Scunthorpe teen looking to break barriers and become motorsport’s newest star
Hoping to break ground in a male-dominated sport
Alicia is hoping to make her dreams come true by winning Formula Woman and progressing through the motorsport ranks, just months after passing her driving test. | Photo: Racing Talent
A 17-year-old from Scunthorpe has qualified in the top 50 of a worldwide competition that seeks to find the next female star motorsport driver.
Alicia Barrett, 17, has reached the final 50 of Formula Woman, a competition introduced in 2021 to encourage more female participation in motorsport, and to hopefully provide a platform for potential future world champions.
Formula Woman has had more than 800 women from 28 countries apply, including Alicia from Scunthorpe, who is currently head girl and studying for her A-Levels at Worksop College.
The top four ranked drivers will earn a prize of a fully sponsored McLaren GT4 seat in the UK GT Cup Championship 2022, a seven-round motorsport series starting at Donington Park National Circuit on April 9 and 10.
Alicia has no previous car racing experience and only passed her driving test in September 2021, but has been a keen go-kart racer from the age of eight, winning the 2017 X30 Ladies Championship at the iconic Le Mans circuit.
Forumula Woman has been launched to offer a female platform in a male-dominated industry. | Photo: Racing Talent
She will now take part in Formula Woman on March 2 and 3, where she will be given practical and written tests covering mind coaching, reactions, social media, driving, racing and technical skills.
Just 10 out of the 50 women will progress from this stage, moving on to a ‘shootout’ in Europe which will decide the final four winning drivers.
Alicia said: “Being selected as one of 50 females to reach the final stages of the Formula Woman competition brings me one step closer to my goal of being a professional racing driver – something I have aspired to since I was young.
“During the pandemic I was unable to continue funding my kart racing. For
me, Formula Woman has come around at the perfect time and if I was successful in winning a championship drive in the McLaren GT4, I would finally be able to make the transition from karts to cars.”
If Alicia is one of the lucky winners, she will undergo full training and coaching ahead of the April start of the televised GT Cup, which will see her get behind the wheel of a 3.8 litre twin turbo V8 race car.
To track her progress, you can follow Alicia’s Instagram and Facebook pages, and for details on sponsorship you can email [email protected].
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Two men have been arrested on suspicion of possessing criminal property after being stopped by our roads crime team on the A180 yesterday (Tuesday 24 May).
A suspect vehicle was spotted on the eastbound M180 and was brought safely to a stop on the A180 near Croxton.
It is reported that a large amount of cash, cigarettes and tobacco was uncovered.
Both men remain in our custody at this time whilst our investigations continue.
An independent county councillor in Boston has been named as the new chairman of Lincolnshire County Council.
Councillor Alison Austin was elected into the role at the annual general meeting of the full council on Friday, May 20, along with new vice chairman Councillor Robert Reid.
Councillor Austin has served as an independent county ward member for Boston South since May 2013, winning re-election on May 6, 2021.
She will be supported in her role throughout the term by her husband and chairman’s consort, Richard Austin.
Councillor Austin said: “I feel immensely honoured and privileged to be elected as chairman of the county council. I’ve always held a strong sense of community service, and I will continue promoting positive change across Lincolnshire as chairman.
“Amongst my first duties, will be participating in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. This will be a great opportunity to not only recognise the achievements of our longstanding monarch, but also to give communities the opportunity to come together and mark a return to normality after a difficult couple of years.
“As part of moving on from COVID, I want to focus on the future during my time in office. I look forward to supporting the training and development of residents county-wide. We need to ensure we have a highly skilled workforce so that we can attract and retain businesses in Lincolnshire.”
As part of her duties, Councillor Austin has selected homeless and vulnerable people charity Centrepoint Outreach as one of her chosen organisations to support during her time in office.
She has been a volunteer at Centrepoint Outreach for several years and will continue to support the organisation in this new role.