Vision-Impaired Formula 1 Mega-fan Gets the Thrill of a Lifetime
A ride in a 2-seater F1 car was more than enough to bring tears of joy.
Charaf-Eddin Ait-Tales is one of those fans you’ll find at many races. He’s in the paddock as often as he can be, and he has a passion for F1 rivaled only by a few. He might have lost his eye sight at age 20, but he can listen to an engine on any particular race course, and talk you through a lap as the driver makes their way around. His love of the sport, according to his own words is “everything” to him. A recent visit to the Spanish Grand Prix forever changed things for him, as he got to experience F1 on a completely different level.
Formula 1’s best promo may very well be the 2-seater formula car, where lucky participants can get to experience the same thrill of speed and cornering g-forces as the professional drivers. As a present to Ait-Tales and his dedication to being an F1 fan, presenter Will Buxton presented the good news.
Clearly, Ait-Tales can’t contain his excitement. “Are you joking or what? What a surprise you make for me!”
When a visually-impaired, lifelong #F1 fan gets to try it for real
A special day for us and a special day for @charafeddinF1@f1_experiences pic.twitter.com/x4UwiYPV7n
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 18, 2018
In the car, it’s clear Ait-Tales is having the time of his life. “Downhill turn 5!” he exclaims, followed by “the chicane… left… then right!”
After pulling back into the pits and getting out of the car, emotion comes over as he meets Buxton once again. At first without saying a word, the two embrace in a hug. Buxton knows the moment was prominent; “I hope these are happy tears. It’s really something, isn’t it?”
Thanks to Buxton and F1 Experiences, Ait-Tales will have one Grand Prix visit which he will remember forever. Buxton and F1 gave a truly incredible gift to someone who really deserved it.
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