Two Blind Drivers Took the Wheel of a Kart
This page is translated from the original post "Deux pilotes non-voyants ont pris le volant d’un Kart" in French.
- 26/08/2025 17:29
A world first took place on Sunday afternoon at the Karting circuit in Anneville, the site of Pierre Gasly’s debut.
Two visually impaired drivers took the wheel of a specially adapted kart, as part of a demonstration organized by the French Federation of Motor Sports (FFSA) and the Ministry of Sports.
The two participants, Martin Baron, a Paralympic medalist in goalball, and Thomas Samyn, are members of the Accessi Méca Sports association, founded in 2011 to promote access to motorsports for visually impaired individuals. It was their first driving experience, carried out in front of an audience.
A first that opens up sporting and fun horizons
The project required several years of technical and regulatory work. The FFSA, through its National Technical Directorate and its karting service, in collaboration with federal doctor Christine Lespiaucq, developed a detailed specification. A prototype had already been tested in Châtellerault before the official presentation this weekend.
The developed kart integrates an advanced GPS system, an electronic box, and a radio link with an instructor. The drivers are guided by audio signals transmitted directly into their helmets, allowing them to orient themselves on the track and anticipate trajectories independently. Pre-existing medical conditions, particularly in ENT, were defined to oversee the practice.
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At the end of the demonstration, the president of the FFSA, Pierre Gosselin, awarded the two drivers an official license giving them access to recreational karting. The stated aim is, ultimately, to pave the way for greater access to the discipline for people with visual impairments.
With this unprecedented driving experience, French motorsport becomes the first in the world to allow visually impaired individuals to drive a kart independently.
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