For the fourth year running, Vintage Racecar’s European team has presented awards at the British Women Racing Drivers Club annual awards dinner. Each trophy is awarded to the Champion Driver of a Classic Car in each of three disciplines, racing, rallying and speed events. The winners for 2016 (above, Jeff Bloxham photo) were: Amy Barker racing her Mazda MX5; Seren Whyte rallying various classic cars; and Elen Worthington who picked up the speed event trophy driving her Lotus Elise.
European Editor Mike Jiggle, who presented the trophies, said, “Presenting awards at the BWRDC Dinner has become a regular occurrence in recent years. It is good for Vintage Racecar to reward those women who regularly race, many against all odds, in a very male-dominated sport. These women drivers show a special degree of grit and determination to succeed at their chosen disciplines of the sport. Vintage Racecar will continue strong links with the BWRDC, who’ve promoted and supported women in motorsport for over 50 years.”
Although the presentation of awards was a special time for those lucky recipients, the highlight of the evening was an inspirational speech given by Nathalie McGloin, the only female paraplegic in the world to be racing cars — her life-changing injuries sustained in a road car accident. Paralyzed from the chest down, Nathalie drives an adapted Porsche 987 Cayman S fitted with radial hand controls that she pushes forward to brake and down to accelerate. This system allows her to mix the accelerator and throttle for greater car control. The hand controls are mounted to the right of the steering column, leaving her left hand free to steer.
In 2017 Nathalie will be racing for a third year in the UK-based Porsche Club Championship. Even though she drives a modern car beyond the remit of this magazine, VR would like to wish Nathalie, who possesses an extraordinary spirit and is a beacon of encouragement to everyone, all the best for the coming season.
