TEEN DRIVING SENSATION EMILY LINSCOTT AIMS TO TA ‘The adren of racing is
SHE might only be 17 but British racing driver Emily Linscott is on track to achieve her dream of reaching Formula One.
It would make her only the third woman to ever start a race at that level, but the determined teen is well up for the challenge.
“Formula One is a dream and a potential goal I could definitely go for,” says Emily. “But Indycar out in America has also been shown to me as something I could do.
“They are the top two I am aiming for – but at this time I am just trying to race anywhere I can.”
Emily, from Basildon, Essex, became hooked on the sport at the age of 13 when dad Mark took her go-karting for “a bit of fun”.
A year later, Emily was test-driving sports cars, and since then her career has taken her to competitions all around the world, from Malaysia to the US. She says: “The adrenaline rush of racing is amazing, it’s something you can’t really replicate or put into words.”
Last year, Emily was the first female to win the Motorsport UK Award for Young Driver of the Year 2019, as well as Young Sports Personality of the Year 2018-19.
But success in this sport does not come cheap – Emily says her family have spent thousands from savings to help her compete.
Her racing helmet was £4,000 alone, and it costs £300,000 a year to run in a race series.
Next year, Emily is planning to go to Formula Three, which is estimated to cost £2million overall. Luckily, she has several sponsorship deals that allow her to compete at a professional level.
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Racing is a notoriously male-dominated sport – currently, only 1.5% of racing licence holders are female.
And only five women have ever entered a Grand Prix with just two – Italians Lella Lombardi, right, and Maria Teresa de Filippis – actually qualifying and starting a race.
But Emily says:
“That doesn’t mean women can’t be in it.
“It is slowly developing.
“I think one of the barriers is parents initially took me kartin parents might think th go karting, but don’ daughter might be inte
“If more parents we I think a lot more w participating in the spo
Emily herself is alrea in encouraging wome into the sport. She thousands of followe on Instagram and Youtube and has noticed a lot more young women getting in touch to say they want to follow in her footsteps.
“I love inspiring them, hearing that makes me feel amaz ing,” says Emily. “I stay contact with them as as I can to encourage th
“It is also inspiring f to influence young makes me want to pu this. Racing helpe of m very be th