BRITISH WOMEN RACING DRIVERS CLUB
PROUDLY SUPPORTING WOMEN IN MOTORSPORT SINCE 1962
FRIENDSHIP
GUIDANCE
& ADVICE
FOR ALMOST
60 YEARS
OUR HERITAGE
The British Women Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1962 by Mary Wheeler MBE, with the aim of promoting and supporting women in all forms of motorsport.
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The women in our club have held their own in every form of our sport, from racing to hillclimbing to rallying, from Monte Carlo to Silverstone to the Nurburgring. They have set records, inspired trophies and won championships. They speak for all women involved in motorsport and for every woman who has dared to dream of glory, and now they inspire a new generation of ambitious women.
LADY CHRISTABEL WATSON (CARLISLE)
Lady Christabel competed from 1960 - 1963 in a Mini. Her first race was at Silverstone in June 1960. By June 1961 she had an International licence and at Brands Hatch that year she finished second between Vic Elford and Steve McQueen.
SHEILA TILLER
Sheila competed from 1962 onwards in hillclimbs and sprints and from 1972 to 1975 was the fastest lady at the Brighton Speed Trials in her Allard. In 2000 she took the Allard to Bonneville Salt Flats where Sheila clocked 152mph on her only run.
JOEY FREEMAN
Joey competed from 1957 to 1970 in sprints and circuit racing, firstly in a Morris 1000 and then a Sprite, in which she won class and ladies awards. The real highlight was winning the AMOC Horsfal Trophy in 1964. She donated the first BWRDC club trophy, and was a founder member and the first secretary of the club.
GABRIEL KONIG
Gabriel's racing career started at Goodwood in 1962 in a Lotus Elite. She also competed an Elan, a Nathan Imp, a Sebring Sprite and an MG Midget. In 1968 she collected 18 wins and 9 lap records and won the prestigious BWRDC Embassy Trophy and Club Championship. She was a founder member of the club.
JEAN DENTON CBE
(BARONESS
DENTON OF
WAKEFIELD)
Jean competed on circuits and in marathon rallies, once finishing 18th out 96 starters in the Mexico World Cup rally, having covered some 16,000 miles. She was twice BWRDC Race Champion (in '67 and '68) and was also the Lord Wakefield Challenge Trophy winner in 1984. She was also the first BWRDC PR officer. She was honoured with a CBE in 1990, and made a Freeman of the City of London in 1991. As well as her successes in racing and rallying, Jean had a successful political career and was Northern Ireland Minister from 1994 to 1997, the first woman to hold a ministerial post at the Northern Ireland office. Jean sadly died in 2001.
THE
SWINGING
SIXTIES
NATALIE GOODWIN ​
Natalie was a founder member of the club and competed in National and International circuit racing from 1961 to 1969. In just two seasons she amassed nineteen wins, twelve second places and fourteen third places in an Austin Healey 3000, a Marcos 1800 and a 1250 Mini. She was three times the Club Champion ('64, '65 and '66) and she presented the club with three perpetual trophies that racing members compete for in the BWRDC Championship - the Goodwin Trophies.
ANITA MORRELL ​
Anita raced from 1960 to 1967. By 1963 she was winning races in Jim Clark's old Lotus Elan. In 1965 she drove for Ford in a Broadspeed Anglia and achieved her first International status win at Silverstone. Anita also raced an Alan Mann Lotus Cortina and a Mustang 350 GT.
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JUDY ANDREASON
(VICKERY)
Judy raced a Marcos at Brands Hatch and also competed in Hillclimbs, sprints, circuit races and rallies. She was Chairman of the club from 1975 to 1977. In 1970 she won the Sprint Trophy. Her road-trim Marcos, with the registration HOTIE, famously helped her amass some 200 trophies during her career.
ANGELA CHERETT
Overall winner of the VSCC Welsh Rally and several driving tests in 1970 and 1975. Angela also achieved a race win at Oulton Park and fastest lap at Castle Combe.
GEORGIE SHAW
Georgie traded her road Lotus Elan for a 1000cc full-race mini and over several years, competed in special saloons, Shellsport Escort Ladies races, production sportscars (TR7's) and the 1275GT mini championship, spearheading a two-girl BWRDC team. She was runner-up for the Jean Denton Newcomers Trophy in 1971 and 3rd for the Goodwin Trophy in 1978. She was Club Chairman from 1978-80 and served as the BWRDC PR Officer and Club President.
THE
SEVENTIES
WENDY
MARKEY-AMEY
Wendy started racing a Honda N600 and very quickly earned a drive in the 'works' BMW 2002 Ti. She also raced a works Mazda RX3 in 1974, sponsored by Penthouse! In 1975 she was runner-up for the Goodwin Trophy. She returned to racing with a Chevron B8 in 1988, but retired the following year.
MAGGIE LOYND
(ANDERSON)
Maggie won the first ever Renault 5 TL race, held at Brands Hatch. She went on to achieve 2nd place overall in the inaugural Renault 5 Championship and represented Great Britain in the two Women's Monaco Grands Prix.
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DIVINA GALICA MBE
Divina was introduced to motorsport in 1974 when she was invited to a celebrity race at Oulton Park where she was 2nd. In 1976 she raced in the Shellsport F5000 European Championship in a Formula One Surtees, finishing an excellent fourth in the series in this notoriously difficult car. Divina also set five British speed records and was awarded the prestigious BWRDC Lord Wakefield Challenge Trophy.
SUSAN T-P
JAMIESON
Susan was Shellsport Escort Champion and
the Club Chair from 1982-1986 and 1996-1999. She also served as Club President. She wrote the acclaimed books, Women in Motorsport from 1945, and 40 years of the British Women Racing Drivers' Club - Mary's Girls.
LORINA
MCLAUGHLIN
(BOUGHTON)
Current BWRDC President Lorina's first full motorsport season saw her racing to second place in the Formula Four Championship with several victories. In recent years she has competed and won with her 1976 World Championship winning McLaren M23 - including 4th in the Historic Formula 1 race at Magny-Cours - and with her ex-Michael Schumacher Camel Benetton B192 F1 car, winning several Ladies Awards at Goodwood Festival of Speed.
AGNES MICKEL
Agnes championed the Hillclimb section, and was one of very few to achieve BTD at a British Hillclimb. She set a new ladies record at Prescott. Sadly Agnes died in 1986.
ALISON DAVIS
In her first full season of racing Alison won the 1970 Goodwin Trophy, driving a Diva GT. The next season, Alison clinched the Embassy Trophy in a Ginetta G15, In 1972 she won the Goodwin Trophy and the Castrol award for leading lady driver. In 1976 and 1977 she finished runner-up in the Shellsport Ladies Championship. Further successes followed and Alison was rewarded with the Lord Wakefield Challenge Trophy, after becoming the first woman to win a British National Championship (the BRDC Production Sports Car championship) in the Ginetta G15.
DESIRE WILSON ​
Desire won the F1 Aurora British Championship race at Brands Hatch in 1980. She also won the
World Endurance Championship, Monza 1000km and Silverstone 6 hour races. She also became one of very few women to ever be awarded a FIA Grand Prix Super Licence.
LOUISE AITKEN-
WALKER MBE
Louise started rallying after her brothers entered her in a competition to 'Find a Lady Driver' which she won. In 1983 she won the Monte Carlo Rally Coupe des Dames and was the first female winner of a national rally on the Peter Russek Rally driving a Ford Escort. In 1989 she became British Open Champion, Ladies European Champion and was the Lord Wakefield Challenge Trophy winner.
MARY WHEELER
MBE ​
Mary founded the BWRDC in 1962 and competed from 1959 through to 1973. She was well into her 40's before she embarked on her first year of competition which also saw her first race win at Goodwood, her local circuit, in her Triumph TR2. After retiring from competition Mary was honoured with the Lord Wakefield Challenge Trophy in 1982 and an MBE in 1992.
JANET
MCPHERSON
Janet started racing in karts and moved on to Formula Fords aged just 19. She graduated to a McLaren M19 F5000, and then went on to compete in a Mini 1000, Formula Ford 2000 and a March 803B in Formula Libre. She won the Graham Hill Memorial Trophy in the Mini 1000 challenge at Cadwell Park.
THE
EIGHTIES
MAGGIE
BLANKSTONE
SCHOIBER
Maggie started competing in 1964 in hillclimbs, sprints and at circuits and in 1985 was awarded Driver of the Day at Prescott. In 1993 driving a Pilbeam MP62 Maggie achieved the outright course record at the Jurby Sprint on the Isle of Man.
DEE KNIGHT
Dee started competitive motorsport in 1968 and took part in Autocross, Sprinting and Circuit Racing. 1989 was her last year of motorsport, sprinting and circuit racing a Suzuki Swift. Dee has also enjoyed being Honorary Secretary and Editor for the club.
CAROLINE RYDER ​
1986 was the first year in motorsport for Caroline and she won the ladies award in the National Leaders Sprint Championships. In 1988 she was named 'Man of the Meeting' at Ingliston, she was also twice RAC National Leaders Ladies Champion. Caroline also chaired the BWRDC for three years.
ANTONIA LOYSEN
Antonia won the Club's Best Newcomer Award in 1981. She had a Royale Formula Ford 2000, then entered a Chevron B42 Formula Atlantic in the Formula Libre Championship, and raced at the first ever Birmingham Superprix. She still races and competed at the 2010 Le Mans Classic in her 1932 Citroen C4, the first time a Citroen had raced at Le Mans for 78 years.
JOSIE CLEAVER
In 1988 Josie was awarded the Lord Wakefield Challenge Trophy. She started competing in 1977 and by 1980 she was achieving class wins and went on to win her first race outright at Mallory Park in 1982. Josie was also BWRDC Club Secretary and Chairman.
VIV AYRES ​
Viv started competing in 1974. By 1977 she had won her class in all four championships she contested. In 1987, driving a Lotus 15 copy Viv achieved 12 class wins, 10 fastest laps and 3 lap records and won the BWRDC Racing Championship. She become the first woman race Clerk of the Course in 1990 and was awarded the Lord Wakefield Challenge Trophy in 1992.
THE NINETIES
MAGGIE DELL
Maggie raced from 1972-1993 and became a multiple BWRDC Kart Champion and was the first British woman to win at the 1990, 1991 and 1993 Peel Grands Prix on the Isle of Man in the 125cc class. In 1990 she won the final heat, in 1991 she won all three heats and the final, then in 1993 she won the final.
TINA COOPER
In 1993 Tina became the BRDC Mini Challenge overall winner having achieved 4 race wins and Driver of the Day at Castle Combe. She has been awarded the prestigious Lord Wakefield Trophy.
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HELEN
BASHFORD-MALKIE
Helen started racing in 1977 and raced at the highest levels, in an F1 Shadow. She was the first woman on the podium of an FIA F1 race with 3rd overall at Brno. She was Lord Wakefield Challenge Trophy winner in 1994 and won the Jamieson Trophy for fastest lap eight times. Helen has also served as Chair of the Club.
JO HODGSON
Jo started competing in a BDA powered Escort for hillclimbs, sprints and rallies. Jo returned to motorsport in 1989 driving a Lotus Elan but also drove a Sierra Cosworth, MG Midget, TR7 V8 and a Lola T86. She has won the BWRDC Hillclimb championship several times and is still competing.
ILSA COX
Ilsa competes in her SEAT Leon Cupra. She was the first woman to win an overall race in a Cupra. In 1997 she was the Handygas Saloon car champion and she has 26 overall race wins, 21 pole positions and numerous podium positions on her racing CV. In 2010 she won the BWRDC's GoldStar award.
PHOEBE ROLT
Pheobe competed in single seaters for many years and achieved class wins in Historic Formula Junior and in 1992 won the European FISA Trophy. In 1999 she won the Goodwood Revival Ladies prize and continues to race in occasional Historic Formula Junior events.
AMANDA GEORGE
Amanda has been competing in Hillclimbs and Sprints since 1991. In her first event she won the up to 1600cc class and set the fastest time by a woman in her Classic F3 Ensign. She continues to compete and is the club annual awards co-ordinator.
HELEN ALLEN
Helen began racing in 1996 in 750MC. She currently competes in a Fiesta Zetec SE and has finished in the top three in class every year since winning her class in 2015. She has been part of the BWRDC since 1997 and is the current Club Vice-Chair and Secretary.
YVE RIVERS-
FLETCHER
Yve started competing 1997 in a 'Triumph Special' that she and her husband Jeremy had restored. Yve is currently the BWRDC Treasurer.
AMANDA
WHITTAKER
Amanda began her racing career in karts in 1989 and switched to racing a Formula Ford in 1991. She was the Monoposto Championship overall winnner in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and the European Formula Atlantic Champion in 2006. In 2008 Amanda won four BWRDC championship titles - the Goodwin, the Hillwood Jewellers Coupe des Dames and the Monoposto and Embassy Trophies. She was also a BWRDC GoldStars nominee in 2008. She went on to take three more BWRDC championship titles in 2009, winning the Goodwin, Hillwood Jewellers Coupe des Dames and Monoposto Trophies.
LIZ HALLIDAY
Liz started racing for fun in her dad's Datsun 510 and won three races in her first season. She took up sportscar racing and is the most successful female American Le Mans driver ever and was second in the ALMS Championship in 2006.
AMY BARKER
Amy won her first ever kart race and went on to become BWRDC Kart Champion in 2002. She switched to circuit racing and has a string of successes including two championship wins racing her MX5. She was also twice nominated for the BWRDC GoldStars Award.
LORRAINE
GATHERCOLE
Lorraine won the BWRDC Goodwin and Embassy Trophies in 2001 the same year she won the MG Owners Club Championship. She has been a member of the club since 1999 and is now the Chair. Lorraine competes in various historic circuit races throughout Europe and has also recently tried rallying.
LYNN JONES ​
Lynn has been an avid supporter of the club since 1989 and has served the club well over the years, variously handling the Merchandise section, running a stand at many shows and events as well as writing 'Quickword' an email newsletter of events and results.
GAIL HILL ​
Racer Gail Hill won the Jean Denton Newcomers trophy in 2003 and went on to win the BWRDC Hillwood coupe des dames twice, and won the Goodwin and Embassy trophies in 2006. Gail's successes include winning the Jaguar XJ-S and saloon championships in 2006 and 2011. She was a 2012 GoldStars Award winner. Gail now races a classic Mustang.
ALICE POWELL
Alice was the 2010 BARC Formula Renault Champion. In 2009 she won the Lord Wakefield Challenge Trophy and was a GoldStars Award winner in 2010 and 2011. She currently races in W-Series.
A NEW
CENTURY -
THE 00'S
LISA SELBY ​
Lisa won the BWRDC Chairmans Trophy in 2006 and went on to win the Duckham's Sprint Trophy in 2009 and 2010. A true all rounder, she took up racing in 2008 and started rallying in 2010, and is one of the few members of the club to compete across disciplines.
SUSIE WOLFF
Susie became the BWRDC Monoposto, Goodwin and Susan TP Jamieson Award winner in 2004. She has also won the Lord Wakefield Trophy twice. Susie has competed in DTM, and is a former test driver for the Williams F1 team.
AGGIE FOSTER
Aggie has been co-driving since 1984 and is an international rally co-driver who has rallied all over the world including competing on WRC events. She won the BWRDC Co-drivers Championship five times, in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2008.
SARAH FRANKLIN ​
Sarah has raced in the Porsche Carrera Cup, Britcar, the Trofeo Abarth, Production Touring Cars, and the the 4Two Cup. Her achievements include pole, fastest lap and outright win at the inaugural 4Two Cup race at Donington Park and she had three consecutive BWRDC GoldStars nominations for her racing in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
CAT LUND ​
Cat won back to back rally championships in Belgium in 2010 and 2011 and was BWRDC Rally Co-driver Champion in 2010 and 2015. She was a BWRDC GoldStars Award winner in 2011. She remains an active rally member competing in the MSUK Asphalt Championship and is the BWRDC webmaster and editor of the Club magazine, Racing Vogue.
SARAH READER
Sarah has been racing since 2000, beginning her career with the Caterham Academy and going on to race in the Caterham Eurocup and VdeV series. She took two podiums in the FIA SPEED Euroseries in 2011 and won the GoldStars Award for 2012.
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QUEENS
OF THE
TEENS
CAROLYNN HOY
Carolynn raced Superkarts and took 2nd place in the British Championship and 6th place in the World Karting Championship during the early 1980’s as a factory driver in the Hermatite Zip team. She went on to race saloon cars and trucks in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship until her retirement from racing due to injury in 1995.
She was presented with the Lord Wakefield Challenge Trophy in 2012.
KATIE MILNER
Racer Katie Milner was awarded the Mary Wheeler Memorial Embassy Trophy for the Club Champion in 2016. She was the first female to win the Junior Saloon Car Championship in 2016, and the UK's most successful junior female driver with 8 wins and 11 podiums. She is the Club's Race and Kart Secretary.
CLAIRE WILLIAMS ​
Williams F1 supremo Claire was the recipient of the Lord Wakefield Challenge Trophy in 2014.
AMANDA BLACK
Successful racer Amanda was the BWRDC Club Champion in 2012 and 2013, racing her Caterham.
JESSICA HAWKINS ​
Racer Jess Hawkins won the 2017 Goodwin Trophy and the Anita Taylor Trophy for the best performance by a saloon car driver, racing her mini.
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JO POLLEY ​
Jo has been racing since she was 15. She has over 35 career podiums from oval and circuit racing. In 2018 she was 4th in th Super Mighty Mini Championship with a win, four podiums and a fastest lap.She was a 2019 GoldStars Award winner.
CHLOE GRANT
Kart racer Chloe Grant has a promising career ahead and is the club's 2020 Junior GoldStars Award winner.
ABBI PULLING ​
Abbi started racing karts aged 8. In 2018, Abbi dominated the Super One British Championship taking the title with 22 top three finishes and podiums in all seven of the Grand Finals. She became the first junior karter to win back to back Super One British Championships and also retained the Junior TKM Festival Trophy. Abbi also made her car racing debut in 2018, and was a 2019 GoldStars Award winner.
SASHA HERIOT
Rally co-driver and navigator Sasha Heriot is the 2020 Senior GoldStars Award Winner and the 2019 club champion, the first time a rally competitor has been awarded the prestigious Mary Wheeler Memorial Embassy Trophy.