Georgina Yeomans: My Motorsport Life

We hear from Formula 1 fan and journalist Georgina Yeomans about her love for the sport and aspirations for the future.

I can’t remember exactly when my love of cars and racing began.

Around the age of 13 or 14, I used to secretly buy Top Gear magazine on the way to school. I felt embarrassed that I liked cars as a girl which, looking back now, feels a bit silly. I used to read them in the toilets at school and by torchlight late into the night. I didn’t want anyone to know about my newfound passion, even my family. I had somehow convinced myself that as a girl, my enjoyment of all things motoring was limited. A few months later, I gained the confidence to be slightly more public with my love for motorsport, as I began to watch Formula 1 races with my dad. At first, the complicated rules, terms and strategies left me feeling a little confused, but I loved seeing the cars zoom around the circuits, the drivers and teams constantly expanding our beliefs about what we thought was possible. Slowly but surely, through watching races and learning from my dad, my understanding of the sport grew, as did my enjoyment for it.

Georgina spent the day with Williams F1 at pre-season testing

It was a little while longer before I even considered that I could pursue a career in Formula 1. Seeing the Sky Sports F1 team discussing all things Formula 1 every weekend inspired me and made me consider broadcast journalism as a career. Being paid to travel around the world and talk about the thing I love most sounded pretty incredible to me. Since about the age of 15 I have made it my goal to work in Formula 1 broadcast journalism and that is still a goal I am working towards today.

I have an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Communications at Cardiff University and will be undertaking a Sports Journalism masters at Arizona State University next year. Throughout my degree, I was fortunate enough to build my experience and expand my interests in Formula 1 to social media, PR and marketing. It has also become my goal to work for a Formula 1 team, a goal which I am still strongly working towards.

Alongside my journalism, PR and social media work, I have tried my hand at a bit of racing myself! I am lucky enough to have access to a brilliant Formula Ford car (Crosslé 25F, if you’re interested) that my dad races in the Formula Ford Classic Championship. I’ve raced in a few hill climbs at Gurston Down.  It was unspeakably brilliant being in a single seater car, whizzing up a hill as fast as I dared. The exhilaration and adrenaline was incredible. If you ever have the opportunity to drive a racing car- do it. I promise you won’t regret it. Unfortunately, I haven’t done much racing recently due to university work and the coronavirus pandemic, but I’m hoping to do my ARDS course in 2021 so I can try my hand at racing on a circuit. Driving a race car is one of the best things I’ve ever done and I can’t wait to get back in one. I’m so thankful that I learnt to embrace my love of cars and Formula 1 and gain the confidence to share my passion. If you’re a woman reading this and lacking the confidence to share your love of motorsport, speak up and don’t be ashamed. Your opinions about motorsport are just as valid as any man’s and your gender does not define your knowledge of a male-dominated sport. I gained the confidence to speak about it - and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.

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Photo credit is Georgina Yeomans.