Aggie
Foster

Related Issue: Women Racers Directory, Women in Racing, Women Racers, More Women in Racing, Race Schedules, Notable Women

In the Wales Star of the Future event Aggie Foster guided her former Autotester Holly Bailey round to a successful 15th place finish in the MGZR. This new all girl team, sponsored by Pretty Polly, includes an all girl service team as well. A little bit of feminine intuition ensured they had a car to compete with as they had to grab it quickly from the factory before MG Rover was placed into administration.

BWRDC Members Rally to Wales (25 April 2005)

The British Rally Championship started on the weekend of 23/24th April with the International Rally of Wales. The event also incorporated the Wales Star of the Future and the Gwynedd Rally over selected stages. In the main event our two BWRDC rally trophy winners Kate Heath (drivers' champion) and Gemma Price (co-drivers' champion) were both looking to make good starts to their season. For Kate Heath the event was doubly special as it was her tenth wedding anniversary to husband and co-driver Paul. Being an aluminium celebration Kate had hoped for a little romantic present in the shape of a spare gearbox or a pair of alloy wishbones. Not having seen how much paper Paul bought to wrap her present in we cannot confirm which she got. Her reward for the weekend was to finish 25th in her Subaru Impreza. Gemma without an occasion to celebrate guided her driver Paul Wedgebury to 7th overall and a third place in class so they could at least share in some of the Heath’s anniversary champagne. In the Wales Star of the Future event Aggie Foster guided her former Autotester Holly Bailey round to a successful 15th place finish in the MGZR. This new all girl team, sponsored by Pretty Polly, includes an all girl service team as well. A little bit of feminine intuition ensured they had a car to compete with as they had to grab it quickly from the factory before MG Rover was placed into administration. The British series moves onto Cumbria for the Pirelli International Rally on May 20th/21st where hopefully all the girls will be looking for yet another successful finish. See www.brcweb.co.uk for pictures and more details of British Rallying.

2nd Rally Co-drivers Championship
INTERNATIONAL CO-DRIVER

Competition Licence: Rally International

Extensive Pacenote experience (numeric or descriptive).

Experienced in the preparation of management / service schedules.

Rallied in UK, Eire, Europe, Africa and Australia.

UK Club Steward.

PERSONAL DETAILS

Nationality British
Occupation Education Officer (Special Needs)
Education Post Graduate Diploma in Management Studies

Email

MOTORSPORT EXPERIENCE

1985 - 1993 Circuit marshal – various duties, mainly flag marshal.

1986 - 1996 Competent Road Rally navigator competing in Inter Association Road Rally Challenge on two occasions and organising team on one other.

1991 Peugeot Challenge – Co-driver. The Challenge provided an excellent co-driver package and introduction to stage rallying, and enabled me to upgrade my licence to international status.

1992 - 1994 Various single and multi venue stage rallies.

1995 - 1999 Historic Rally Championship (inc RAC International Historic).

3rd overall, 1st in class in 1999 championship.

1999 - present Organise and deliver Co-driver Masterclass presentations giving either private tuition, or tutoring groups of novice and more experienced competitors.

2000 Diploma in Sports Psychology.

2000 - present Mix of modern and historic, national and international rallies. BWRDC Rally Co-driver Champion 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005.

2001 FIA European Rally Championship – ADAC 3 Stadte Rally – Best Female Crew

2002 - present Club Steward

2002 Classic Adelaide – 2nd in class (and "Most Spectacular" award)

2003 Coronation Rally – 1st Overall

Ulster Historic Rally – 1st Overall

World Cup Rally – 6th Overall

2004 WRC Rally Catalunya – 1st in class

A FEW WORDS ABOUT MYSELF

Born and brought up in Scotland I am fiercely proud of both my heritage and sex. It’s only recently I’ve realised how much my mum’s attitude and approach to life have shaped me. Mum did not wait for Equal Ops legislation to come along - she became the first female licensed radio amateur in Scotland. I was brought up believing there’s no such word as "can’t", and you only fail if you don’t at least try. At 12 years of age I was already playing football for a teacher training college, and representing my secondary school at hockey.

My interest in motorsport began by spectating at motorcycle and rallycross meetings at Cadwell Park, and events such as the RAC Rally. Spectating soon developed into marshalling. I have visited many race circuits as a certified flag marshal, and continue to travel all over the country to help with rally stage starts/finishes, or as radio operator.

I joined Lincoln Motor Cycle & Car Club and very quickly found I had an affinity with OS maps gaining recognition as a competent Road Rally Navigator and experienced my first taste of overseas motorsport in Northern Ireland representing ANEMMC in the Inter-Association Road Rally Challenge.

Experienced in all aspects of organising championship Road and Stage Rallies.

British Rally Championship Car 0 (safety) in MSA Rally.

In my role as Club Secretary and a director of the motor club I have worked closely with both the local Planning Authority and Valuation Office to secure the use of a disused quarry for motorcycle trials.

I have helped organise a Ladies Driving Challenge which raised £12500 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Regularly approached by team managers / championship organisers to sit with and develop the skills of novice drivers.

Very recently I have been appointed to work alongside the Association Chairman (ANEMMC) to produce a 5 year Development Plan for the Association and its member clubs, identifying and developing initiatives to enable motorsport at all levels to move forward during that period and beyond.

"Losing is not an option" according to the T-shirt, but that doesn’t mean there can only be one winner. The winners are those who have a go and achieve a personal goal. This applies equally to life and motorsport.

As a professional rally co-driver I endeavour to encourage and enable others to take part in motorsport by passing on my experience – particularly through co-driver tuition and mentoring. For a number of years I have organised and delivered Masterclass presentations (timing, navigation, road book, stage etiquette etc.) either giving private tuition, or tutoring groups of both novice and more experienced competitors.

My ongoing involvement with the MSA’s Women In Motorsport initiative and election as the British Women Racing Drivers’ Club Rally Secretary has put on a more formal footing what I believe I have been practising for a number of years, namely providing both encouragement and information to females of all ages who have an interest in motorsport and may wish to become more involved.

I have been lucky enough to be able to compete for many years (modern and historic, clubman to international, Adelaide, Binbrook, Catalunya, Dakar…) and continue to derive much pleasure from my sport.

FUTURE PLANS AND AMBITIONS INCLUDE

Year out to rally in New Zealand / Australia / Asia Pacific championships

Obtain motorcycle licence

Regularly Co-drive in the European / World Rally Championship

Further develop provision of co-driver training at recognised Rally Schools

Explore rallying opportunities in USA

Compete in Rallycross

Continue to encourage and enable others to take part in motorsport

Try white-water canoeing

Maybe even passenger in a sidecar outfit (scary!)

AND FINALLY... SOMETHING DIFFERENT...

Girl in a male dominated sport - advantage or disadvantage?

I certainly don’t consider being female in a male dominated sport to be a disadvantage, but then I’ve never viewed life or motorsport as a male/female thing - if you want to do something then just go and do it - ask advice from others along the way, and remember that a smile and good manners cost nothing.

A day to do anything I like and money’s no object, what would I do?

No Problem!

The Safari Rally, or Rally New Zealand, sat next to Michelle Mouton, please.

Just to sit in with her on those stages would be simply awesome!!

- to do it in competition would be something else.

.........Where do I sign?

Photo - gif

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