Disability track days 'completely changed my life'

The freedom of getting into your car and setting off on a drive is something many adults take for granted, yet some will never experience it because of their disability.

But one charity is changing that by taking over racetracks for special days to give people with a variety of disabilities the chance to drive - some for the very first time.

Earlier this week, Speed of Sight hosted one of its accessible track days - which began in the early noughties - at Bicester Motion in Oxfordshire.

The Bicester event was Drew Hanslow's 20th, but he said the memory of his first 11 years ago had "showed me that my disability wasn't the boundary".

"I remember the exact circuit, the feeling, the joy - it completely changed my life," Drew, who is visually impaired, said.

"So I want to help others in a similar situation to experience that, to have that sense of belief in themselves."

From 20 track days to just one, the Bicester Motion day marked a first for Jade, who is totally blind and was able to take part thanks to the charity Eye Matter.

"They gave really clear instructions of getting in, and what I really liked was that when we had the helmets on you could hear the driver through a headset," she said.

She said she enjoyed having control of the steering wheel and described getting to use the accelerator as "good fun".

"That sense of freedom was amazing - it was really, really good," she said.

Speed of Sight is the brainchild of Mike Newman, who has a love of motorsport while also being visually impaired.

"I've met lots of people over the years that unfortunately have had to give up their driving licence," he said.

"The common theme was how much they miss driving, so I came up with an idea that would enable them to enjoy that exhilaration in a car on a racetrack so that they can enjoy it again.

"We give them the opportunity to experience the exhilaration and excitement of being behind the wheel of a race car on a racetrack."

Among the equipment in action at Bicester to make the cars accessible are detachable steering wheels, hoists and hand controls for breaking and acceleration.

Every vehicle is automatic and is also equipped with a steering wheel and foot pedals in the passenger seat, with an instructor able to control the car from there.

Paul Smith is one of those instructors, helping people drive around the Bicester track.

"Just to be able to sit with someone in the car who's never done it before and just to see the joy and the experience that they have is tenfold for me," he said.

"[It's] absolutely fantastic and it never ever changes - every time I do one of these drives it's a different experience.

"You're meeting really fantastic people with all varying types of disabilities but ultimately, they're coming here today to get that bond with someone in a car for 20 minutes.

"It really is unique."