Motorsport engineering student Rachel Robertson is aiming for a regular place on the F1 Academy grid after a stunning debut at the final race weekend of the season in Las Vegas.
The 18-year-old, who is studying Level 3 Motorsport Engineering at Wiltshire College & University Centre’s specialist school at Castle Combe Circuit, received a late call-up to the Hitech TGR team after driver Aiva Anagnostiadis required foot surgery.
Rachel grabbed the opportunity in style, finishing fourth in the first of two races on the world-famous Las Vegas street circuit. It was a remarkable moment for a young driver who only began competing in cars this season, having made her name in karting before stepping up to the Radical Cup UK, where she finished third.
Her performances attracted the attention of the Eric Low Foundation, which awarded her a £15,000 grant funded by an event hosted by Gabby and Kenny Logan. The support allowed Rachel to complete two Formula 4 test drives and a simulator session with Hitech TGR, which led to an F1 Academy test and put her in contention for the Las Vegas call-up. The seven F1 Academy rounds take place at full Formula One circuits over Grand Prix weekends.
Rachel admitted she had a “pinch me” moment as she waited on the grid. “It felt so cool,” she said, “Before our races we’d been waiting in the F1 pitlane, which was such an amazing experience. Being able to park just outside an active F1 garage before driving down the pitlane where all the F1 drivers would be driving down too was incredible.”
She said the nerves disappeared as soon as the race began. “Definitely leading up to the first session I felt the nerves coming in as it’s such a huge stage being at a Grand Prix weekend. Though once out on the track, the nerves went away and I could focus purely on driving.”
In race one she qualified 14th but made up ten places to finish just outside the podium and outscore her more experienced teammate. In race two she again showed pace but received a ten-second time penalty after a collision and finished where she started, in 14th.
Rachel said the weekend had fuelled her ambition for a regular seat. “Considering it was my debut and in race one I finished fourth, it is amazing,” she said. “To be just outside of the podium on a grid with very experienced drivers is incredible. I was happy with how I drove over the weekend and with setting best overall sectors at points during qualifying.”
She added that having her parents trackside made the event even more memorable. “They were probably more excited than me. None of us have been to a F1 Grand Prix before so everything was new,” she said. “I also met Gordon Ramsay on the grid before race two, which was very cool.”
Lily Raynor-Blundell, Head of Faculty of Engineering, Automotive and Motorsport at the college, said, “It’s absolutely incredible to see Rachel’s progress and achievement in the world of motorsport and the F1 Academy. The motorsport courses we deliver allow learners such as Rachel to develop their knowledge and application of engineering such as data and performance analysis, engines and electrical systems and materials and fabrication.”
She added that just 16 per cent of motorsport engineers, crew and technicians, and only a small proportion of UK race licence holders, are female. “It’s fantastic to see Rachel thriving as a female in motorsport and we’re proud to be working with her as part of her journey,” she said.
Rachel now hopes to secure a regular F1 Academy drive and find sponsorship to compete in the British Formula 4 Championship. “I want to compete in both so that’s my goal,” she said. “But I’m also going to concentrate on my college course.”
For more information on motorsport engineering courses at WCUC visit wilts.ac.uk.
