Whatwordsofwisdomdidyourmothersharewithyou?Whatgemsdoyouofferyoungwomenwhoshowaninterestinrallying?Whatadvicedoyouofferyoungmen?
Maybeit’samotherthing,butshe’salwaystellingmetobelieveinmyselfmore.That’ssometimeseasiersaidthandone.Ultimately,[it’sbest]tonotoverthinkit:Ifyouenjoyitandwantit,giveityourbestgo!Ithinktheadviceforyoungdrivers,boysandgirls,isthesame.Tomakesure,deepdown,youhavethepassionforit,andthatwillgiveyouthedrivetopursueyourgoals.Whenthehelmetgoeson,thestopwatchdoesn’tknow[whether]you’reamanorawoman,soI’dneverletthatbeareasontonotgoforit.
Whoinspiresyou,insideandoutsidetheworldofrallying?
It’sabitcliché,butmymumhasdefinitelybeenoneofmybiggestinspirations.NealBates,whomymumcodrivesfor,hasalsobeensomeoneIhavelookeduptoallmylife.Withinrallying,MicheleMoutonisahugeinspirationandI’vetakenalotfromwatchinghergritanddeterminationduringtheGroupBera.Outsidethesport,mygoodfriendTaraWinklerissomeoneI’minaweof.ShelivesinCambodiaandrunsanNGOcalledtheCambodianChildren’sTrust.Herstoryisincredible,asistheworkandadvocacyshedoes.SheisoneofthestrongestandmostinspiringpeopleIknow.
Yourmotherthunderedthroughtheglassceilingdecadesbeforeyou.Whatdrovehertobreaknewground?Whatdifficultieshaveyoufacedasyoufollowedinherfootsteps?
Formymum,itwasaboutdoingwhatsheloved.Sheneversetouttoproveanythingandjustbecame“oneoftheboys”intherallycommunity.Shedrivesthetruckstotheevents,staysupintheworkshophelpingtheteampullovernightshiftswhenneededandgenerallyneversoughtanydifferenttreatmentbecauseshe’sfemale.Shegotonwiththejobandthefactthatsheissogoodatitmeanttheresultsspeakforthemselves.Formegrowingup,Ididn’tseewhatshewasdoingassomethingusualforyourmothertobedoing—Ijustthoughtitwasnormal.So,inmymind,beingafemalehasneverbeensomethingthatmademequestionwhetherIshouldpursuerallyingornot.Forsure,therewassomeaddedpressureforme,givenhersuccess.Ontheflipside,[it]alsomeantIwasluckytohavesuchagreatpoolofknowledgetolearnfrom.Attheendoftheday,you’retheonebehindthewheeland[you]ultimatelyhavetodothejob.Buttohavethesupportofsomeonewhoknowswhatittakestobesuccessfultaughtmeahugeamount.
Jumpahead10years:Describehowyouimagineyourlifeandyourcareerhaveprogressed.
Afewmorenationalandinternationalchampionshiptitlesundermybelt!Andthebeginningsofmyownteam,workshopandmotorsportfacility.
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