October 2019
ENGINEERING UPDATE
Women in Motorsport | Rebecca Jackson Talks Motor Racing Rebecca Jackson, GT & Le Mans racing driver, TV presenter and recent mum of twins, talks to as pro engineering ltd. about the allure of racing and her thoughts on motorsport today.
In sharp contrast to the growth of women excelling in other sporting pursuits, there is a smaller percentage of women competing in the top tiers, compared to ten years ago. For example, of the 900 drivers who have competed in the history of Formula 1, just 2 have been female; the most recent of which, Lella Lombardi, was over 40 years ago in 1976. There are no reasons why women can’t perform as well on the racetrack as men. In fact, advances in race car design have significantly reduced the physical demands of racing, making it more accessible than ever before. So what are the barriers preventing women from participating at the top levels? In this article, as pro engineering ltd. catches up with sponsored racing driver Rebecca Jackson to discuss her racing
78|
career, rising from club-level racing to competing at Le Mans in 2016. We also discuss her thoughts on the new W Series, aimed exclusively at women, as well as Rebecca’s insight into the current state of the industry in 2019. A highly competent GT racing driver, Rebecca’s career originally began racing Porsches. From humble beginnings in club-level motorsport, she quickly rose through the ranks, claiming the 2013 BRSCC Porsche Production Boxster Championship along the way.
As a relative late-comer to motorsport, competing in your first circuit race in 2011 at the age of 28, what originally sparked your interest in racing? “I have always loved cars right from an early age. I was pushed around the outskirts of Silverstone Circuit in my pram when I was just 6 weeks old while my father was racing. I very much enjoyed spending time with him in the garage at home while he maintained his classic cars when I was a young girl.”