Santa Pod Raceway has seen some of the fastest men in Motorsport power up its quarter mile over the last few decades, but Europes leading drag-racing venue is increasingly seeing ladies notching up impressive times as well, as many graduate to the sports highest tier; Top Fuel. The latest racer to join the big league is 19 year old Gabrielle McDonald, who put in an impressive set of licensing runs at The Pod recently.
Having run in the Junior Dragster class previouslyand showing real promise, Gabrielle was keen to get behind the wheel of a Top Fuel car and try to qualify for her licence. Although clearly a talent behind the wheel, 19 years old is considered extremely young to be taking this step up to the Top Fuel class, where the front running cars pack more than 8,000 horsepower. The RF Motorsport car that she used for her run is no slouch either, making this an epic step up from the much lower power outputs McDonald was used to in the Junior classes.
Gabrielle completed four runs in all, with the third run really showing her talent and composure under fire as, after a solid burnout, the tyres broke traction on the launch, causing a massive sideways drift from the line. Nothing that McDonald couldnt handle though, as she amazed onlookers with a masterful display of car control, neatly gathering it all up without incident, before moving on to another superb 330 foot partial run, complete with a healthy set of header flames to prove her commitment and bravery behind the wheel.
Well it's just been amazing, really, said an elated Gabrielle. I was really nervous because coming from Junior Dragster and going straight to Top Fuel is a major jump, but I loved every minute of it! I certainly got the highs and lows of racing Top Fuel in 4 runs. Now I've had a taster of top fuel, it's all I want to do! Europe first and then America - thats the long term plan!
Its great to see so many women competing in Drag Racing at such a high level, commented Santa Pods commercial manager, Caroline Day. I cant think of any other FIA discipline where female drivers are having such success. We have our own Shelley Pearson, Finlands Anita Mkel and now Gabrielle to add to the ranks, proving that drag racing has to be the most diverse of all motorsports.
