Other Sport / motorsport
Lauren Dunleavy: ‘Breaking gender barrier one lap at a time’
In a traditionally male-dominated sport, a young female racing driver is making waves, aiming to break the gender barrier that has long existed in motorsport, albeit one lap at a time.
Meet Lauren Dunleavy, a 15-year-old driver who is not just racing against the clock, but also against stereotypes.
Bristol-based Lauren is switching gears in the motorsport world as she begins testing F4 cars with the newly established Cotswold-based team, Storm Motorsport. Having honed her skills in kart racing over the past few years, Lauren is now setting her sights on the pinnacle of motorsport, a future in Formula 1.
is needed now More than ever
The former Redland Green School (RGS) pupil, recently accepted into the F1 Academy, is targeting a seat in the all-female F1 Academy or the British F4 Championships in the coming years.
Lauren Dunleavy, F4 Track Day with Storm Motorsport at Blyton Park, Lincolnshire in early October
At just 14 years old, Lauren made history by becoming the first girl to win the ‘rookie champion’ title at the Castle Combe Junior Karting Championships.
To prepare, Lauren plans to maximise her seat time and F4 practice. She said: “Moving from karts to cars is a massive step, but I really enjoyed my first training day with the Storm team and can’t wait to do more over the coming months.”
Storm Motorsport, founded by former driver champion Jonny Heynes, aims to nurture and guide the next generation of motorsport stars.
Lauren has received significant support from local businesses such as Wessex Garages, Pasture restaurant, Humble Bee Films and SEB Aerospace
Heynes said: “I set up Storm Motorsport to seek out the next generation of talent in the sport. I have been working with Lauren and her family through this year to guide them through what is a complex sport.
“Having placed Lauren at Jade Karts, one of the country’s leading kart teams, it didn’t take long to see that Lauren has immense potential. It was an exciting day this week when Lauren had her first F4 test with us. The weather was horrific and Lauren surpassed any of the team’s expectations. We are very excited to see what she is capable of in future tests.”
Bristol-based Lauren is switching gears in the motorsport world as she begins testing F4 cars with the newly established Storm Motorsport
Lauren has received significant support from local businesses such as Wessex Garages, Pasture restaurant, Humble Bee Films and SEB Aerospace. She hopes to develop more partnerships as her career progresses.
“There’s so much interest in girls in motorsport at the moment. I feel really lucky to be racing during such an exciting time for the sport,” Lauren remarked.
Motorsport, often seen as a testosterone-propelled sport, is experiencing a shift in diversity and engagement, partly due to popular media like Netflix’s Drive to Survive and the upcoming all-female F1 Academy series.
Lauren Dunleavy, a 15-year-old driver is not just racing against the clock, but also against stereotypes
To stay up to date with Lauren’s journey, follow her on Instagram @l.dunleavy35
All photos: Felicity Crawshaw
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