The final months of 2024 and the start of 2025 have been a true rollercoaster for Daniel Callaghan. Through every twist and turn, he has shown remarkable resilience, grit, and an unwavering passion for the sport he loves.
With the support of SVN Capital, Daniel is moving forward with more strength and determination than ever. And now, he’s no longer the only Callaghan making waves on the track. His twin sister, Lauren, has confidently stepped into the racing spotlight, bringing a fresh and exciting chapter to the family’s motorsport journey.
In this latest update, we take a look at Daniel’s recent racing experiences, the challenges he’s faced, and what lies ahead for the dynamic racing twins.
With just eight days to prepare, Dan jumped in head-first. Until then, his only experience with manual gears had been 20 minutes practising gear changes in the small carpark outside his mum’s work in a Renault traffic van! It was a big learning curve, but one he tackled with his usual determination.
During the initial test day, Dan met his tutor and quickly realised that racing a car was a completely different challenge compared to karting. Accustomed to carrying speed through corners, he had to adjust to the car’s understeer and learn new gear dynamics. Early on, still in “kart mode” and eager to race, Dan started chasing down another driver. After a few firm words from his tutor and a reminder that it was his first-ever session in a car, he was given more freedom in the next session. This time, Dan settled in quickly and skillfully overtook a competitor who had trained for a previous scholarship, an impressive achievement for his first proper test outing in a race car.
The final assessment days placed less emphasis on speed and more on listening, awareness, and adaptability. Despite still recovering from his collarbone injury, Dan handled both the driving and fitness elements well. His interview also went smoothly until the final question, where he admitted he was still new to the sport. It was an honest answer but one that ultimately cost him the scholarship.
Even so, his natural talent did not go unnoticed. His tutor said that if Dan had been taking his ARDS (Association of Racing Driver Schools) racing license exam that day, he would have passed with flying colours, an incredible compliment for someone so new to car racing.
Dan was also awarded a free entry into a Fiesta Junior race this season. Whether he takes part will depend on his recovery and the cost involved, but it’s an exciting opportunity. Jam Sport has also shared details of other, more affordable paths in motorsport that the family is exploring for the future.
As 2024 came to a close, Dan took part in the Warden Law test day in Sunderland, followed by the final round of the Whilton Mill Championship and the Warden Law final race. But these events turned out to be some of the toughest yet.
At the time, Dan and his family believed his collarbone from the June racing accident had healed, and he was just feeling some lingering stiffness. It wasn’t until a doctor’s visit that they discovered the truth: the bone was still broken. In fact, he had been racing with it all year.
Dan in October, unaware his collarbone was still broken.
Understandably, the injury affected more than just his physical performance. It took a toll on his confidence, too. Despite all of this, Dan still showed flashes of brilliance, setting the fastest times in the wet during the Warden Law test day.
Heading into race day, a string of mechanical issues meant Dan had no dry running before the event. That left him with very little time to adjust, especially under such challenging conditions. But Dan’s determination never wavered. He showed real courage by getting out on track and giving it everything he had. His perseverance and mindset were nothing short of inspiring and a clear reminder of the resilience that sets him apart.
For months, Dan had been powering through races despite a lingering stiffness in his neck. What no one realised at the time – even Dan himself – was that his collarbone had never healed. Further scans revealed two separate break points: one filled with soft tissue, the other with fragmented bone. The injury wasn’t going to heal on its own.
Thankfully, the NHS stepped in with emergency surgery. What was meant to be a straightforward two-hour operation turned into a four-hour procedure, leaving his parents anxiously waiting for updates. Dan ended up spending the night in the hospital without pain relief, desperate to get home. It was a tough and emotional experience for the entire family.
Daniel back in training, rebuilding his strength.
Since the surgery, Dan has started to regain his confidence on track, especially in overtaking situations where hesitation had held him back before. Physically, he’s still rebuilding his strength and only returned to training a few weeks ago. He’s now working hard on core recovery and has been taking online sessions with professional driver and sim racer Ronnie Smith. These sessions focus on refining his race craft while reducing the strain on his healing shoulder.
In February, the Callaghan family travelled to Dubai to meet with their sponsor, SVN Capital. While there, Dan also took the opportunity to have a test session with George Gibbon Motorsport, a race and championship-winning team in the UAE.
Thanks to the warmer climate and better grip, the Dubai race tracks were smoother than he’s used to in the UK. The Kart Republic karts are entirely different to his X-Kart, and it took a while to adapt to the brakes; still, with this difference and it being his first time in a kart since surgery, Dan performed really well, despite the heat! Racing in a full kit under the Dubai sun, with hot air pressing in from all directions, was a whole new challenge. Dan had to keep his visor open just to stay focused.
One upside was that with such high base temperatures, he could hit the track immediately with warm and ready tyres; there was no need for warm-up laps. This and the full 15-minute sessions, being able to push from the first lap, was a tough intro to racing in Dubai; the physical demand was intense. The track pulled two Gs of force (twice the pull of gravity), which put massive pressure on Dan’s neck and collarbone, especially after so long without training. By the end of the day, Dan’s neck gave out, and rightly so; they skipped the last 15-minute session.
Daniel racing in Dubai.
While in Dubai, the Callaghan family took the opportunity to begin early discussions with George Gibbons Racing about selling DJACS Kart Cleaner, their innovative cleaning product currently available at the Whilton Law race track. Expanding into the international market would be a fantastic next step for the business and a great way to bring the product to a wider racing community.
Their visit to Dubai wasn’t all about racing though. Dan and his family also enjoyed a relaxed and engaging lunch with Bob Bhowmik, Chief Operating Officer of SVN Capital. It was a valuable chance to connect personally, reflect on Dan’s journey so far, and share the family’s hopes and ambitions for the future, both on and off the track.
Bob Bhowmik, Chief Operations Office at SVN Capital and Dan Callaghan.
March marked a turning point for Dan as he returned to official racing following his collarbone surgery. His first outing was at the GYG (Glan Y Gors) in Wales, where he finished an impressive fifth out of 30 drivers – a strong start after time away. But it was his senior debut at Warden Law shortly after that really stole the spotlight.
On race day, Dan made a bold call. While others opted for dry tyres, he trusted his instincts and chose wets. It was a risky move, especially with a more powerful engine and in his first senior event, but it paid off in spectacular fashion. On his way to make up 13 places and in one of the standout moments of the day, Dan passed five drivers around the outside of a corner that is rarely used for overtaking. His decision-making and trust that the other drivers would not simply slide into him in the wet allowed him to continue his rise up the field. The whole team watched in awe as he crossed the line in second place, and everyone was on their feet, applauding.
It wasn’t just the result that stood out. It was the way Dan drove. Calm, focused, and in control, even as others around him lost grip and spun out. It was a composed and confident performance that proved just how far he had come, both physically and mentally.
The moment was made even sweeter when one of the top drivers, who finished third, approached Dan and said he had been “lucky.” But Dan knew it wasn’t luck; it was instinct, determination, and a LOT of skill. That race was Dan’s way of saying, loud and clear, “I’m back.”
Final preparations before the race in Wales.
In April, Dan raced at Clay Pigeon Raceway for the very first time. It was a mixed day that tested both his resilience and determination. He finished the two-day event in 15th and 20th place out of 29 drivers. Day two ended with a bad crash when another kart drove straight over the back of Dan’s, lifting and breaking his exhaust and bouncing across his neck protector, shoulder, and leg. Most drivers would have called it a day, but not Dan. He quickly got out from under the other kart, pulled it off his own, and jumped straight back into the race, pushing hard despite being nearly a lap down.
Despite significant damage to the front of his kart, including a broken nose cone and cracked Nassau panels, Dan kept pushing and matched the leaders’ pace up to the flag. The driver responsible for the collision received a ten-second penalty. Unfortunately, Dan was also handed a five-second penalty due to the contact forcing his nose cone out of alignment.
Even with the disappointment of the penalty, the race was a standout example of Dan’s incredible resilience and fighting spirit. His performance proved that even in the most frustrating moments, he has the composure, skill, and strength to keep going and finish strong.
At the end of April, Dan and his family began working with Espire Education, a new and exciting initiative bringing science, technology, engineering, and maths into schools in a way that truly captures students’ imaginations. Dan was proudly invited to be an ambassador for the company.
Espire offers schools across the UK a hands-on karting package that combines learning and racing. Once a school receives the kart, students are guided through every step, from building and maintaining it to setting it up for races and learning how to keep it in top condition. The aim is to inspire young minds through a blend of education and motorsport. Espire has also begun exploring opportunities abroad, including recent discussions in Dubai.
As an ambassador, Dan helps promote the programme and share its message with school communities and race venues. While at the GYG circuit in Wales, the family introduced the Espire concept to the circuit owners, who were excited by the idea and expressed interest in hosting next year’s school championship.
The concept is as exciting as it is educational. Once students build their karts, they compete against other schools, racing what they have created with their own hands. At the end of the academic year, the kart is taken apart and passed on to the next group of students to start the journey again. Dan’s involvement helps bring this incredible programme to life, showing students just how far passion and learning can take them.
Dan is no longer the only racer in the family. His twin sister, Lauren, has officially caught the racing bug too! Although she dabbled in karting a couple of years ago through school, she decided back then it wasn’t for her. But that all changed last year. Watching Dan take to the track in his Rotax reignited something in her. Right there on the sidelines, she told her family she wanted to give it another go.
Racing twins – Lauren’s and Dan’s helmets.
Initially, she told her family she was done. But on the drive home, she changed her mind. Turning to her dad, she said the words every karting parent knows all too well: “I want to come back. I want to do next season.” With that, the decision was made. Lauren would step up to the unrestricted TKM class, a competitive British-based karting category.
Lauren’s choice of number 13 offers a glimpse into her fearless mindset. While most drivers avoid the number, believing it unlucky, Lauren proudly owns it, replying, “It’s unlucky for them.”
So far this season, Lauren has raced at Fulbeck Kart Circuit on the 1st of March, GYG on the 14th of March, and Clay Pigeon on the 5th and 6th of April. She has been borrowing Dan’s race suit for her events, although she jokes that the fit (due to Dan’s broad shoulders) makes it look like she’s spent hours lifting weights at the gym!
Lauren giving it everything on race day.
Now racing in the higher-powered class, Lauren must run a novice plate, which means starting from the back for her first four races, regardless of lap times. Even so, she’s been consistently breaking into the top ten. At Fulbeck, she set the sixth-fastest lap time out of eighteen entrants, and she repeated that form at GYG, though starting from the back made it difficult to climb the order.
Lauren shines with her Novice of the Day award at GYG.
At Clay Pigeon, a two-day event, Lauren made solid progress through each heat on Saturday and continued to improve on Sunday. Unfortunately, her last heat ended early due to a technical issue with a fuel pipe that caused fuel to leak onto her as she drove. It was a disappointing end to an otherwise strong weekend.
Lauren has a talent for spotting overtaking opportunities others miss. At GYG, she repeatedly passed drivers at a tricky chicane that most avoid. After pulling off the move several times during the heat, Lauren went for one final pass. But this time, the other driver didn’t see her and turned in mid-move. The collision was considered Laurens’ fault, which she accepted with grace and received a penalty for after explaining herself to the marshals. It was a frustrating moment but one that did little to dim her growing confidence.
Lauren’s determination, race craft, and fearless mindset are already making an impact. Together, the Callaghan siblings are proving to be a formidable force, pushing each other to new heights and showing that talent, hard work, and passion run deep in the family.
Next on the calendar for Dan and Lauren is Whilton Mill, along with the Espire event in May. But with exam season fast approaching, the siblings will have to miss out on a few events (though, given the choice, they would definitely rather be racing!)
Whilton Mill holds special meaning, as it will be their first event on home turf this year. The whole family is hoping for standout performances there. It will also mark a milestone for Lauren, as it will be her first time starting somewhere other than the back of the grid. In NatSKA, starting positions are drawn at random, and for once, luck might finally be on her side.
Both Dan and Lauren are proud to continue representing SVN Capital on and off the track. They have made sure the branding is highly visible across their gear, from the race suit legs to the engine and even the chin of Dan’s helmet. The SVN Capital brand is also featured on the chest of both race suits and the engine of the Rotax.
Lauren proudly displaying the SVN Capital brand on her suit.
Due to their exam schedules, the pair will not be competing in the full NatSKA season this year. However, they will both be heading to the Nationals at Rowrah in Cumbria this July, a key event and one they are determined to make count. While they may not be in the running for the overall championship, they are expected to make a big impact.
Looking further ahead, Dan aims to join Silverstone University Technical College after his exams, where he hopes to begin his studies in motorsport engineering. We’ll share more details in the next update.
Dan and Lauren continue to show what’s possible with passion, resilience, and an incredible support system behind them. Their journey has been inspiring to watch, and SVN Capital is proud to be part of it. We can’t wait to see what they do next.
If you want to support racing twins Daniel and Lauren, you can donate through this website: https://www.djackarting.com/support.
If you’d like to support Lauren with her new race suit, contact us here.
Stay connected and follow Daniel’s progress on Instagram: @djac_karting and Lauren’s progress via @LEC_Karting
