|
LATEST
SNIPPET
Amanda Whitaker and Anthony Dunn are proud to
announce the birth of their first child Scarlet
Dunn, born in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham on
Thursday 2nd June at 12.20pm. Scarlet was born 6lbs
and both herself and Amanda are doing well.
Direct
access to this web
page: http://bit.ly/aDNNC8
Bio
2010
2009
2008
Schedule
Snippets
Amanda's Gold Star
Nomination
Amanda takes the
fight to the
boys!
County
Durham’s fast female in the
mix
Amanda battles
through the pack at
Donington
Fast female returns to
the track!
Provisional
European F2 Racedates
2006
Amanda
tops the 2006 Formula 2 points chase
- 10/9/06
Golden
Girl Shines at the Gold Cup -
8/28/06
Silverstone
Classis -
5/19/05
Amanda
Whitaker has finished 3rd in class in her first
season in the European Formula 2
Series
Amanda
Whitaker takes Pride of Place at Silverstone
Classic - 5/23/05
Contact: www.FastestFemale.com
or www.AmandaWhitaker.com
or E-mail.
Related Issue:
Women
Racers
Directory,
Women
in Racing,
Women
Racers,
More
Women in
Racing,
Race
Schedules,
Notable
Women
Bio
Name: Amanda Jane Whitaker
D.O.B.: 3/27/74
Status: Married
Address: Woodham, County Durham
Occupation: Performance Driving Instructor
& Precision Driver
Racing: 1989 onwards
Race Licence: International C
Instructing: 1996 to present
Instructing Licence: ARDS Grade A, ATDO
recognised instructor, Silverstone 'Elite' rated
instructor
Type of Motorsport Circuit racing –
single seaters
First Year of Competition Karts 1989, Single
Seaters 1991-present day
Why did you start? My father was a former
single seater racer and from a young age I’d
always been at the circuits. I was encouraged to
race as I don’t have any brothers!
Previous Championships/ Competitions 2006
Historic European Formula 2 (Formula Atlantic
class)
Best Race / Drive and why? I couldn't choose
for sure, but finishing ahead of half the field of
Formula 5000 cars in my Formula Atlantic Chevron
last year at Silverstone was a good one!
Worst Race / Drive and why? Every one I
haven’t finished in!
Favourite Circuit/Venue Oulton Park,
Cheshire followed closely by Cadwell Park
Types of cars competed / owned Ginetta G20,
Ford Puma, Fiat 500
Best car driven / owned Formula Vauxhall
Current Car Chevron B34
Snippets
Amanda Whitaker had a rollercoaster ride at the
Oulton Park Gold Cup this weekend. 
* * *
Amanda Takes Four Trophies at BWRDC awards
* * *
Amanda will mainly be doing some Formula Ford
1600 races in her 1993 Swift.
* * *
Amanda Whitaker has been chosen as a nominee for
the new British Women Racing Drivers Club Gold
Stars. These prestigious awards are to be presented
at the Autosport International Show in January.
* * *
Dunn & Whitaker race against each other in
VdeV UK
* * *
Whitaker took 2 class wins in URS Classic
Formula Ford 1600 this weekend at Croft.
* * *
Whitaker was once again in the Formula Ford
battle at Snetterton this weekend, competing in a
total of 4 races at the Norfolk track.
She next races on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix
circuit.
* * *
Amanda Whitaker had a terrific battle for
honours in Historic Formula Ford at Silverstone
this weekend. Racing on the International circuit
in her Elden Mk8, she showed her pace by qualifying
3rd in a 33 car grid behind Westie Mitchell and
young hotshoe current British Formula Ford Champion
Callum Macleod who was making a guest appearance in
the championship. She finished in 2nd.
* * *
County Durham's fast female Amanda Whitaker
fought through the pack in the 2008 Historic
Formula Ford season opener at Donington Park.
* * *
County Durham’s fast female Amanda Whitaker
returns to the race track this weekend (30th March)
for the start of the HSCC Historic Formula Ford
Championship at Donington Park (Derbyshire).
* * *
County Durham fast female Amanda Whitaker is
back in the hot seat next weekend, for the first
time sharing a drive in a racing car with her
partner Anthony Dunn. The pair are to drive a Lanan
racing prepared Norma in the 4 hour Britcar /
Britsports night race at Spa-Francorchamps on June
16th.
* * *
2006 European Formula Atlantic Champion Amanda
Whitaker returns to defend her European Formula
Atlantic title in the F2 series.
* * *
2006 European Formula Atlantic
Champion
County Durham racer Amanda Whitaker finished her
2006 racing campaign top of the table following the
season finale at Dijon, France. She went into the
weekend knowing that two 3rd place finishes would
secure her the top spot.
* * *
Rollercoaster Gold
Cup
Amanda Whitaker had a rollercoaster ride at the
Oulton Park Gold Cup this weekend.
The County Durham racer was driving Amaron
Racing's Formula Ford 1600 Elden Mk8 and the TIGA
SF78 Formula Ford 2000 at the prestigious historic
race meeting.
The Formula Ford 1600 grid was probably the most
competitive ever with 38 entries including a
plethora of former racing stars joining up and
coming hot shoes. Amanda qualified 7th just behind
former British Touring Car Champion & historic
racing stalwart Frank Sytner and ahead of historic
F3 race winner Ben Simms. She made a great start to
take 4th at the first corner then dived past David
Wilds to take 3rd at the end of lap one.
A few laps later she was passed by Ian Ashley, a
former F1 and F5000 driver and overall winner of
the Oulton Park Gold Cup in 1974 - the year Amanda
was born! However, Amanda showed her determination
by not giving up at her favourite circuit - she got
her head down and closed back onto the gearbox of
Ashley. Despite being noticeably later on the
brakes into Knickerbrook Chicane and through the
fast Druids back section she was thwarted by a flat
spot on her engine coming out of the corners, just
preventing her from getting a run to make an
overtaking move and so she finished 4th just behind
Ashley and ahead of Wilds. The race was won by
rising star Darren Burke from former champion
Nelson Rowe.
In the Formula Ford 2000 race, she qualified
unusually low in 21st position and 5th in class,
but had engine problems which was stopping it from
revving highly. On the formation lap of the race,
she felt the problem may have been cured after work
done by her team. But it was all for nothing -
although she made a good start to jump a number of
drivers off the line, she was hit by a spinning car
into the first corner, turning her car into the
path of another and she ended the race in the tyre
wall on the outside of Old Hall.
She walked away from the crash but the car was
damaged, although will be repairable.
"That was such a disappointing end to what was
otherwise a good weekend. In the Formula Ford 1600
race I had a really good charge, and although it
was a shame I couldn't quite make the podium it was
nice to be competitive." she said. "But in the
Formula Ford 2000 race there was nothing I could
have done more to avoid the crash - I was right
across to the edge of the track and had nowhere to
go - the other car just caught my rear wheel."
She also badly bruised her left leg -
aggravating the ligament injuries she sustained in
her horrific crash at Mallory Park 12 months ago.
However, she plans to be back in a racing car soon
and the next planned meeting is at the Walter Hayes
Festival in November.
Mixed weekend at Croft for
Whitaker
Amanda Whitaker had a promising, but ultimately
disappointing weekend at home circuit Croft's
fantastic 'Nostalgia weekend'.
She was racing in both HSCC Historic Formula
Ford 1600 in and Historic Formula Ford 2000 in
Amaron Racing's Elden Mk8 and TIGA SF78.
Formula Ford 2000 started well when she
qualified 4th overall and 1st in class - with
Amanda a lot closer to the pace than she had been
on the last outing in the TIGA due to improvements
her father (and Chief Engineer!) Ronnie had made to
the handling.
In the Formula Ford 1600 qualifying Amanda
placed the Elden 2nd overall after a fantastic last
lap in a mixed weather session.
On Saturday, in the Formula Ford 2000 race, she
finished 6th overall and first in class, having
gambled on the damp track drying by opting to stay
on slick tyres for the race. Unfortunately, a
shower mid-race prevented any chance of that
happening and although she had an early spin, she
slithered around to take 6th.
In the Formula Ford 1600 race, she finished a
disappointed 5th - again in damp conditions - after
struggling with a down on power engine. "We're
still developing the car - I was pretty happy with
the handling; we've got it going much better in the
dry now, so we just need to concentrate on the
engine power" she said.
Sunday was a dry day and she stayed in 5th place
in her TIGA in the Formula Ford 2000 race although
again struggled with a lack of engine power.
In the Formula Ford 1600 race, she made a good
start to run initially 5th but then dropped back
through the field again with engine problems. "That
was very disappointing - but we had a problem in
the 1st race which we hoped we'd sorted but
unfortunately it was still there for this race. I
think without the problem we had the pace to finish
2nd, so it was disheartening to spend the whole
race defending my position and dropping back.
Hopefully we’ll get it sorted for the next
outing".
She next races at the Oulton Park Gold Cup
meeting on August
Amanda Takes Four Trophies
at BWRDC awards
Durham’s girl racer Amanda Whitaker took a
large collection of silverware home from the annual
British Women Racing Drivers Club awards this
weekend.
She was once again the most prolific winner of
the evening, being awarded four trophies: The
Hillwood Jewellers Coupe des Dames Trophy for the
member with the most wins and lap records, The
Goodwin Trophy for 1st place in the overall BWRDC
Championship, The Monoposto Trophy for the highest
placed BWRDC single seater competitor and The
Embassy Trophy for the overall BWRDC Champion of
the year (for a record 5th time)
Presenting the trophies was Wing Commander Andy
Green OBE, holder of the World Land Speed Record
and therefore 'The Fastest Man on Earth'. Driving
Richard Noble's Thrust SSC (SuperSonic Car) in
1997, Andy set the world's first and only
supersonic land speed record at an astonishing 763
mph, driving literally 'faster than a speeding
bullet'. Andy is now the chosen driver for the new
BLOODHOUND SuperSonic Car, which aims to exceed the
incredible target of 1000 mph! This project, linked
through a major education programme into schools
across the country, aims to inspire the next
generation of young engineers and scientists, while
setting the most remarkable Land Speed Record of
all time.
Amanda will be racing in Formula Ford again this
season in select races in her Elden Mk 8 and 93
Swift.
For more photo’s & video of the evening
visit www.AmandaWhitaker.com
Semi-Final Exit For Amanda
at Walter Hayes Trophy
Whitaker raced in her most competitive outing of
the year at the ‘Walter Hayes Trophy’
festival. The festival - named after the Ford
racing boss (who was in charge of Ford’s
famous Cosworth DFV engine program amongst many
other things) - is for all types of 1600cc Kent
engined Formula Ford cars & attracts a
worldwide entry of over 120 drivers. The racing is
decided over the course of 3 days with a number of
heats, last chance races moving through to
semi-finals & a final on Sunday with 36 cars on
the grid.
It was the first race of the year for
Amanda’s SC93 Swift and due to focus on trying
to win her main championship this year, the team
were working against the clock to get the car ready
in time.
On Saturday Amanda made a good start to her
campaign with a heat finish of 7th place from 16th
on the grid, but was struggling with poor engine
power, preventing her from moving further forward
through the field. However, the result was enough
to put her straight into the semi-finals - the only
female to make it that far.
Overnight her team Amaron Racing sorted a number
of electrical issues, making the problems
better.
She started Sundays semi-final in 20th position
and gambled with a wet setup amidst a windy &
wet morning. However, the weather had improved by
the time her race had started and she struggled
with a car setup for the wet on a quickly drying
track.
Her car also developed a steering problem which
was stopping her from putting the correct amount of
steering lock through the corners: “It stopped
me from making some passing manoeuvres and I was
running wide on the exits on occasion because of
the problem - I only had half the lock I
needed”. She battled valiantly despite the
issue but finished a disappointing 24th.
“To be honest, this weekend was a bit of a
test session for us really - it was the first time
we’d been out in the car competitively. I am
sure without the problems we would have easily made
the final - once sorted, it should be a quick car.
So I’m looking forward to racing the car again
next year in some of the Scottish and North West
Formula Ford Championship”.
The overall Walter Hayes Trophy was won by
American Connor De Philipi.
This is Amanda’s final race of the year,
although she will be doing some promotions through
to the end of 2009 and will be accompanying her
partner Anthony Dunn on select visits at schools in
the North East as part of the MSA’s Go
Motorsport campaign.
Championship lead for
Amanda
Amanda took the HSCC Formula Ford Championship
points lead this weekend with 5th place at Brands
Hatch.
The day started well with Amanda qualifying 3rd,
just 5 thousandths of a second from 2nd place
Robert Wainwright. However, all was not well with
Amanda’s engine.
“We had a misfire, starting after a few
laps in qualifying and getting progressively
worse” said Amanda.
Her team Amaron racing set about trying to solve
the problem, but despite hours of frantic work
& the help of some of her competitors, the
issue couldn’t be resolved in time. However,
with title rival Westie Mitchell still out of
action due to injury, Amanda was aware to simply
pick up as many points as possible for the title
battle – in which she was 10 points (a 6th
place) from the lead.
At the start, Pole Position man Darren Burke
dived into a lead he never looked in doubt of
losing, as he immediately pulled clear of the pack
at over half a second per lap.
Amanda slotted into 4th with the engine dying
slightly as she started. She was then pushed to 5th
on the opening lap by Andrew Willis’ Lola
T200. She gamely hung on to the position, catching
her competitors in the corners but loosing time out
of corners and down the straights as her engine was
still cutting out. She was then pushed back to 6th
by Will Schryver’s Titan on lap 6. However,
she could then maintain position and held the gap
to Paul Sleeman constant.
By mid distance, 6th became 5th as Willis pulled
off with mechanical failure and she held this
position until the end of the race, despite the
misfire slowly worsening towards the end.
“That was a very frustrating race – I
think I could have finished at least 2nd with no
problems” said Amanda. “But I’m
really just thankful that I didn’t fall back
further and we could get some good points which are
very useful at this stage”.
The position gives her 12 points and the title
lead by 2 points from Westie. With the potential of
Westie’s return at the final round at
Silverstone in 5 weeks time, all may not be
over.
1st & 2nd from
Pole at Snetterton
Amanda Whitaker took a 1st place and 2nd place at
Snetterton this weekend in the double header HSCC
Historic Formula Ford encounter.
She grabbed Pole Position in qualifying by just
5 hundredths of a second from David Wild.
In the first race, she battled hard with her
2009 championship adversary Westie Mitchell after
the race was red flagged and restarted due to a
crash. Despite Mitchell taking the lead on
occasion, Amanda was in first place when a second
red flag was shown due to another incident. She was
therefore declared the winner.
In the second race, she once again started from
Pole Position, earned from her earlier race win.
She and Westie again had a titanic fight for the
lead, with the position changing several times each
lap over the 15 minute race. Amanda was faster in
the corners, but couldn't live with the engine
power of her rival and finished in 2nd, just one
tenth of a second behind him.
"I had to make some last minute dives under
braking and try & block where I could, but
Snetterton is a power circuit and I just couldn't
do anything down the main straights" said
Amanda.
She still lies tied at the top of the
championship (after dropped scores) with
Westie.
......and it was a winning weekend for the
household, as on the continent Amanda’s
partner Anthony Dunn won his first race in the
SPEED modern sports prototype series at
Belgium’s famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
Separate report & pictures to follow.
Amanda Wins from Pole at
Oulton
Amanda Whitaker completed a perfect weekend at
Oulton Park by taking a win from Pole Position in
the URS Classic Formula Ford 1600cc
Championship.
She was driving her Elden Mk8 - a 1971 car that
is categorised as a "Class B" car - but that didn't
deter her from qualifying on the outright Pole
Position against the Class A cars that are up to 10
years newer than hers. In a dramatic last gasp
effort, she posted a 1.35.9 lap on her final lap of
qualifying and jumped to the front row of the
grid.
In the race, she made a clean getaway to lead
into the first lap ahead of Colin Williams' PRS
RH01 car. Williams hounded her for the first few
laps and dived past to take the lead into the
Island Hairpin - a weak area for Amanda as she was
again struggling with brake issues. She fought back
immediately out of the fast Druids corner and dived
back past Williams to take the lead once again at
Lodge.
Once back in the lead, she had to defend
rigorously into the hairpin and attack into the
Knickerbrook chicane - the 2 cars often arriving at
the corners side by side. However, she gradually
found a good rhythm to stay ahead of Williams &
built up enough of a gap in the quick sections to
hold him at bay. Williams then started to come
under increased pressure from Joe Walton in his
Crossle 25F.
Once into the backmarkers, Amanda had built up
enough of a lead and she took the flag with over a
3 second gap from Walton who nipped past Williams
on the final lap.
"That was hard work!" said Amanda "We are still
trying to solve the problem with the rear locking
up - so I had to brake very early for the tight
corners and defend for most of the race".
"However, I'm pleased to take the win at my
favourite circuit and look forward to next
weekend's HSCC Historic Formula Ford Championship
race at Snetterton - which is the main championship
I'm competing in this year".
Amanda's Gold Star
Nomination
Amanda Whitaker has been chosen as a nominee for
the new British Women Racing Drivers Club Gold
Stars. These prestigious awards are to be presented
at the Autosport International Show in January
where the BWRDC have secured a large stand.
She has been nominated in the Club Gold Star
category with four other UK drivers. BWRDC Chairman
Helen Bashford-Malkie explained "The Gold Stars are
the Club's way of flagging up talent within our
sport & helping drivers to promote &
progress their careers. There will also be a small
package of product sponsorship, a dedicated website
& a Mentor for the winner of the group. The
winner will also receive a special Gold Star
sticker to put on their cars as well as their
CV's."
The winner of the Gold Star will be announced
and the presentations made on the main Autosport
Stage at the show on Saturday 10th January
2009.
Amanda said "I am pleased to be nominated for a
BWRDC Gold Star. To be recognised in this way is a
real honour."
She will be at the Autosport International Show
in Hall 6 on the BWRDC stand 6950 on Friday 9th
& Saturday 10th January.
“Considering the talent of some of the
young, up-and-coming female drivers in the UK and
abroad, it can only be a few years before we see a
woman in F1 again,” said Haymarket Exhibitions
Show Director Ian France. “The importance of
ensuring young females at club level continue to
enter the sport cannot be underestimated; Autosport
International is proud to do whatever it can to
promote women in motorsport.”
Dunn & Whitaker race
against each other in VdeV UK
For the first time in their car racing career,
County Durham partners Anthony Dunn & Amanda
Whitaker competed against each other on track in
VdeV UK at Croft this weekend.
Amanda picked up the last minute deal to race a
Ligier JS49, partnering former British Touring Car
Race winner (and brother of Sporty Spice Mel C)
Paul O’Neill in the 3 hour race. It was her
first modern sports prototype race – all her
background has been in racing open wheel single
seaters and she is currently lying 3rd in the HSCC
Formula Ford Championship.
Anthony has been racing in the series all season
also in a Ligier JS49 with Barry Gates who has just
taken over running of the VdeV UK series. Both cars
were run by the same team Chevron Racing with
Amanda’s Dad Ronnie, Uncle Eddie & long
term mechanic Rob engineering her car.
“It’s really thanks to the work of
Barry & Bryce Wilson of If Motorsport – so
we are grateful to them for sorting out the
deal” said Anthony.
The pair are both 34 and have been together for
over 8 years, having met at Silverstone where they
are racing instructors. They live in Woodham,
Newton Aycliffe – 14 miles from Croft.
For the record, it was 1-0 to the girls with
Amanda finishing 8th & Anthony 9th, both having
had problems in the race, although Anthony set a
faster lap time!
Whitaker charged through
the pack to finish 5th in the HSCC Formula Ford
Championship at Castle Combe.
The morning qualifying session was shortened
due to an incident by another 2 competitors. This
left Amanda in a frustrated 11th place on the grid
as she was still learning the circuit’s new
layout, having not raced there for over 10
years.
However, she made a great start to jump up to
6th place on the opening lap, even passing 2 cars
on the outside of the first chicane. She fought a
good battle in the race against M Grant-Peterkin
and just missed 4th over the line as Westie
Mitchell slowed with a puncture - the pair were
split by just one hundredth of a second.
She races again next weekend at her favourite
circuit Oulton Park as part of the prestigious Gold
Cup event.
Amanda takes the fight to
the boys!
County Durham's fast female Amanda Whitaker showed
her calibre at the biggest race of the year at the
Oulton Park Gold Cup this weekend against an all
male 31 car grid, in her 1971 Elden FF1600.
Engine problems in qualifying left her in a
frustrated 5th place - her first and only flying
lap gained her the position and thereafter she
suffered a misfire.
The problem was sorted for the race - or so it
initially seemed - and she made a great start to
get past 3rd place David Wild at the start and then
Lee Dwyer on the first lap for 3rd.
She then set about the leading pair of Michael
Lyons and Simon Hadfield, closing the gap &
setting the fastest lap in the process. She was
soon with them and as they tussled for the lead,
she tried a pass on Hadfield on the pit straight
and into Old Hall Corner and then dived up the
inside at Cascades but was squeezed up onto the
kerb & dropped back. She tried again at Lodge a
couple of laps later, but Hadfield was once more
strongly defensive.
She was looking for another opportunity, but her
engine was starting to overheat & loose power
& she dropped back, lapping 2 seconds slower
than her peak pace "I could feel it getting slower
and I was changing up gear later & later than I
was before" she said.
She fell into the clutches of Westie Mitchell
out of Old Hall with just 3 laps to go, but had
pulled such a gap to the rest of the field that she
held onto 4th place to the end. Missing out on the
fastest lap of the race by 1 tenth of a second to
Westie Mitchell.
The result lifts her to joint 3rd place in the
championship.
She continues the fight at Brands Hatch in 3
weeks time.
Horror Smash at Mallory
Park
Amanda Whitaker suffered a huge crash at Mallory
Park this weekend in the HSCC Formula Ford
Championship.
She started from 3rd position and made a good
getaway at the lights to run alongside Westie
Mitchell into the first corner Gerrards, but Westie
missed a gear on the exit, selecting 2nd instead of
4th gear from 3rd. This locked up the rear of the
car & pitched it sideways, clouting the front
left corner of Amanda's car & badly damaging
the nose cone.
Amanda continued at a much slower pace, letting
cars past as she was concerned the damage might
overheat the engine.
Unbeknown to Amanda, Westie had then been hit by
Diogo Ferrao with the two cars piling heavily into
the barriers. As the leaders were approaching the
start / finish line, the red flag was shown to stop
the race due to Westie's crash. However, due to the
damaged nose & concern for her water
temperatures, Amanda missed sight of one of the
cars immediately slowing in front of her. She
ploughed into the back of David Wild's Lola at
around 90mph, launching her into the air and into a
horrific cartwheel. Her helmet hit the tarmac a few
times as the car hit the ground but thankfully she
managed to climb out of the wreck and suffered no
concussion.
She was taken to Leicester Infirmary Hospital
with injuries to her legs, including lacerations.
Although x-rays showed nothing broken, she was kept
in overnight due to the extensive bruising &
concerns for the severe swelling to her left leg.
She was released on Monday at 4pm but has to walk
with crutches, although she hopes to make a full
recovery in time.
Westie & Diogo were also admitted to the
same hospital. Westie has one cracked & one
compressed vertebrae in his spine as well as 2
fractures to his wrist & cuts to his chin &
back of his head from flying bodywork. He was
hoping to be released from hospital mid-week. Diogo
was suspected to have a broken leg, but thankfully
was diagnosed with just heavy bruising & was
released that evening. All 3 drivers were more
concerned for their fellow competitors health than
their own, but were in good spirits despite the
ordeal.
"I would like to thank all of the people who
have offered their well wishes & offers of
support. The marshals did a great job in difficult
circumstances. I also wish Westie & Diogo a
speedy recovery & look forward to once again
battling on track with them" said Amanda.
Amanda's Elden was 90% destroyed in the
accident, leaving both Amanda & her team a race
against time & finances to get ready for her
next race at Oulton Park in HSCC Formula Ford in 3
weeks time.
She is currently lying 2nd in the points table,
fighting to be the first female to win a National
Formula Ford Championship.
Whitaker took 2 class wins
in URS Classic Formula Ford 1600 this weekend at
Croft
Using her local knowledge at the venue where she
once held the outright lap record, Amanda took 2
front row starting positions, even against the much
newer Pre ’84 Class A cars than her 1971 Elden
Mk8.
She made a good getaway in the first race to
take the lead outright into the first bend, pulling
2 seconds clear of the pack by the end of the first
lap. However, she succumbed to the Class A car of
Joe Walton on lap 7 and took 2nd place outright and
a Class win.
In the second race, she made an even better
start from Pole Position and battled hard to keep
Walton behind. Eventually, she was forced to settle
for second behind Walton but then came under
increasing pressure from the other Class A cars of
Paul Walton (Joe’s father) & Keith
Davey.
They both dived past at Clervaux on the 5th
lap...and straight through the gravel! “I
could see them both coming in too fast, and all 3
of us weren’t going to make it around the same
corner” she said “They were fighting
tooth & nail, so I thought it was best to give
them some space and they only just made it
through”. As she look set to take 4th overall,
the pair tangled at the hairpin just before the
chequered flag and she came through the carnage to
finish 2nd overall and the class win once
again.
Last weekend at Pembrey in Wales, she took two
5th places in the separately run Historic Formula
Ford Championship, despite having a bent valve
& brake problems. Her results have now moved
her up to 3rd place in the championship.
Amanda takes the Roman Road to Croft
Racing driver Amanda Whitaker played a starring
role at Croft this week as she was featured on ITV
Tyne Tees evening news Monday night together with
partner Anthony Dunn. She gained support from local
company Roman for the event.
Amanda was explaining how she has raced against
& beaten the boys over her career & even
competed against her boyfriend Anthony recently at
Croft.
She will also be interviewed live with Lisa
McCormick on BBC Radio Tees 95-95.8 FM on Thursday
20th November between 2-2.30pm.
Amanda finished 3rd in the HSCC Historic Formula
Ford 1600cc National Championship this year
competing against a field of more than 30 male
drivers. She hopes to race again in 2009:
“There are a few things in the pipeline
depending on funding”.
She will also be at the Autosport International
Show in January as a “Star Driver” on the
BWRDC stand promoting women in motorsport.
* * *
Amanda Whitaker is a
multiple British Single Seater Champion who now
concentrates on Sportscar Racing. She is
Britain's Fastest Female racing driver! In her 10+
year driving career, she has become:
- 3 consecutive National Single Seater
Championship titles
- Over 50 race wins
- Multiple circuit lap records. More than 10
years after achieving them, she still holds 4
Monoposto lap records!
- The 2006 European Formula Atlantic
Championship title
- Top points scorer overall in 2006 European
F2 Championship
She is currently a performance driving
instructor throughout the UK, Europe & USA
working for most major manufacturers and racing
schools. She is also a precision driver in many TV
adverts.
She won on her first outing in the European F2/F
Atlantics at Hockerheim.
County Durham’s fast
female in the mix
Whitaker was once again in the Formula Ford battle
at Snetterton this weekend, competing in a total of
4 races at the Norfolk track.
Despite being unable to test before the event
and having not visited the venue for 10 years, she
showed her pace by setting the second quickest time
in qualifying in the 30 car Historic Formula Ford
entry to place her on the front row of the grid
alongside young star Michael Lyons.
In the first race, she made a good start to grab
the lead down the back straight and although Lyons
came back at her and the pair had a good dice for
the lead. Lyons eventually took command and she had
a good battle with Westie Mitchell and renowned
historic front runner Simon Hadfield but in the end
had to settle for 4th place as the race was red
flagged due to an incident.
“It was a little frantic, but I didn’t
want to make contact - I wanted to keep my car in
one piece for the other races!” she said.
Suspension failure on the green flag lap in the
first Classic Racing Cars event caused her to be on
the back foot for the start of the second Historic
Formula Ford race. Amaron racing did a good job to
get the car back out for the race, but setup
problems caused her to be off the pace and she
battled hard to take 6th position at the flag.
“Dad & Rob worked really hard all but
we ran out of time to get the car sorted 100% and
the rear end had loads of toe out which made me
slow in a straight line – I had to defend all
the way” she said.
However, the weekend finished on a high as she
took 2nd in class in the second Classic Racing Cars
race and held onto her 5th position in the points
table.
She next races on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix
circuit in 4 weeks time.
Amanda fights for first at
Silverstone
Amanda Whitaker had a terrific battle for honours
in Historic Formula Ford at Silverstone this
weekend. Racing on the International circuit in her
Elden Mk8, she showed her pace by qualifying 3rd in
a 33 car grid behind Westie Mitchell and young
hotshoe current British Formula Ford Champion
Callum Macleod who was making a guest appearance in
the championship.
Amanda made a good start to slot in behind
Mitchell, while Macleod bogged down at the start
& slipped back to 4th. She looked to pass
Mitchell on the run down to Abbey on the opening
lap, but was herself demoted to 3rd by the
recovering Macleod. Macleod took the lead from
Mitchell at Brooklands and pulled out a small gap
and Amanda looked for a way past Mitchell twice on
consecutive laps on the run down to Abbey hairpin
before finally making it stick at Copse.
She maintained 2nd before Macleod made an error,
half spinning at Becketts and handing the lead to
Amanda. Amanda held this for a couple of laps but
Macleod retook the lead under braking for Becketts
and Amanda had no answer as she was struggling to
slow her car down: “The left rear hub was
coming loose which made the handling difficult and
also made the brake pedal inconsistent –
virtually to the floor on occasion.” she
said.
Despite the problem, she held a comfortable 2nd
place but towards the end of the race, her engine
started to falter and Mitchell came back past on
the start finish straight. However, Amanda
soldiered on and continued to put pressure on
Mitchell. With two laps to go, he spun at Abbey and
she retook 2nd place which she held to the flag
with Macleod taking the win and Mitchell 3rd.
“That was a good hard race, but I know I
could have gone quicker” said Amanda “It
was a carburettor problem that was causing the
engine to cut out at top revs – that & the
hub problem were costing me loads of time. When it
was spluttering I was just thinking
“C’mon,C’mon!” but thankfully
it kept going...then as I crossed the finish line
it cut out all together – I was lucky to
finish actually”.
She also finished the day with a class win and
6th overall in the Classic Racing cars event,
pulling out a gap over 50 seconds ahead of Andrew
Garside in the same class also in an Elden Mk
8.
She looks forward to the Snetterton double
header race in 3 weeks time.
Amanda battles
through the pack at Donington
County Durham's fast female Amanda Whitaker fought
through the pack in the 2008 Historic Formula Ford
season opener at Donington Park.
Having had only 2 weeks to prepare the 1971
Elden Mk8 prior to the first race with only half a
day at Croft to shake down the car, she knew it
would be tough. With just a handful of laps
practice, she qualified further back than she would
have liked in the field of over 36 cars.
However, she showed she had lost none of her
skills come race time and made a fantastic start to
jump a number of places on the opening couple of
laps. She battled hard in the pack throughout the
race and came through to finish 13th by the
chequered flag.
She also competed in the Classic Racing Cars
event having a close race to just steal 3rd in
class on the last lap.
"We were struggling with a down on power engine
- which we knew would be an unknown quantity with
the car having stood unraced for so long. So I
spent a lot of the time defending my position down
the straights in both races, making it difficult to
attack & move further forward" said Amanda.
However, she was upbeat for the remainder of the
season "I'm pleased that we got a result and Dad
& Rob (Story) did a fantastic job to sort a
number of problems that occurred over the weekend.
Apart from the engine, we also need to do some work
with brakes & dampers - they might even be the
original ones from 1971! The good news is we now
know what we need to do to be competitive and we'll
keep working hard until we get to where we want to
be."
She races again at one of her favourite circuits
Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire in a fortnight.
Fast female returns to the
track!
County Durham’s fast female Amanda Whitaker
returns to the race track this weekend (30th March)
for the start of the HSCC Historic Formula Ford
Championship at Donington Park (Derbyshire).
The 2006 European Historic Formula 2 Champion
will be racing an ex-Mike Catlow 1971 Elden Mk8
Formula Ford 1600cc. She will be supported by her
Father ex-Formula Ford racer Ronnie and long time
mechanic Rob Story, both who helped her win 3 back
to back Monoposto Championships in the late
1990’s.
She shook down the car at Croft last week and
despite a few teething troubles had a successful
first run:
“We only picked up the car 2 weeks ago and
as it’s been sat and un-raced for a few years
we’ve had to do a lot of work, to prepare it
for the first race at Donington. Normally I would
like to do at least one full test day before the
race season to work on set up but due to time and
required work to make it race ready this was not
possible.”
“We will be doing the full season in the
HSCC Historic Formula Ford Championship and intend
to do as many of the HSCC Classic Racing Car
Championship races as possible which both run at
the same meetings. Both championships are well
subscribed, with over 40 entries for the Historic
Formula Ford race and over 30 entries for the
Classic Racing Cars race for the first round so I
look forward to some good competitive racing at
some great circuits in the UK.
For more information or details of the race
dates visit www.fastestfemale.com
or www.AmandaWhitaker.com
Amanda &
Anthony’s Spa partnership
County Durham fast female Amanda Whitaker is back
in the hot seat next weekend, for the first time
sharing a drive in a racing car with her partner
Anthony Dunn. The pair are to drive a Lanan racing
prepared Norma in the 4 hour Britcar / Britsports
night race at Spa-Francorchamps on June 16th.
“Although we’ve done a few karting
events together and we go to each others races,
we’ve never actually raced a car together so
it’s going to be fun!” said Amanda. The
pair first met at Silverstone where they also
continue to work together as racing instructors.
They will be sharing a car with Swiss resident
Barry Gates who has been winning races with Anthony
in the Radical Enduro British Championship this
year.
“I think we’ll all work well together
and hope to be strong as a team – we’re
looking forward to it.” said Anthony “I
think we’ll have to ask the team to hide the
lap times though as it might be a quiet car journey
on the way home if we get too
competitive!”.
Amanda had a short run in a Radical at Croft
last week to acclimatise her to the type of car.
www.AmandaWhitaker.com
or www.FastestFemale.com
Formula Atlantic
County Durham racer Amanda Whitaker will race once
again in the Formula Atlantic Class of the European
F2 Championship in the Chevron B34 she drove to the
title in 2006. The car is owned by series patron
Oskar Christen & will be prepared & run by
Vin Malkie's works Chevron team with the Ford BDA
engine tuned by Swindon Racing Engines.
"I'm really looking forward to the season –
it’s a fantastic calendar; we race at a couple
of new venues this year plus some old favourites.
It'll be the first time I will race in Italy at the
season opener in Mugello and the Pau street circuit
in France is going to be pretty exciting!" said
Amanda.
The championship will be held over 7 weekends
with 2 or sometimes 3 races at each event. As in
2006 there will be two visits to Germany -
Hockenheim and Nurburgring, as well as Belgium's
Spa-Francorchamps, the season finale at
Dijon-Prenois in France and this year the series
has a stand alone race at the prestigious Oulton
Park Gold Cup which is Amanda’s favourite
circuit.
The F2 championship consists of 3 classes - the
most powerful 2.0 litre injection Formula 2, 1.6
litre injection Formula 2 and 1.6 litre carburettor
Formula Atlantic.
Amanda's 2006 consistency helped her to score
the most number of points across all of the classes
- a feat which she hopes to achieve again in
2007.
To see more information on Amanda & the
championship calendar visit:
www.AmandaWhitaker.com
For more information on the European F2
championship go to: www.EuropeanF2.com
Amanda tops the 2006
Formula 2 points chase
County Durham racer Amanda Whitaker finished her
2006 racing campaign top of the table following the
season finale at Dijon, France. She went into the
weekend knowing that two 3rd place finishes would
secure her the top spot.
In her first event at the historic venue, Amanda
qualified 3rd in class in damp conditions behind
Formula Atlantic rivals Sandy Watson and Martin
Stretton. The first race on Saturday went well as
she made a good start to jump Watson on the opening
lap and maintained 2nd place to the flag.
Sunday’s race was more dramatic as she
drove a fantastic opening lap to pass 6 cars!
However, a couple of laps later she lost time when
she spun on oil dropped from another car leaving
her 5th in class. The oil caused another competitor
to crash, bringing out the safety car and at the
restart she fought back to take a close 3rd place
in class.
Her results mean that adding to her European
Formula Atlantic crown, she finishes the season as
the highest points scorer of all classes in the
entire Formula 2 series with 235 points, 7 points
clear of fellow Brit Bob Juggins.
The success comes partly from the fact that she
maintained a 100% finishing record in 2006 with 7
class wins and results of no lower than 3rd in
class. “I really have to thank Vin Malkie and
the whole Chevron team – their excellent
preparation allowed me to maintain consistently
good results throughout the year.” She said
“It’s been a real privilege working with
them and I also have to give (series Patron) Oskar
Christen a special big thank you for giving me this
opportunity.”
“I’ve really enjoyed racing in the
European F2 series – it’s now getting
very competitive with good grids, great looking
cars and visits some of the best venues in
Europe.”
Amanda hopes to continue in the series in 2007
as well as potentially driving a sportscar. Over
the winter period, she will be doing some karting
to maintain fitness levels and continuing
instructing at Silverstone. She will also be
working to gain further sponsorship backing to help
with expenses and travelling for her 2007
motorsport campaign. For more details on how you
can be involved go to www.FastestFemale.com
Golden Girl Shines at the
Gold Cup
County Durham racing girl Amanda Whitaker had a
fine weekend at the prestigious Oulton Park Gold
Cup meeting. Amanda was driving in the Derek Bell
Trophy series, a race not related to the Formula 2
Championship she normally competes in. She was on
fine form in qualifying, giving her a 7th place
starting position overall and 2nd in class, just
behind nearest competitor Sandy Watson. Pole
position overall was gained by Amanda’s team
mate Christian Fischer driving a Formula 2 Chevron
B25 – a great effort ahead of more powerful
cars.
In the first race on Sunday, a heavy downpour
before the race left a sodden track, but Amanda
made a fine start to lead the class clearly on the
opening laps and set off in pursuit of the leaders.
She battled for many laps over 2nd place overall
behind Mark Dwyer’s March 742 Formula 2 car,
allowing Sandy to close on the pair of them. A
terrific battle then ensued between all 3 and
although Amanda made a brave move to pass both
Watson & Dwyer around the outside into
Knickerbrook chicane on the penultimate lap, Sandy
made a lunge back past Amanda on the last corner of
the last lap to take 2nd place, leaving Amanda with
the final podium position. Christian Fischer
retired from a good lead with gear shift problems
and so the race was won by Frank Lyons in a Formula
5000 Lola T332. Amanda & Sandy were both
catching Lyons towards the end of the race and
finished only 10 seconds behind in their much less
powerful Formula Atlantic Chevron’s.
In the second race on Monday, Amanda started
from 3rd place overall (Sunday’s finishing
position) and although she couldn’t compete
with the higher class cars, she managed to turn the
tables on Sandy…on the last corner of the last
lap! This gave her a finish of 4th place overall
and 1st in class. The race was again won by Frank
Lyons in his Formula 5000, but only after Christian
Fischer hit fuel problems leaving him to settle for
second place, halting a fine charge through the
field from very last on the grid to nearly catch
Lyons on the final lap.
Amanda was very happy with her Bank
Holiday’s work: “Oulton is my favourite
circuit, so I was keen to go well this weekend. I
wasn’t happy about finishing behind Sandy on
Sunday, so I was keen to do better the following
day…“.
Silverstone
Classis
On Thursday 19th May Silverstone circuit and the
BRDC hosted a media day to publicise the
forthcoming Silverstone Classic which will replace
the hugely popular Historic Festival. The event
itself comprised of free testing for competitors
entered for the event, combined with circuit rides
and demonstrations for the Motoring Press.
As well as Amanda Whittaker (see above), other
club members represented on the day were Penny
Graham, who was there to look after her drivers
from the GroupC/GTP series, and Janine Payne who
had her Arrows A4 available to test along with
Richard Eyre’s Leyton House Porsche. Sadly the
weather was very damp so her testing was limited,
not wishing to risk damage prior to the Monza event
taking placed over the end of May Bank Holiday.
Andrew Spence did some proving tests on the Elva
Formula Junior he shares with wife Sue Spence. Sue
will be racing the car in July when they take it to
Lisbon for the Gran Premio de Porto. Lorina
McLaughlin was also present, in the garages, as was
former member Jo Sebastian who was looking after
the journalists and customers taking rides in Nick
Shrigley Feigl’s two seater Formula 5000.
In total the Silverstone Classic will feature 17
races covering everything from pre-war Brooklands
cars, to the modern, Group C and and Thoroughbred
Grand Prix Cars. The event takes place on the
weekend of July 30th and 31st. Come along, if you
can, to support the members competing. Amanda has
already had pride of place once - expect to see her
and Janine Payne heading towards podium positions
during this very exciting Silverstone weekend.
Amanda Whitaker has finished
3rd in class in her first season in the European
Formula 2 Series.
Racing in the Formula Atlantic class, Amanda
competed in both a B34 Chevron and Palliser chassis
and set the pace on many of her outings taking 3
class wins, 3 fastest laps and 2 second places over
the year. Her championship result comes despite the
fact that she did not compete in the final two
events of the season due to engine troubles.
However, she looks forward to racing in the
Chevron once again in 2006: “This was very
much a development year and next year there will be
a few changes which should allow me to race to win
the championship!” she said “I’d
like to once again thank Oskar Christen for giving
me the opportunity to drive his cars – his
support has been fantastic.".
"This is a great series with cars how they
should look and sound, good size grids, competitive
racing and it visits some of the best circuits in
Europe – I can’t wait until next
year!”.
Amanda Whitaker takes
Pride of Place at Silverstone Classic
Amanda Whitaker's Chevron B34 Formula Atlantic
racing car took pride of place at Silverstone last
week on the open day for the newly launched
'Silverstone Classic' race weekend - a historic
racing car festival featuring six decades of cars
from Formula One to Le Mans sportscars.
Parked on Pole Position outside the main base of
circuit owners the British Racing Drivers Club,
Amanda was helping to promote the Historic European
F2 series that will be racing at the meeting on
30th & 31st July. She next races at Germany's
famous Nurburgring circuit on June 25th & 26th
where she hopes to consolidate her championship
lead in the Formula Atlantic class.
2010
2009
HSCC Historic Formula Ford 1600 Championship
- 2nd in HSCC Historic Formula Ford National
Championship
- 7 Outright wins, 10 podiums, 1 lap
record
- HSCC Alan Brownlee Trophy (Best Lady)
- Three BWRDC championship titles in (Goodwin,
Hillwood Jewellers Coupe des Dames and Monoposto
Trophies)
2008
HSCC Historic Formula Ford 1600 Championship
HSCC Classic Racing Cars Championship
- 2nd in UK Championship in Formula Ford
Class
Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship
Four BWRDC championship titles
Goodwin, Hillwood Jewellers Coupe des Dames,
Monoposto and Embassy Trophies. BWRDC Gold Stars
Nominee.
2006
European Formula 2 Championship (Formula
Atlantic Class)
- European Formula Atlantic Champion
- Top points scorer in overall F2 Championship
(across all classes)
- 7 class wins
- 3 second places in class
Oulton Park Gold Cup
- 3rd & 4th overall in Derek Bell Series
(win & 2nd in class)
2005 Historic European Formula 2 (Formula
Atlantic class)
- 3 wins
- 2 second places
- Championship contender
2001 Endurance Karting
- 24hr kart race in Dubai
- 3rd in kart race at Lydd
2000 Northern Saloon &
Sportscar (TVR Tuscan)
- Only 2 races
- One pole position
- One 3rd place
1999 No racing
1996-2023 Monoposto
- Won the Monoposto championship 3 years in a
row
- First female to win a National single seater
championship
- First female to have won a Monoposto
race
- 28 wins
- 25 pole positions
- 26 fastest laps
- 9 lap records
- 2 outright lap records
1995 Formula Vauxhall (B class)
- 3rd in Formula Vauxhall championship
- Top 3 on 5 occasions
1994 Formula Vauxhall (B class)
- First female to win a Formula Vauxhall
race
- 2nd in the Formula Vauxhall
championship
- Top 3 on 7 occasions
1991-1993 Formula Ford 1600
- Finished in the top 4 out of 4 major
championships
- 3 wins
- Lap record at Oulton Park
1989-1990 100cc Karts
- Finished in the top 3 out of 4 major
championship
2008 Schedule
- 30th March Donington Park (National
Circuit)
- 13th April Cadwell Park
- 10th - 11th May Silverstone (International
Circuit)
- 31st May - 1st June Snetterton (Double
Header)
- 28th - 29th June Brands Hatch (Grand Prix
Circuit)
- 12th - 13th July Pembrey
- 3rd August Castle Combe
- 23rd - 25th August Oulton Park
(International Circuit)
- 13th September Brands Hatch (Indy
Circuit)
- 4th - 5th October Donington Park (National
Circuit)
- 18th October Silverstone (National
Circuit)
* * *
WomenInRacing.org
| Contact
Us
©1996-2023 by Gordon
Clay
|
