The Zero Limits track day for blind and vision-impaired people took place at Mondello Park last weekend, providing a thrill for 80 participants who took to the track in racing and rally cars.
Last weekend's track day was the second annual running of the event, an initiative of Vision Sports Ireland (the national governing body for sport and leisure activities for vision-impaired people) and Motorsport Ireland. Such was the demand for places on the 2021 track day that the organisers decided to run 2022 as a two-day event, though demand was no less strong, tickets selling out in just two hours.
"Brilliant"
For the morning session, participants, many of whom may not have driven in some years or ever before, got behind the wheel of electric dual control Opel Corsas to get a feel for proceedings, something described by one participant, Sean McDowell, as "brilliant."
"Just over two years ago, driving was something I took for granted, but after a brain injury, unfortunately, I thought sport was done with, never mind driving again," said McDowell. "To get the thrill from being in control and being able to drive again was a big thing today and definitely gave me a whole lot of enjoyment. It's something I look forward to doing again."
Guests for the afternoon session included Irish racing and rallying legend Rosemary Smith, who was on hand to cheer on the participants as they took to the track in cars, including all-wheel drive Mitsubishi Evos, Ford Escort Mk2s and other quick racing machinery.
"It is very important when people in motorsport get an opportunity like this," said Ciaran Phelan, a rally driver who donated his car for the track day and volunteered at the event. "They give something back making motorsport more inclusive and seem less elitist or a sport out of reach for so many. The sense of fulfilment was unbelievable."
"Don't let anything stop you"
Sara McFadden, Ireland's first visually impaired rally navigator and member of the Motorsport Ireland rally academy said that motorsport might seem an unlikely endeavour for vision impaired people, but that her experience proves that it's not out of reach.
"My moral in life is don't let anything stop you, nothing should stand in your way. If there is something you want to do, there are a hundred ways to do everything, you try to find that way! Motorsport is not the first thing you think of when it comes to vision impairment, and it was something I always wanted to do, so we worked around it and made it happen.''
Returning in 2023
Such was the success of the 2022 event that plans are already afoot for the Zero Limits Track Day 2023. Demand is expected to be just as strong.