12Nov 2018 by Nathalie McGloin

My First Win

General

It's been just over a week since I won my first race in Motorsport and the thought of it still brings a massive smile to my face. Any racing driver will tell you just how much that first win means to them and how much confidence it gives you. I know it sounds like a cliché but I feel like I've finally gotten that monkey off my back. . I didn't test the day before the race weekend as we were at the Wings For Life Cord Club annual fundraising dinner the night before testing and didn't get in until the early hours. Instead, I tested on the Tuesday of the week of the race, albeit on the GP Circuit. The race was on the National Circuit at Silverstone but…

10Sep 2018 by Nathalie McGloin

A Race Report of Confidence

Racing

This race report is slightly overdue! However, my plan was to write a doubled-headed race report about Silverstone a few weeks ago coupled with my Brands race report from last weekend about two really good sets of results. Well, you know what they say about the best-laid plans... Rewind to the 11th August and you would find me in a very happy place. My family were over from California and Edinburgh to watch me race on the Silverstone International Circuit and I was so excited to have their support. I was confident going into testing, I'd raced this circuit only a few weeks before in the CSCC and came third. During testing on the Friday it was forecast rain late morning and as I went out for my first session…

23Jul 2018 by Nathalie McGloin

Brands Hatch 2nd In Class!

General, Racing

Life has been slightly crazy since my podium appearance at the British Grand Prix and I had no idea how I would top such a wonderful and slightly life-affirming weekend. Until I raced at Brands... The weekend after the British Grand Prix, I was racing at Brands Hatch on the Indy circuit. Brands Indy is one of my favourite circuits, but leading up to the weekend I was nervous. The last time I drove that circuit I had a big mechanical failure which caused by first big crash in motorsport. The crash made me question everything I loved about the sport and the season that followed almost saw me leave racing for good. I couldn't wait to be back racing there in the CSCC however, I couldn't help being apprehensive.…

12Jul 2018 by Nathalie McGloin

The F1 Podium

General

It’s been a few days since the British Grand Prix and I’m still feeling slightly surreal. Wow, what an experience! This all started a couple of months ago when David Richards told me that he was arranging for his opportunity, as the Chairman of the MSA, to present the third place trophy on the F1 podium to be handed over to me. At the time I was absolutely speechless but it never really felt real until the beginning of last week. The weather was forecast to be glorious and there’s no better place in the world to be than at Silverstone in the sunshine. Andrew and I had been invited by the MSA to join them in their hospitality in the Brooklands Suite on the Saturday and we very much…

04Jul 2018 by Nathalie McGloin

Nathalie McGloin to become world’s first disabled sportsperson to present trophy at Formula 1 British Grand Prix

General

For the first time in history, a podium trophy will be presented at the Formula 1 2018 British Grand Prix by a disabled sportsperson. Nathalie McGloin, the only female tetraplegic racing driver in the world to be competing, will hand over the third place trophy in place of David Richards, Chairman of the Motor Sports Association (MSA), who has passed the honour to Nathalie in order to highlight the participation of people with disabilities in motorsport. The presentation will take place on Sunday 8 July 2018 at the Silverstone Circuit. British driver Nathalie is co-founder of the charity Spinal Track, which gives disabled people the opportunity to take part in track driving experiences in a specially adapted car. She runs the charity with her partner Andrew Bayliss. She was also made…

01Jul 2018 by Nathalie McGloin

Snetterton Sauna Race Report

Racing

As temperatures rose this weekend, I was set to participate in two races back with the Porsche Club Championship at Snetterton. I haven't raced at this circuit for three years and whenever I have come here to race, test or watch Andrew rallying it's always absolutely boiling! This weekend was no different. Testing on Friday was hot but I knew it was forecast to be five degrees hotter on the Saturday and I was already struggling with the heat in the cooler testing sessions. Usually, my car has air conditioning as we've left in the standard climate control equipment which came with the car in it's road guise. Because of my injury, I have lost the ability to sweat or get goosebumps as my internal body thermostat is not connected…

26Jun 2018 by Nathalie McGloin

The FIA Disability And Accessibility Commission Makes Progress

General

As we all absorb the fantastic work and information published after the FIA World Sports Conference and World Motorsport Council both held in Manila last month, The Disability And Accessibility Commission is also keen to promote the progress it too is making. We held our first Commission meeting in April at the Region One Mobility Spring Meeting hosted in Madrid. The meeting was very well attended by both the Sports and Mobility members and all members seemed to share the passion and enthusiasm to move forward in both the disabled Motorsport and Global Mobility sectors. The DAA Commission is one of the first Commissions created that encompasses both the Sports and Mobility sectors and it’s very apparent from our first meeting that this collaboration will be valuable for our work.…

14May 2018 by Nathalie McGloin

Silverstone Race Report

Racing

Last weekend saw my first ever race on treaded tyres in the Cayman in the Classic Sports Car Club series on the Silverstone International Circuit. I love Silverstone, it's my home circuit and is a very special place for me for a number of reasons so I was really happy to be racing here again. The CSCC is a series that runs classes purely on engine capacity and instead of slicks the regulations only allow treaded tyres to be used. My Cayman is set up for the Porsche Club Championship which is run on a power to weight class structure and the regulations dictate that I run at 1350kg (and I'm currently running at 1390kg) with stock engine and brakes allowing little to no modification to the cars at all. I…

16Apr 2018 by Nathalie McGloin

Donington Race Report

Racing

This weekend saw my first race of the season at Donington and let's just say it could have gone better. After a particularly cold winter, meaningful testing for most club racers in the country has been difficult to do ahead of the start of the season. I haven't had many test days in the lead up to the my first race and none of them have been warm and dry. Driver excuse number one well and duly noted! Qualifying on new slicks on a warm track should have been absolute heaven at my favourite race circuit, but I couldn't string a decent lap together. After coming in for tyre pressures, I went back out and started chipping away at my times. However, I got stuck behind a novice driver and then…

12Feb 2018 by Nathalie McGloin

New Lighting Sponsor for 2018

Sponsorship

I'm extremely pleased to announce a new sponsor coming on board for the 2018 season! Mode Lighting. Hertfordshire based Mode Lighting are a privately-owned company employing more than 100 people and with over 40 years of manufacturing experience. Specialising in the design, development, manufacture and support of lighting control systems for a wide range of projects from hotels, bars, stadiums and shopping centres to retail spaces, offices, schools, medical centres, smart homes and assisted living solutions. Their flexible, client focussed approach has led to the creation of many unique products to suit most lighting control sectors and their Specification and Engineering Teams are available to offer support through every step of a project, regardless of the size or complexity. I first became aware of the company when I started renovating…