Callum Smith aims to race at Le Mans using foot steering
Born without arms, 23-year-old Callum Smith steers his racing car with his left foot, hits 110mph, and hopes to compete at Le Mans.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Callum Smith, a 23-year-old born without arms, is closing in on his dream of becoming a professional racing driver. He steers his car with a specially designed plate operated by his left foot, alongside the brake and accelerator. Having learned to drive two years ago, he now reaches speeds of 110 miles per hour on track.
Smith's feet have always done the work most people use their hands for. He can work, play games on his Xbox, and even strum a guitar with his toes. His interest in motorsport grew from childhood. "From an early age, I grew up watching, like, the MotoGP and the Formula 1, so I've always naturally had an interest," he said. Over time, that casual fan interest turned into a deeper study of the sport's technical details.
His car is adapted with a foot-steering mechanism. "I steer with my left foot, so my foot goes through the foot-steer-up as it's on the top, and then it literally is essentially as a steering wheel on the floor," Smith explained.
His personal target is victory at the Le Mans 24-hour race, one of the most demanding events in motorsport. Crucially, he does not compete in a separate disability class. Motorsport is integrated: disabled and able-bodied drivers race together. That integration is something those around him believe adds real meaning to success. "When our drivers are winning against able-bodied people, it really gives them a really great sense of achievement," one figure in the report said.
Smith is expected to spend this year practising, with a view to entering his first race next year. His ambition and personal drive, the report notes, mean the tarmac at Le Mans may be just around the corner.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| Callum Smith, born without arms, drives a car using a specially designed plate operated by his left foot, has been driving for two years, and reaches speeds up to 110 miles per hour. | |
| Callum Smith, born without arms, uses his feet for tasks such as working, gaming, and playing guitar. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV1's report centres on Callum Smith's personal journey and his remarkable adaptability, from everyday tasks to high-speed driving. It stresses that motorsport offers no separate disability class, so success against able-bodied rivals carries extra significance. The tone is uplifting and inspirational, focusing on his ambition to reach Le Mans.
- “From an early age, I grew up watching, like, the MotoGP and the Formula 1, so I've always naturally had an interest.”
- “So, I steer with my left foot, so my foot goes through the foot-steer-up as it's on the top, and then it literally is essentially as a steering wheel on the floor.”
- “There is no class for disability. If you're a runner, you've got to take part in the Paralympics. In motor racing, everybody races together.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.