The driving star on Racing Pride – the sport’s LGBTQ+ charity – competes with her partner Jessica and her favorite James Bond car.
What was your first car?
To Renault Clio. And you know what? I was really sensitive. I think I’ve always saved the speed for the track.
What are you driving now?
I am fortunate to have a partnership with a BMW dealer in Colchester. I am currently driving an X3 M Competition and it is a pocket rocket. It’s a 503 hp SUV, but you don’t feel how big it is.
Your partner Jessica Hawkins will race alongside you in the W Series. Is that where you met?
I met Jess before the W Series. Motorsport is a small world, especially for female drivers. I remember crossing her path in Goodwood and seeing what she was up to, but when I came to W Series we got to know each other a little better, became friends and now we’ve been together for almost two and a half years.
How competitive are you two?
We are always competitive – we would be crappy drivers if we weren’t. But if one of us is struggling or our confidence is being tested, we are always ready to support each other. Ultimately, we both want each other to be okay. The dream is to be at the forefront together.
Who is the best at power slides?
We’re arguing about this! But I say Jess so I have a happy girlfriend.
Jess is an Aston Martin Racing ambassador and was a stunt driver in the last Bond film. What is your favorite 007 car?
I really liked the Land Rover Defenders in No Time To Die. They withstood some pretty big stunts.
Last October you broke your back at the W Series race in Austin, Texas, but this season you are back. How?
It was the most painful thing I’ve experienced. It was a freak accident. I’m still not 100 percent, but I’m a lot further than nine months ago. Race car drivers are very impatient, but you cannot be impatient with a spinal cord injury.
Was it hard to get out?
I’ve always been outside. I have never hidden who I am. I realized I was gay when I was probably 17. I have never been ashamed to be gay and have always been open to the public eye. It is important for me to be involved in Racing Pride [motorsport’s LGBTQ+ charity], and using the platform I have to show you can be a successful woman in a male-dominated industry. If my journey inspires other people, then that is really positive.
There is a lot of pressure in motorsport at the moment for inclusiveness and diversity, much more than when I started racing, but we have to keep pushing. It should be the core of the sport.
What’s the best electric car you’ve driven?
I’m biased because I’m a test driver for EV company Fisker. But I’m definitely on board with the electric world. It’s a tough transition and I’ll miss the sound and smell of combustion engines, but EVs produce instant torque, smoothness and quiet.
Watch the fourth race of the W Series 2022 season live from Silverstone on Sky Sports and Channel 4 from 1.10pm on Saturday
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Metro.co.uk celebrates 50 years of Pride
This year marks 50 years of Pride, so it seems only fitting that Metro.co.uk continues in our continued LGBTQ+ support, through a wealth of content that not only celebrates all things Pride, but also shares stories, the takes time to reflect and raise awareness for the community this Pride Month.
And we also have some great names on board to help us out. From a list of celebrity guest editors taking over the site for a week, including: rob rinder† Nicholas Adams† Peter Tatchelli† Kimberly Hart Simpson† John White† Anna Richardson and dr. Ranjas well as the will of Sir Ian McKellen and Drag Race stars the Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney and Aunt Kofi offer their insights.
During Pride Month, which runs from June 1 – 30, metro.co.uk will also support Kyiv Pride, a Ukrainian charity forced to work harder than ever to protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in times of conflict, and the youth homelessness charity AKT. Click here to learn more about their work and what you can do to support them.
In front of metro.co.uk‘s latest Pride coverage, click here.