One of the central themes throughout motorsport history is how it has pioneered innovations. Unsurprisingly, many of these have concerned the cars themselves, but there have also been other technological developments that have emerged through the sport – think of the HANS device, TecPro crash barriers and the like. Now, one father-and-son duo are aiming to add to that list.
Caleb McDuff was a successful karter but his experience of racing was distinctly different to many others. For him, it was a silent world. While he was still able to flourish in karting, despite his deafness, making the move into cars was a very different challenge. That was until his engineer father Ian came up with a Heath Robinson-style creation.
“When Caleb made that step into cars, communication was starting to become a bit of a problem,” explains McDuff Sr, “so we started experimenting with different things and devices that connect to his cochlear implants.
“We took some components that were available and adapted the wiring to work with his cochlear implants and connect to the in-car comms. It then opened up a whole new world for him in terms of being able to communicate with his engineers.”
Essentially, he had created a device that directly linked the car’s radio with the implants and suddenly it was a sensory overload for McDuff Jr. “It was a very different experience, especially when I’m so used to concentrating in silence with no disturbance or noise and it was just all touch and feel with vibrations,” he explains.
“Once I could hear while racing, it was another whole different feedback. I can hear the engine, I can hear the red line when I need to shift a gear a bit easier rather than looking at the rev counter and I’m more aware about my surroundings.”
Prior to experiencing this audio accompaniment, McDuff was reliant on his other senses, which gave him some remarkable talents. “In the karting days, he would come into the pitlane and say there was something wrong with the kart,” his father recalls.
The McDuffs experimented with different devices that connect to the driver’s cochlear implants
Photo by: Caleb McDuff
“We would check it over and say there was nothing wrong, and then two laps down the line a chain comes off. He’s so sensitive to the vibrations, he could feel something was different.”
McDuff has progressed a long way since those silent karting days. After a spell in Junior Saloons, he was spotted by Team Brit founder Dave Player, who signed him to the squad. McDuff quickly moved from a BMW 1 Series through to a GT4 McLaren and was a Britcar Endurance class podium finisher last term. Now he has his sights set on a Porsche Carrera Cup GB graduation and is in talks with teams.
Yet, the McDuffs are not just wanting to take a step forward on track, they also want to help more deaf people realise their potential. And that’s where a partnership involving an advanced technology company, and supported by communications specialist MRTC, comes in to a develop a system that those without cochlear implants can also use.
“It’s important to inspire deaf children to show what’s possible and there’s not a barrier” Caleb McDuff
“The concept is the engineer would talk as normal, and by the time it gets to the car, it’s a message on the visor,” explains McDuff Sr of the heads-up display. “And then there’s the challenges of giving a response back. A lot of deaf people can’t talk, so we need a fast response system through the steering wheel with prompts.”
A spokesperson for the company involved explains this will be tackled by having an initial suite of 60 prompts. “These will increase over time with more use and refinement,” she says. “We will know this [particular] prompt is used 80% of the time at this stage of the race.”
Alongside his inspirational role, with 45 school visits already planned to see the children who could benefit from this technology – “It’s important to inspire deaf children to show what’s possible and there’s not a barrier,” McDuff says – he is also determined to secure his place on the Carrera Cup grid. If he is able use his innovative system to achieve racing success, then he shall certainly be known as one of motorsport’s true pioneers.
This article is one of many in the monthly Autosport magazine. For more premium content, take a look at the April 2026 issue and subscribe today.
Britcar Endurance class podium finisher McDuff has his sights set on Porsche Carrera Cup GB
Photo by: Team Brit
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