They are called “life-changing” injuries for a reason: they change a person’s life, often in an instant. Whether the result of a road or workplace accident, a war injury or illness, every year countless people around the world face the difficult process of rebuilding their lives after a dramatic change brought about by a serious injury or the loss of one or more limbs.
In this context, and particularly during the early stages of physical and psychological recovery, sport has taken on a central role. This is reflected in the growing success – and visibility – of the Paralympic Games and, more broadly, of disabled athletes competing at the highest levels. Some of these sports have become widely popular, including basketball, cycling and a number of track and field disciplines. Karting, however, is generally still perceived as a sport that may be too physically demanding for people with disabilities.
“Did you know that one of the first things a person who has become disabled asks to do is drive a car?” explains Andriy Honta, who developed the project together with CRG, with the aim of making it easier for people with disabilities to access the racetrack. “Driving – as our psychological consultants confirm – is one of those activities that can help people react to a condition that may initially seem limiting. Over time, however, it becomes part of their everyday life and helps them regain a sense of normality. “In karting, there is also the adrenaline and the challenge of pushing yourself, which provide an additional motivation for people who need to find new goals and new reasons to challenge themselves.”
Simple engineering, effective adaptations
From a technical standpoint, the relatively simple engineering of a kart makes it possible to carry out adaptations without fundamentally altering the vehicle, Honta explains:
“In most cases, all that is required is to bring the controls onto the steering wheel, using the old brake master cylinders that were once used for steering-wheel braking systems on KF karts – before the introduction of OK, remember? – together with some simple levers to connect the throttle cable.
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Former FIA European Champion and Formula Regional Driver (Williams Driver Academy) Oleksandr Bondarev was on track as a coach driver for the rookies
“For more complex cases, it may be necessary to build specific supports for prosthetic limbs to improve safety, or to fit roll bars – the same type already used on many rental karts – together with a safety harness for drivers with particular needs, such as the absence of both lower limbs, as is the case with one of the drivers here on track today.”
The karts used at Castelletto were powered by Briggs & Stratton LO206 engines, the same units used in the world's most widespread four-stroke karting championship, which is organised in Italy by CRG.
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The LO206 provides enough performance to give the karts a genuine racing feel, while remaining approachable for inexperienced drivers looking to learn, build confidence and improve their skills. For the time being, the programme focuses on individual “first experience” track days for people with disabilities. The longer-term ambition, however, is considerably greater: to establish a dedicated championship that could become an international benchmark for current and future drivers with disabilities.
For further information: info@briggskartchampionship.com
