More than 130 visually impaired participants experienced the thrill of driving at Sandown Raceway earlier this month, with Motorsport Australia supporting the long-running In the Driver’s Seat program.

Held on 5 July and organised by Lions Australia, the initiative gives people who are blind or vision impaired a rare opportunity to get behind the wheel of a car on a racing circuit in a safe and controlled environment, all free of charge.

Learning alongside qualified driving instructors in dual-control vehicles, participants completed laps of the Sandown circuit while receiving expert guidance, creating an unforgettable experience for all involved.

Motorsport Australia worked closely with Lions Australia throughout the permit process, looking at everything from venue layout, to the provision of emergency/medical services, and the event’s scheduling.

A targeted risk assessment helped with recommended speed limitations, driver and instructor responsibilities, traffic flow, and separation of spectators and vehicle movements.

These measures, while common practice by Motorsport Australia, were critical given the event’s unique set of circumstances of having visually impaired drivers utilising specially-designed vehicles.

The Motorsport Australia Membership team also worked to deliver a modified Health Statement/Declaration form that works with voiceover screen readers for improved accessibility.

This ensured the participants could acknowledge and accept the disclaimers and, where necessary, declare medical conditions in an accessible format.

Motorsport Australia, and more widely the FIA, actively work on the accessibilty of the sport, developing regulations that specifically cater to people living with a form of disability or impairment.

Participants at the Sandown event reached speeds of up to 100km/h as part of the experience, while also learning about the track over each 30-minute session.

The wider grassroots motorsport community showed its support with several passenger ride enthusiast groups including Vic V8s, Ford 49-59 Customline Car Club Victoria, Marque Sports Car Association of Victoria Ulysses Club Australia (motorcycles) and others further enhancing the day for participants and their families.

Club contributions were made via donating cars specifically for the event, teaching participants about the cars they would be driving, improving overall participant experience off the track as well as on track, and making sure each participant leaves the event with a smile on their face.

While Lions Australia has proudly delivered the program for the past 25 years, this year’s event marked a significant milestone for the governing body, with Motorsport Australia volunteers on-hand to provide safe and efficient management of on-track activities.

A dedicated team of experienced Motorsport Australia officials, led by Clerk of Course Gavin Moore and Event Organiser Richard Banks, worked throughout the day to oversee circuit operations and ensure each participant could enjoy their drive in a safe and supportive environment.

To commemorate the occasion, Motorsport Australia also presented each of the 137 participants with a personalised licence card, providing a lasting memento of their time behind the wheel.

In the Driver’s Seat, originally founded by the Lions Club of Warrandyte, demonstrates the spirit and power of community motorsport at its best.

More information on the program can be found on the Lions International website.