{{Short description|British go-kart racer (born 2008)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Use British English|date=July 2025}}
thumb|Caleb McDuff Porsche Motorsport Teamwear Caleb McDuff (born 20 January 2008) is a British racing driver from Wales. He is profoundly deaf and competes using cochlear implants. McDuff is notable for becoming the first deaf driver to win a race in the Britcar Trophy Championship.
He currently races a Porsche 911 GT3.
McDuff began his racing career in the Super 1 National Kart Championships, driving for AllStars Racing Team, managed by Luke Hines. In 2022 - 2023 he raced in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, driving for Orex Competition. During 2023 McDuff was also linked with Team BRIT as he is involved in a project to develop and test equipment to allow Deaf racing drivers to communicate with pit crews whilst they are racing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://teambrit.co.uk/news/motorsport-expert-joins-team-brit-to-lead-innovative-technology-project/ |title=Motorsport expert joins Team BRIT to lead innovative technology project - TEAM BRIT |date=5 April 2023 }}</ref>
In January 2024 McDuff announced he would be racing a BMW 1 Series in the Britcar Trophy Championship, driving for Team BRIT<ref>{{cite web|url=https://teambrit.co.uk/news/uks-only-male-deaf-racing-driver-joins-team-brit/ |title=UK's only male Deaf racing driver joins Team BRIT - TEAM BRIT |date=24 January 2024 }}</ref>. He progresses with Team BRIT to their BMW M240i and then on to their McLaren 570S GT4 machine.
In 2026 he announced his plans to move from Team BRIT to Porsche Carrera Cup GB as part of his climb towards BTCC.
McDuff proactively uses his platform to encourage young people, visiting schools and sharing his experiences as a deaf racing driver and speaking about overcoming barriers in sport. In an interview with the ''Free Press Series'', he said he hopes his story will inspire others to believe that “anything is possible” and to pursue their ambitions regardless of the obstacles they face..<ref>{{cite news |date=2025 |title=Pontypool racing driver Caleb McDuff wants to inspire young people |url=https://www.freepressseries.co.uk/news/25655634.pontypool-racing-driver-caleb-mcduff-inspire-young-people/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |work=Free Press Series}}</ref>
==Racing== thumb|Caleb McDuff in full race kit in pitlane thumb|Caleb McDuff custom crash helmet, with interface device fitted, allowing race engineer to communicate with him via his cochlear implants
From an early age McDuff showed an interest in cars and racing, and learned to drive electric-powered cars from the age of 18 months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://racingist.com/2014/02/05/inside-line-caleb-mcdf/ |title=Inside Line: Caleb McDuff | Racingist is a fresh, new, Motorsport site that's fuelled by YOUR passions |publisher=Racingist.com |date=2014-02-05 |accessdate=2014-05-01}}</ref> He had his first drive of a petrol-powered go-kart at age four.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2E-7_kNtIM |title=Silence Racing - Caleb McDuff - Cochlear Implant - Deaf Kart Racer on ITV Wales News |publisher=YouTube |date=2013-12-30 |accessdate=2014-05-01}}</ref>
In 2014 McDuff joined the Bambino Kart Tour, a race series created by Darren Beavers to encourage children aged six to eight to enter go-kart racing. The tour takes place at seven tracks around the United Kingdom during the course of the year. McDuff raced on a zip chassis, powered by a 50cc two-stroke engine which reaches speeds in excess of 40 mph, whilst racing in Bambino class. McDuff moved to Honda powered Zip chassis for the 2018 Super One British Championship.
Whilst racing, McDuff was unable to wear the processors for his cochlear implants that allow him to hear. This means that he races in complete silence, and this inspired the team name he raced under of 'Silence Racing'. McDuff relied fully on sign language and lip reading once his processors are off, and learned to adapt other senses to compensate for this, and 'feels' the go-kart and its engine rather than hearing it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/deaf-caleb-mcduff-6-becomes-6509265 |title=Deaf Caleb McDuff, 6, becomes top young racing driver with dreams of Formula One |publisher=Wales Online |date=2014-01-15 |accessdate=2014-05-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/wales/update/2013-12-20/pontypool-pupil-hopes-to-be-first-deaf-racing-car-driver/ |title=Pontypool pupil hopes to be first deaf F1 driver | Wales - ITV News |publisher=Itv.com |date= |accessdate=2014-05-01}}</ref>
thumb|Caleb McDuff driving the Team BRIT McLaren GT4, with McDuffs trade mark number 38
In September 2014, McDuff received public nominations for Deaf Sports Personality of the Year (DSPY) 2014 (Young Player of the Year), and also Young Gun 2014 (under 13) by internet-based radio station DownForce UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/11499626.Young_Cwmbran_racer_up_for_two_awards/?ref=fbshr|title=Young Cwmbran Racer Up For Two Awards (From South Wales Argus) |publisher=Southwalesargus.co.uk |date=2014-09-26 |accessdate=2014-09-27}}</ref>
In January 2018, McDuff joined the AllStars Racing team, managed by Luke Hines. Hines, a former racing driver himself, worked with McDuff to prepare him for the 2018 Super One Karting Championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/16167036.Pontypool_racer_McDuff_to_go_full_throttle_in_top_karting_championship/|title=Pontypool racer McDuff to go full throttle in top karting championship|website=South Wales Argus|date=18 April 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-04-19}}</ref>
In May 2019, McDuff became the first profoundly Deaf racing driver to step on the Super 1 National Championship podium, after finishing 2nd at Rowrah, Cumbria. At the time, McDuff was driving for the same works Zipkart Team that four time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton drove for during his karting career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17638443.deaf-pontypool-boy-racer-podiums-in-super-one-national-kart-championships/|title=An 11-year-old from Pontypool has become the first deaf racer to podium in a national karting championships|website=South Wales Argus|date=14 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref>
In October 2019, McDuff won the Super 1 National Kart Championships, making him first ever Deaf person to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressseries.co.uk/news/17956095.deaf-pontypool-racer-caleb-mcduff-celebrates-winning-prestigious-uk-karting-championship/|title = Deaf Pontypool racer, 11, celebrates winning prestigious UK karting Championship| date=9 October 2019 }}</ref>
in 2020 McDuff returned to the Super One Championship, racing in the faster Rotax Max class. In the opening race of the Championship he was involved in a serious collision, causing him to have a dislocated shoulder and rib injuries. Despite missing a number of races whilst recovering, he still finished 3rd in the championship. In doing so, he also became the first ever Deaf driver to win a Super One Championship race.
Later in 2020 he went on to win the Super One annual 'O Plate' race in Cumbria, driving for the M-Sport racing team. Winning the O Plate was another first for a Deaf driver.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Profoundly deaf kart racer, 12, makes winning return to the track|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/18747468.profoundly-deaf-kart-racer-pontypool-makes-winning-return/|access-date=2020-11-24|website=South Wales Argus|date=25 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
2023 McDuff moved from karting to cars, competing in the Junior Saloon Car Championship (JSCC), racing a Citroen Saxo VTR. During this era, his father, Ian McDuff, engineered a solution that allowed him to use his cochlear implants whilst racing for the first time. This allowed him to access sound whilst racing, but critically to have real time pit-to-car communication with his race engineer. This was an important step for him to be able to progress to GT/endurance racing where comms are critical.
In April 2024, McDuff made history by becoming the first Deaf driver to step on the podium at the BRITCAR Trophy Championship, taking his Team BRIT BMW 1 series to 3rd after a mechanical fault caused him to drop from 1st place lead.<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Wales Deaf Driver Secures First Silverware Of The Season And Makes BRITCAR History|url=https://www.herald.wales/south-wales/torfaen/south-wales-deaf-racing-driver-secures-first-silverware-of-the-season-and-makes-britcar-history/|access-date=2024-04-25|website=Herald Wales|date=25 April 2024 |language=en}}</ref>thumb|Caleb McDuff with father Ian, who engineered a solution for Caleb to be able to 'hear' whilst racing.
Just two months later, in June 2024, McDuff became the first ever Deaf driver to win a race in the BRITCAR Trophy Championship, with team mate Bobby Trundley at Silverstone Circuit, and the first Deaf driver to win a major UK motor race.<ref>{{Cite web|title=F1: Teenage driver with dream of being first deaf driver|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/24408383.f1-teenage-driver-dream-first-deaf-driver/|access-date=2024-06-25|website=South Wales Argus|date=25 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
McDuff went on to take the overall class win in the 2024 season of the BRITCAR Trophy Championship. He ended the season with a step up in class for the final race of the season, driving Team BRITs BMW m240i, with new team mate Asha Silva.
In November 2024, McDuff was again nominated for the Deaf Sports Personality of the Year awards. He won the category for Young Deaf Sports Personality of the Year (under 18). In a press release following his success, he hinted he would be racing in GT4 class of cars in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Caleb McDuff wins at Deaf Sports Personality of the Year|url=https://www.cwmbranlife.co.uk/caleb-mcduff-wins-at-deaf-sports-personality-of-the-year-awards|access-date=2024-12-03|website=Cwmbran Life|date=3 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
February 2025 McDuff confirmed he would be remaining with Team BRIT for the 2025 season. He will be driving the teams McLaren 570S GT4 car in the BRITCAR Endurance Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The future's bright for South Wales teen racing driver with 2025 seat confirmed |url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/the-futures-bright-for-south-wales-teen-racing-driver-with-2025-seat-confirmed |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=InYourArea.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
November 2025 McDuff made his international racing debut, taking part in the Veterans Race of Remembrance at Virginia International Speedway, Virginia, USA. He took 3rd place overall and winning in class, in a Ford Mustang racing under Resilience Racing and Skip Barber.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-15 |title=Young racing driver makes name for himself on global stage |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/25621338.pontypool-deaf-racing-driver-wins-third-place-us-race/ |access-date=2026-02-16 |website=South Wales Argus |language=en}}</ref>
January 2026 McDuff announced he would be competing in the 2026 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship, and set out a 3 year plan to be competing in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) by 2028.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Owens |first=David |date=2026-01-30 |title=Welsh teenager makes history as world's fastest deaf racing driver |url=https://nation.cymru/sport/welsh-teenager-makes-history-as-worlds-fastest-deaf-racing-driver/ |access-date=2026-02-16 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Sponsorship== thumb|Caleb McDuff with award for Deaf Sports Personality of the Year (u18) 2024 In February 2015, British Touring Car team, WIX Racing announced McDuff as a member of their driver line up as part of a sponsorship program. UK-based oil company Millers Oils also announced their support of McDuff's career development. At the time of announcements, McDuff was the youngest deaf racing driver in the world on a professional career path.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freepressseries.co.uk/sport/11817537.Young_deaf_racer_secures_major_investor/|title=Young Deaf racer secures major investor (From Free Press Series)|publisher=Freepressseries.co.uk |date=2015-02-25 |accessdate=2015-03-01}}</ref>
McDuff is also sponsored by financial services comparison website Go Compare and house builders Taylor Wimpey, as well as several local businesses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freepressseries.co.uk/news/pontypool_news/pontypool_news/11156404.Deaf_Pontypool_boy_aiming_for_F1_gets_first_sponsor/ |title=Deaf Pontypool boy aiming for F1 gets first sponsor (From Free Press Series) |publisher=Freepressseries.co.uk |date=2014-04-17 |accessdate=2014-05-01}}</ref>
In September 2020, McDuff announced that due to the COVID-19 recession, he had lost all financial support from his sponsors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Profoundly deaf kart racer, 12, makes winning return to the track|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/18747468.profoundly-deaf-kart-racer-pontypool-makes-winning-return/|access-date=2020-12-15|website=South Wales Argus|date=25 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.calebmcduff.co.uk}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McDuff, Caleb}} Category:Sportspeople from Pontypool Category:Deaf sportspeople Category:2008 births Category:Living people Category:Welsh deaf people Category:Welsh disabled sportspeople Category:21st-century British sportsmen