Caleb McDuff made headlines across the Atlantic on the weekend in his debut performance at the Veterans Race of Remembrance, held at Virginia International Raceway.
Caleb, 17, a former Cwmbran High School pupil, secured a third-place finish overall in the six-hour endurance event.
He’s profoundly deaf, having lost over 90 per cent of his hearing at the age of two due to severe ear infections. He now races using pioneering cochlear implant technology that enables real-time communication with his pit crew while wearing his helmet – a world-first in motorsport.
The race, which honours military veterans and promotes inclusion through motorsport, saw Caleb team up with US veterans Callum Beldon and Bryan Winker behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang provided by the Resilience Racing Foundation.
‘Welcoming’
Caleb said: “It’s been an honour to race here in America amongst such dedicated teams, and to be part of an event that honours veterans and their service. The US fans and organisers have been incredibly welcoming, and to share the car with Callum and Bryan made the experience even more special.
“The Mustang is such an iconic American car. Pure torque and muscle. It was a real challenge compared to the high-tech McLaren I usually race, but that made it even more rewarding to adapt and bring it home on the podium.
“The support from back home in Wales has been amazing, I’ve had so many messages before and after the race, and it really means a lot knowing everyone’s following and cheering us on from across the pond.”
This season, Caleb has already made waves in the UK racing scene, driving a McLaren GT4 with Team BRIT and earning multiple podium finishes.
His podium finish in the United States is part of his ambitions to race in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and the British Touring Car Championship.
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