Over the decades female racers been the driving force behind some of motorsport’s most thrilling moments. Amid the top quality animation and great racing action, Disney-Pixar’s (released in UK cinemas on 14 July) focuses on a gritty female racer rising through the ranks against male heavyweights. When compared to less diverse real-world grids dominated by Lewises, Nicos and Sebastians, it might cause some young viewers to ask, “Are there any female racing drivers?”. And the answer is, yes; not only are there plenty – but they’re among motorsport’s coolest role models ever.
Speed pioneers Let’s go right back to 1901 and the dawn of the motor age. Competing in that year’s Paris-to-Berlin endurance race was the remarkable Camille du Gast, an accomplished athlete, fencer, markswoman, horse trainer and concert pianist who’d shot to fame by parachuting from hot air balloons. Camille started the race last out of 122, but thrashed her underpowered Pannard to finish 33rd, vowing to do better next time.
Pioneering spirit: Camille du Gast Credit: Alamy In the 1903 Paris-to-Madrid race she was eighth, before stopping to save the life of an Englishman who’d rolled his car into a ditch. The French government banned women from racing in 1904, so she switched to motorboats.
Meanwhile in Hackney, Dorothy Levitt taught herself not just driving skills but mechanics and car-building to become Britain’s first female racing driver in 1903, winning medals and breaking speed records while also winning motorboat races and writing newspaper columns. Keep on running: Kay Petre Credit: Getty Canadian-born Kay Petre competed at Brooklands and Le Mans in 1934, and in 1937 came sixth in the South African Grosvenor GP before her own career-ending smash in 1938. She remained influential and helped design the interiors for the Mini in the 1960s. Modern motorheads Post-war America saw the birth of the motorsport which most closely resembles the stock car racing in Cars 3: NASCAR.
It was open to female drivers from the start, with Sara Christian competing in the very first race and the former aerospace engineer Janet Guthrie later leading the pack in its crowning glory, the Daytona 500 race. Buckle up for high-speed action This series of Telegraph features, brought to you by Disney-Pixar, is inspired by the rivalry of racing legend Lightning McQueen and the newcomer Jackson Storm in Cars 3. Read all the articles.
Wait, a rally driver who poses for Playboy? Do all of my dreams come true now, or just this one? Just this one, unfortunately. Wait, aren't I not supposed to objectify women in motorsports? We said in our piece 'How to Inspire More Women to Become Gearheads' that the media should. It was the first day on the job for a few driving instructors in Malaysia, they believed it was a regular day and they were teaching a young woman how to drive. The woman behind the wheel was.
Cars 3 sees Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) outgunned by new, high-tech cars and in need of a boost from trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo), who gets a taste for racing herself. Cars 3 is out in UK cinemas nationwide in 2D and 3D on 14 July. Find a screening near you.
Famous Rally Drivers
Madalena Antas. In Portugal, Madalena Antas is known as just another female race car driver.In America, she is known as a gorgeous woman that doubles as a sports driver. I fell in love at M.
The Portuguese bombshell Madelana Antas doesn’t mind getting dusty in the desert while racing tricked-out pickups on the rally circuit. When she is not destroying sand dunes and jumping trucks at 120 mph, she enjoys oil painting and flaunting her curvaceous assets in men’s magazine. Maryeve Dufault. Maryeve Dufault was named Miss Hawaiian Tropic International in 2000 to become the first winner from Quebec.
This Canadian hottie has been featured in a number of different magazines and TV shows. Maryeve uses her income from modeling to fund her racing career, where she finished in 16th place in the 2011 ARCA series points standings. Milka Duno isn’t exactly the fastest woman around the track. But she’s definitely the smartest with four master’s degrees. She’s competed in various racing series since 1998, and is the most experienced driver in IndyCar history without a top 10 finish. This Venezuelan beauty has always been a huge hit with racing fans because of her gorgeous smile and fun-loving personality. Leilani Munter.
The American race car driver. Leilani Munter has a passion for racing. She is good looks and earned a degree in Biology.
She is a professional driver in the ARCA series and an environmental activist that’s pushing for cleaner fuel in racing. Ashley Force Hood.
Ashley is a famed funny car driver and one of the few women on this list who consistently manages to win races. She does, however, have the advantage of being the daughter of a legendary drag racer, John Force. Either way, she’s a smokin’ hot babe who enjoys blasting down the tarmac at 250 mph. The Scottish racing driver, Susie Wolff has competed in the Formula Renault, Formula Three, and DTM series. She is currently a development driver for a Formula One team partially owned by her husband. Courtney Force.
Courtney Force is the younger sister of former driver Ashley Force Hood. Courtney follwed in the footsteps of her father (John Force) and her sister to become a NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car driver. In the 2013 season, she became the first female driver to qualify in the number one position and also won the event. Shannon McIntosh. It’s hard to believe, this 26 years girl really races cars. But it’s true.
She began with Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing in 2011. In 2012, McIntosh was the only female competitor in the US F2000 National Championship and the only American female in The Road to Indy. She finished 18th in points in the 2012 U.S. F2000 National Championship. Cyndie Allemann. This 26 year old Swiss miss is an up and comer in the racing world.
She is the daughter of former Swiss karting champion Kurt Allemann and the sister of fellow racing driver Ken Allemann. She participated in the Firestone Indy Lights series in 2008. And was the first female driver to ever compete in the Super GT series in 2012. Danica Patrick. Danica Patrick is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing. She recently made the switch from IndyCar to NASCAR, but she’s looking right at home in stock car racing.
Danica took the pole and a top 10 finish at the 2013 Daytona 500. She has scored a ton of endorsements deals because of her “girl next door” good looks.
Thankfully for us, she doesn’t seem to mind unzipping the racing suit and showing off her winning form. She is 29 years old.
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