Luke Pound’s story is a remarkable journey of persistence and passion as a disabled racing driver who has now joined the World eX grid. We took the opportunity to invite the Brit to our latest Bizz Talk on his debut in the series.
From an early age, Pound was captivated by racing icons like Colin McRae and Damon Hill. Though football filled much of his youth, adulthood saw his motorsport passion intensify. Pounds’s racing career began almost by chance – with a BMW 1 Series – where he quickly got hooked on the unique challenges of endurance and sprint events. He later progressed to GT4 racing in the British Endurance Championship with an Aston Martin, earning a win in his debut GT4 race and finishing third overall in the championship. “I always knew I couldn’t be too aggressive, because as soon as you get snap of oversteer, it’s a bit harder to correct with one arm,” Pound explained, referencing how his disability shaped his driving style.
Pound’s approach to race-car adaptation is practical and innovative. Unable to use his left arm following a motorbike accident 14 years ago, he employs a McLaren GT3 sim steering wheel with paddle shifters accessible from one side where gear changes can be made with just his thumb. “I never really had the experience of racing with two hands, so this is what I’ve got, and this is how I’ve got to do it,” Pound shared about his mindset. Sim racing remains a vital part of his routine, especially for learning circuits and honing racing lines, often using VR for immersive track preparation.
Beyond the technical challenges, Pound’s reflections on endurance racing highlight the advantages of teamwork and data sharing. Having access to teammate telemetry provided continuous opportunities for improvement. “The good thing of having a teammate sharing the car was reviews. You could constantly look at their data to yours as well,” he said. Pound emphasized the importance of focusing on specific track sectors for improvement and using hand exercises to combat cramps stemming from his disability.
Pound describes his favorite racing tracks as Oulton Park and Donington Park, thanks to their demanding layouts and memorable experiences. About his goals, Pound hopes one day to race in single-make series to directly measure himself against other drivers, but admits, “I’m not a very good salesman for myself, so trying to get sponsorship in is not one of my fortes, that’s for sure. But you never know – something might pop up one day.”
Now part of the unique World eX sim racing community, Pound is embracing new challenges with the eX ZERO Evo, adjusting to its unique handling and eager to grow within the sim racing series. “It’s just getting to have a bit of fun. Learn it all,” he says, embodying the spirit of resilience and enjoyment that defines his motorsport journey.
