (From Free Press Series)". Freepressseries.co.uk. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "Deaf Pontypool boy aiming for F1 gets first sponsor (From Free Press Series)". Freepressseries.co.uk. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  15. ↑ "Profoundly deaf kart racer, 12, makes winning return to the track". South Wales Argus. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.