Meet Callum Smith: The 23-year-old armless racing driver who steers with his feet at 110mph, joins Team BRIT alongside quadruple amputee Harvey Phillips and targets a historic Le Mans debut
Callum Smith has never let the absence of arms stand between him and his passion for motorsport. The 23-year-old from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, was born without arms but is now chasing an extraordinary dream, becoming the first armless racing driver to compete at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.Smith, a finance assistant, has signed his first driver contract with Team BRIT, described as the world’s only competitive racing team made up entirely of disabled drivers. He is currently training in the team’s modified BMW 1 Series at Donington Park as he works towards obtaining his racing licence.
From watching bike racing with his grandad to driving at more than 110mph
Callum Smith’s love for motorsport began when he was just two years old. He would watch bike racing with his grandfather, Michael Smith, who was a major influence on his early interest in racing.His first track day came in July 2025 at Donington Park, where he reached a top speed of 90mph around the iconic 2.5-mile circuit. By April this year, he had pushed his speed further, recording 100mph on Silverstone’s 3.66-mile Grand Prix circuit while driving his own Audi A3.He has since taken the next step by getting behind the wheel of Team BRIT’s specially modified BMW 1 Series, where he has already reached speeds of more than 110mph.Speaking to SWNS, Smith said he always believed he had what it took to become a racing driver.“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.”He added that Team BRIT had given him the opportunity to demonstrate his ability and pursue a dream that once seemed difficult to imagine.
How Callum Smith steers a race car using his feet
Born without arms, Callum Smith has adapted to racing by steering with his feet and controlling the pedals himself. (Photo: SWNS)
Smith drives using a specially designed steering plate created by Jim Doran Hand Controls. The system allows him to control the car using his feet.His left foot is used to steer, while his right foot operates the accelerator and brake. Additional controls have also been adapted to allow him to operate other functions inside the vehicle.“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.,” he explained.Describing the steering system, Smith said, “I steer with my left foot. It’s a steering wheel in the footwell that operates the steering wheel.”
‘My feet are like my hands’
Nine-year-old Callum Smith cycles using his feet. (Photo: SWNS)
Smith was born without arms because of an unexplained bilateral upper-limb disability. However, he says he has never regarded his disability as something that should prevent him from doing the things he enjoys.“My feet are like my hands,” he said, explaining that he writes with his right foot, plays video games such as FIFA and Call of Duty using his feet, and even plays the guitar that way.He also eats independently using a regular knife and fork.His approach to everyday life has helped him adapt naturally to driving, although racing presents its own set of challenges.
A bold email to Team BRIT started his racing journey
Smith’s opportunity with Team BRIT began with an email in which he asked whether the team would be willing to help make his racing ambitions a reality.“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,” he recalled.The team responded, and Smith went through tests with instructors before completing a skid test. From there, his journey towards becoming a competitive racing driver began.He is now working towards securing his full racing licence. One of the challenges he has to overcome is demonstrating that he can independently undo his harness and open the car door.
‘There’s a lot of eye-to-foot coordination’
Callum Smith is working towards his racing licence and a potential Le Mans debut. (Photo: SWNS)
While Smith is confident behind the wheel, he admits that adapting to a race car has been challenging.“It’s hard, there’s a lot of eye to foot coordination,” he said.One of the biggest surprises for him has been the physical demands of racing, particularly the weight and stiffness of the steering.“The biggest surprise to me is how heavy the steering feels in a race car, everything is stiffer,” he said.Despite that, Smith remains determined to continue.“But I love it and I’m quite keen to get it sorted, I’m motivated to get it done,” he said, adding: “Confidence I’m not short of, but it’s going to be a lot of hard work.”
Quadruple amputee Harvey Phillips also joins Team BRIT
Harvey Phillips, a quadruple amputee, steers Team BRIT’s race car using a specially adapted 3D-printed aid. (Photo: SWNS)
Smith is not the only new driver hoping to make history with Team BRIT. The team’s latest driver line-up also includes 21-year-old quadruple amputee Harvey Phillips from Louth, Lincolnshire.Phillips lost parts of both legs, his right arm up to the elbow, as well as fingers and thumbs on his left hand after suffering meningitis when he was nine months old.He has developed his own way of controlling the car. A lever allows him to accelerate and brake, while a 3D-printed cup attached to his right arm helps him steer.“To accelerate and brake I have a lever, I twist it down to accelerate and push it down towards the dash to brake,” Phillips explained.He added, “I have a 3D printed cup to slot my right arm into to turn the steering wheel.”
Team BRIT has its sights set on the 24 Hours of Le Mans
For Phillips, the immediate goal is to become comfortable with the race car and establish a competitive race pace.“Getting comfortable with the car and getting a race pace down are the main aims for me,” he said.But the team’s ambition extends far beyond individual racing licences and track days. Team BRIT ultimately wants to become the first team comprising entirely disabled drivers to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the world’s most prestigious endurance races.Both Smith and Phillips are now seeking sponsors as they embark on a year-long training programme. For Smith in particular, the journey represents the chance to break new ground in motorsport, and prove that the absence of arms does not have to mean the end of a racing dream.
