Motor racer Whitley shows driving ambition on slopes

James Whitley wants to go fast. And then he wants to go even faster.

The 24-year-old Briton has done exactly that as a para Alpine skier and a member of a motorsports team made up of people with disabilities.

"I've always had a love of racing, full stop," Whitley said. "Car racing is something that's always really interested me. There are lots of similarities between the two, with line and going on maximum attack. It's a very similar kind of game, as it were. That's why I really enjoy it as well."

Whitley started skiing at 4 years old and developed a passion for cars long before he could drive.

In 2021, he joined Team Britain. The motorsports team is made up of nine drivers who have various physical and intellectual impairments, such as autism, paraplegia and multiple sclerosis. The second-youngest member of the team, Whitley was born without hands and has undergone numerous surgeries to construct five fingers.

"I'm desperate to go to the Le Mans 24 Hours and that's what our team is aiming to do. We'll be the first disabled racing team," Whitley said. "I believe it will be in the next few years, and that's looking on course to happen.

"I want to prove to the world that it's not just that we're really fast for a disabled team, but we're really fast, full stop. We want to be on the podium and show we don't need any excuses. We're going to win races just as much as everyone else."

While Whitley reaches greater speeds behind the wheel, it is skiing that gives him the biggest thrill.

"Ski racing, you don't have a shell around you," he said. "Your legs are the only things to control. And accidents happen just as much as in car racing."

In Beijing, Whitley is competing at his third Paralympic Winter Games and achieved a personal best of ninth place in men's downhill standing on Saturday.

He was also on track for a good result on Monday in his favorite event, the super combined, before he straddled the last gate and was disqualified.

"It was a great run and then the last roll, I got a bit of air, I couldn't turn enough and I was a bit too late for the last gate," Whitley said." Very disappointing, because it's one of my best events.

"Losing it on the last gate, it's horrible, especially after a good run, but it is what it is. I'll take it into the next race and try to take all the good things I've got out of it."

Despite that disappointment, Whitley is feeling positive about his performances in the speed events and plans to continue going full throttle in the technical disciplines.

" (The races went) really well. Big improvements from last time," Whitley said. "I'm pushing harder than ever, so mistakes are inevitable, but there's no point coming here if you're not going to push to the maximum."

OIS