Sophie Fisher on Going from Karting to Cars and on Women in Motor Racing

The Caterhams only had 115bhp so the performance compared to the Clio is no where near as fast and the sequential box in the Clio is fantastic although I found the Caterham a bigger challenge to adjust to.

You were chosen to compete in the final 100 of Formula Women, but you pulled out. Why was this?

Initially I got involved with FW as it was a step up to car racing from karts and at the time seemed a good idea. The main reasons I pulled out were that the standard of driving was much lower than I was used to as most of the other girls had no racing experience and the whole organisation of the series was very poor. The perception of FW within the Motorsport industry is also not very good so I decided to leave and go it alone as I think I'll get more recognition and opportunities for it in the long run.

'Women in motor sport' is a subject that is often raised when discussing how to push the sport forward and increase growth. How do feel karting is doing in not alienating women from the sport, and do you think it is important for karting to do something to increase female participation.

I think it's important for girls to get into the sport if it's what they want to do and they should be encouraged. Most car racers come from karting backgrounds so karting would be the first step into the sport for most girls. Since I started karting eight years ago the number of female drivers has increased slightly but not majorly. I was always welcomed into karting as a girl although there are still a small number of people who are shovanistic about female drivers and don't encourage them. There are a few really talented girls coming out of juniors now so hopefully it will encourage even more to get involved with the sport. As for encouraging more girls into karting the only way I can really see to do that is give them female drivers to aspire to. Katherine Legge and Fiona Leggate are raising the profile of women in the sport alot at the moment, which is great as it gives younger drivers someone to aspire to and makes people more aware of female drivers.

Picture courtesy of kartpix.net

You were one of the first Junior Rotax driver's when the class was introduced several years ago. What attracted you to the class initially, and how do you feel the class has evolved in the last 5-6 years?

When I first started the grids for JMAX where 3 or 4 karts and shared grids with TKM Intermediates but within a year and a half/two years they were up to 28 and the competition was really high. Even today it's getting more and more popular and I think it's a great class, It seems to just grow and grow. What first attracted me to the class was how relatively easy the karts were to maintain compared to other classes such as TKM (ie-engine rebuilds and no push starting). I'd driven a TKM a few times before the Max and knew I was making the right decision choosing Rotax.

Having competed in many different forms of motor sport, what do you feel in the main skill that racing karts has taught you to be successful across different classes?

To be successful in karts you have to be aware of whats going on not just with yourself but you always have to be aware and prepared for whats going on around you and always sight at least to the next corner. Karting taught me to be smooth and consistant and obviously you pick up lines and general racecraft easier to having no karting experience in your transition into cars. Karting gives you the racecraft to compete in cars competitvley. A lot of what I learnt in karts I took with me into cars and without that I think most people would be at a disadvantage.

Racing karts take intense concentration. What driving techniques do you feel it is most important to concentrate on when racing? How do you go about practising them?

Being calm, focused and smooth is the most important thing in racing and the rest will normally follow. I always try and have a few minutes on my own before I race to concentrate and get everything else out of my mind.

You are planning to compete in Senior MAX this year. How are you preparing yourself mentally wise for the upcoming races?

As long as I get enough testing in and I feel confident in the kart before my races I'll be mentally prepared. I know I'm fit enough so its just a matter of relaxing and assessing the situation that your in and keeping cool.

On your website you say that your hobbies include Mountain Biking, Dancing, and Rock Climbing. How much do you think these activities help your fitness and strength for when racing karts?

Obviously to race you need a certain amount of strength so my biking helps me out as does my gym work, even more so in endurance races. I'm also training to be a PT so I'm lucky enough to have a good understanding of what to do to keep me fit. When i'm qualified I hope to specialise in Motorsport Personal Training.

What kart races have you got lined up for competing in this year?

Whilton mill club meetings at the moment but I may do some more at other tracks depending on when I can fit them in due to work commitments. I'd like to do some endurance races at some point as I really enjoy them.

What is your long term ambition regarding your career in motor sport?

My ultimate ambition is to compete in Touring cars and I'd love to do Le Man's 24 Hour

You drive a BMW Mini Cooper, which is often described as a big kart. Which one is better to drive - the kart, or the Mini?

That's a tough one! Obviously there's no limits on the track so I'd have to say the kart. My mini is very forgiving compared to a lot of other road cars and great fun to drive, very much like an oversized kart.

Check out Sophie Fisher's karting website and take a look at her innovative 'become an angel' section.

Alan Dove - 24/03/06

More driver interviews including Kazeem Manzur, Michelle Bumgarner and Davide Fore