Armless racing driver steers car with feet

A petrol head is thought to be the world's first armless racing driver after losing both limbs in a horror crash, the Mirror has reported.

According to a UK based newspaper, Bartek Ostalowski, 29, lost both arms nine years ago in a devastating motorcycle accident, leaving his ambitions of becoming a professional racing driver in tatters.

But instead of giving up on his life-long dream, Bartek, from Poland, put on a brave face and set his mind to the task of learning to race using only his feet.

After three tough years, he finally became the first person with no arms ever to gain a full international racing licence.

As a fully-fledged racer, Bartek has competed in the European Championship of Rally Cross and the Cup of Poland.

Having exceeded all his expectations on racing, even topping his class in rounds of the Cup of Poland, he decided to shift his career into another gear and enter the world of drifting.

The sport, which requires rapid gear changes and repetitive handbrake use to slide the car round a track, presents enormous challenges for the Pole.

He has founded his own team, Bart Racing, to help him make the necessary modifications to his Nissan Skyline and allow him to compete on the drifting circuit.

His upgrades to the car include a new engine, stronger transmission and an independent gearbox.

However, he still uses a standard steering wheel, which he controls with just one foot.

With his souped-up racer Bartek entered the 2014 Drift Open King of Europe and, after considerable success, is aiming to keep the competition on the back foot and change the sport forever.