Can Chemmy Alcott be the first British female to lift the sponsorship barrier for other fast female racers in a celebrity racing event at Silverstone this July?
I believe we only need one high profile female racing driver to bring out the much needed sponsorship money for lesser known but massively talented British Women Racing Drivers waiting for their chance to outrace the men.
If Danica Patrick can get GoDaddy to sponsor her in the US, surely there must be UK sponsors to help women with a natural talent for driving fast to mix it with men and make it to the finishing flag before them…
Chemmy is an Olympic downhill skier and recent star of ITV’s Dancing on Ice who has just passed her test to become a racing driver. As a fully-fledged MSA competition licence holder, she is now ready to get on track with her first outing at this summer’s Silverstone Classic (20-22 July), the world’s biggest classic motor sport festival.
She’ll line up on the starting grid alongside a host of personalities from showbiz, sport, TV and music all whizzing around the famous Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in lightweight, competition prepared Morgans capable of topping 130mph. Those taking part include Hollywood star Sir Patrick Stewart, award-winning chef Heston Blumenthal, lifestyle guru Jo Wood, ‘Comedy Dave’ Vitty from Radio 1, Sky Sports presenter Vicky Gomersall, legendary rocker Brian Johnson from AC/DC and Strictly Come Dancing’s Brendan Cole.
“I’ve been clocked at 92mph on skis but I’m hoping to double that speed in the car!” joked Chemmy who has already challenged Sir Patrick to a re-match on skis. “I’m going to be a racing driver for the day and it is just going to be an amazing experience! With all those fabulous cars racing and on display, the Silverstone Classic sounds fabulous and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Unlike downhill ski competitions, motor racing is a sport in which girls can compete against boys and Chemmy is relishing the opportunity to mix it with her male rivals. She added: “I’m going to tuck my hair up in the helmet on the day, so that none of the boys know that I am a girl – I don’t want to be judged on that basis! When I take on the boys skiing, they just don’t like it; so I want to see if the same applies here!”
The Celebrity Challenge takes place on Saturday 21 July and will raise funds for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital, the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK and the RPJ Crohn’s Foundation.
Adult tickets for 2012’s Silverstone Classic powered by the AA (20-22 July) cost from as little as £35 and special two- and three-day weekend tickets are also available with savings of more than 20 per cent if purchased in advance. Full details are available via the event’s official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.
Go for it foxy lady Chemmy.
For info: The Silverstone Classic (20-22 July) is staged at the famous Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, birthplace of the FIA Formula One World Championship and home of the 2012 Santander Formula 1 British Grand Prix. The three-day festival features the very best of historic racing covering more than eight decades of motor sport as well as live music from classic rock bands and a wealth of family entertainment including free fun fair, retail outlets and air displays, plus huge showcases of classic cars.