The Winter Open Deaf Championship 2026 returned to TeamSport Warrington for the third time in the championship’s history, delivering another unforgettable day of close racing, fantastic competition and a brilliant atmosphere. The event attracted an impressive entry of 40 drivers, with competitors travelling from across the UK to take part. A large number of family members, friends and karting fans also attended, creating a fantastic atmosphere throughout the day and cheering on the drivers from start to finish.
The day began with registration, followed by the mandatory Health and Safety Briefing. Volunteer BSL Interpreter Ian Duncan provided British Sign Language interpretation throughout the briefing, ensuring every driver fully understood the race procedures and safety regulations before heading onto the circuit.
Following the briefing, drivers were split into Qualifying Group A and Qualifying Group B. Every lap counted as competitors pushed hard to secure one of the coveted places in Final A. The qualifying sessions were highly competitive, with drivers separated by only small margins. Although there were several yellow flag periods following racing incidents, the marshals, race director and TeamSport Warrington staff handled every situation professionally, allowing the event to continue safely and efficiently.
All of the racing was completed using TeamSport Warrington’s electric karts, which provided quick acceleration and close, competitive racing throughout the day. Every kart was fitted with a Push Boost button, giving drivers a short burst of extra speed when activated. Drivers used the Push Boost at key moments to overtake rivals, defend their position or try to set the fastest lap. This added another level of strategy to the racing and produced even more exciting action for both the competitors and the spectators.
The England Deaf Karting Association (EDKA) committee once again worked tirelessly behind the scenes to organise another successful championship. From planning the event and coordinating the timetable to ensuring everything ran smoothly on race day, their hard work and dedication made the event another great success.
Once qualifying had been completed, the fastest drivers progressed into Final A, while the remaining competitors battled for victory in Final B. Both finals produced exciting racing that kept spectators entertained throughout.
Final B featured some excellent wheel-to-wheel racing, with drivers fighting hard for every position until the chequered flag. After an exciting contest, Rachael Mallard claimed victory with an outstanding performance. Dan Johnson finished in second place after a determined drive, while David Page completed the podium in third after holding off strong pressure from the drivers behind.
Attention then turned to the highly anticipated Final A, where the fastest qualifiers lined up to battle for the Winter Open Deaf Championship title. The standard of racing was exceptional, with fierce competition throughout the field. The battle for first, second and third place kept everyone watching until the very end, while the fight for fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh places was equally close, with drivers exchanging positions and pushing each other to the limit.
After a thrilling final, Jasper Fitzgerald-Woolfe crossed the finish line to become the Winter Open Deaf Champion 2026. Eriks Prozitovskis finished in second place, while James Greenhough completed the podium in third after another impressive performance.
The championship once again demonstrated the inclusive nature of deaf karting, with men and women competing together on equal terms throughout the event. Separate women’s awards recognised the highest-placed female competitors. Erika Lever-Hogg was crowned Women’s Champion, with Rachael Mallard taking second place and Jessica Baker finishing third after a strong day’s racing.
Several special awards were presented during the trophy ceremony to recognise outstanding performances. Dan Johnson received the Men’s Driver of the Day award for his determination and excellent racing throughout the event, while Jessica Baker was named Women’s Driver of the Day. The Men’s Fastest Lap award went to James Greenhough, who at just 15 years old, produced an outstanding lap to set the quickest time of the day. Rachael Mallard claimed the Women’s Fastest Lap award after another superb performance.
The England Deaf Karting Association would like to extend a huge thank you to LJN Designs for generously sponsoring the championship trophies and awards. Thanks also go to TeamSport Warrington, the race director, marshals, volunteer BSL Interpreter Ian Duncan, all volunteers and the England Deaf Karting Association committee for their dedication and hard work in making the event another memorable success.
Although this marks the end of the Winter Open Deaf Championship, it also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. From 2027 onwards, the event will continue under its new name, the Indoor Open Deaf Karting Championship, while continuing to provide competitive, exciting and inclusive racing for deaf kart drivers.
The England Deaf Karting Association would like to thank every driver, volunteer, sponsor and supporter who has helped make the Winter Open Championship such a success over the years. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2027 for the first Indoor Open Deaf Karting Championship. Watch this space for more news and announcements.