RaceAble

  • Prize
    Winner in Sport Equipment Design / E-sport & Application
  • University
    Nottingham-Trent University
  • Lead Designer
    Benjamin Rickard
  • Professor Credit
    James Dale
  • Contributor(Other)
    Edward Fearn, Hugo Castro, Priten Chauhan
  • Design Status
    Concept
  • Project Link
  • Web URL

Description
Global sporting events like Formula 1, the Olympics, and the World Cup all have fanzones for in-person spectators – but what about those who can’t attend? Have disabled fans simply been forgotten? Watching on TV is one thing, but motorsport is about more than just the race. It’s the trackside energy, the behind-the-scenes moments, the personal fan interactions. RaceAble is a motorsport hub and virtual trackside experience developed to encourage and inspire disabled fans & promote inclusivity in racing. Through its mobile and VR interface, users can join a virtual paddock, watch the live racing, visit team garages, interact with drivers, and access education tools – just as though they were actually there! With AR integration, RaceAble also benefits users lucky enough to physically attend races. Digital rewards placed around the track encourage users to discover accessible areas they may not have known about before. The heart of RaceAble is its supportive online community that connects young disabled talent and help them see a future in motorsports. It’s not just a game – RaceAble inspires confidence, community, and career aspirations through technology.

Innovation
RaceAble breaks new ground by merging motorsport culture with immersive digital accessibility. It is one of the first platforms to offer a virtual race weekend through mobile and VR technology, specifically designed for disabled users. Where traditional racing apps focus on stats or entertainment, RaceAble creates a fully interactive and inclusive environment – combining education, social interaction, and digital exploration. Its integration of FIA approved adaptation education is unique, offering practical insight into how disabled fans can get involved in motorsports themselves. The AR collectables system transforms real-world tracks into accessible discovery zones, encouraging fans to explore new areas. RaceAble’s innovation lies in its purpose-driven design: it invites users into the heart of the sport – recreating the full fan experience from anywhere. It’s a reimagining of motorsport for the digital age – where no one is left behind.

Product Detail
RaceAble is a mobile-based platform available on both iOS and Android, allowing anyone to gain access to the motorsport hub and online community. The central app that homes RaceAble’s features is designed and prototyped on Figma, with the example team in use being ‘Team BRIT’ – a race team made up of purely disabled drivers. The unique selling point of RaceAble is the virtual environment that allows users to explore the paddock area during a race weekend, ensuring they don’t miss out on any trackside action. This is developed in Meta Horizon which allows for support across all mobile devices, desktops and promotes VR compatibility for that extra immersive feel. A breakdown of the key features within RaceAble include personalised app themes, community hub, tailored breaking news, AR track discovery and a virtual paddock experience.

Specification
RaceAble is available to anyone. It is available for iOS and Android smartphones, with extra compatibility for VR and desktop within the virtual paddock environment. It is designed to serve all age groups and fanbases, engaging current motorsport enthusiasts and also encouraging new faces to get involved – focusing on accessibility for disabled users. The app’s UI includes adjustable font sizes, voice navigation features and colour contrast options. It supports dark and light modes and whilst exploring the virtual garages, visual feedback and prompts are used for anyone who is hard of hearing. In-app features and themes can be personalised with a wide range of colour palettes, to either suit a user’s needs or to just simply personalise the experience towards a specific racing team.



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