Catch up TV

Series 10: Speed without Limits

Ally Chalmers was born to go fast. Growing up in Scotland, he was a fiercely competitive junior skier – racing down slopes, chasing medals, always pushing the limits. Then, just before he turned 14, everything changed. Ally crashed while skiing in the Scottish mountains and broke his back. He was airlifted to hospital in Glasgow, where he was told he would never walk again. After several months in hospital, unable to use his legs, Ally was told about a sport that he could do with just his hands: motor racing. \n\nAlly is now preparing for his first full season of competitive motorsport in the ModSports Championship at Knockhill Racing Circuit – a mixed-class event in which he will share the track with cars much more powerful than his own. This film follows him in the weeks leading up to his first race, capturing the hard work and perseverance of a young man who has found his focus. Ally is the first wheelchair user in Scotland to pass his racing licence. As an extra element to his test, he had to prove he can exit the car within ten seconds in case of an emergency. Last season, in his one and only race, he crashed into a barrier at around 60mph – so the danger is very real. \n\nThe car, like its driver, is an impressive feat of human ingenuity. Ally’s mechanic, Scott, has built him a customised Mini race car fitted with hand controls and a uniquely configured gearbox. It’s a prototype for a pioneer, but technical gremlins and mechanical misalignments spark concern as to whether it will be race-ready by the start of the season. \n\nAt the wheel, Ally is an instinctive driver, reading corners and carrying speed like a natural. His talent and sense of humour are on full display at East Ayrshire Car Club, when he takes his mum Carole for a Mother’s Day passenger lap, with her begging him to stop all the way round. \n\nCarole has lived every moment of this journey alongside her son – the accident, the long recovery, the pivot to motor sport. She is as hands-on as any crew member and happy to adjust Ally's unique controls in the car herself. The bond between Ally and his older brother Gregor runs just as deep. Their rivalry is a thread through the film: two competitive kids who grew up racing each other down ski slopes, now racing each other on simulators and grabbing a drive-through on the way home like nothing ever changed. \n\nRace day arrives, and the pressure is already high. Despite wet conditions, Ally brings the car home safely in qualifying, but not without some worrisome noises from the engine. With the clock ticking, Scott has a plan to fix it, but will it be ready for the first race? \n\nThe big day is finally here, and the cars line up on the grid. But with one minute to go, Ally loses power. Just when it looks like he’s going to have to return to the pit, his car fires up again in the nick of time. Ally charges into the pack and holds his own through a chaotic first corner. As the race continues, he jostles with the more powerful cars but avoids getting caught up in a big crash. He crosses the line with a personal best on his final lap. \n\nBack in the garage, the family pile in around him. Carole reflects on how far they've all come – and how motorsport has pulled them closer together. Ally is already thinking about what comes next. He's got a lot to look forward to.

Source: BBC 2