Shirebrook teen aiming to become first openly LGBT racer to take part in Le Mans 24 Hour

Geena Watkinson, 16, will make her debut in the Mazda MX5 Cup at Croft Circuit, near Newcastle, on Saturday (11th July).

And she hopes it will springboard her up the motorsport ladder and help her break into male-dominated races.

“Higher up in motorsport it is very male dominated,” she said. “but the lower down you get the more equal it gets, but that does not make it fair.

“In karting, I met three other girls in comparison to 50-60 guys who fitted the usual stereotypes.

“I do feel sort of like the odd one out, but it is less obvious because I can talk to people on an equal level.

“I would like to get to the Le Mans 24 Hour and progress to endurance racing.

“I want to be the first openly LGBT to race Le Mans 24 Hour. As a woman, if I got the team that I wanted, because there are a few other females that are looking forward to doing the race as well, it would be cool to have a women’s only team.

“It would help the representation that needs to be in higher up motorsport.”

Rising star Geena started driving when she was only eight years old after enjoying the children’s former Amen Corner track at Edwinstowe.

Helped by dad Steve, an engineer who acts as her mechanic, she went on to show huge talent in kart racing.

Geena, who took a four year break from racing to concentrate on secondary school, was supposed to make her race debut on April 4 at Brands Hatch before COVID-19 wrecked her plans.

And while she admits to being a little nervous, she also cannot wait to finally get going.

“I am looking forward to it because the racing community that I know will be there,” he added.

“I missed them when I took a break from motorsport. I decided to get back into motorsport at the beginning of year 10 because there is nothing that compares to being on the grid and out on the circuit.

“There is a lot of emotions and adrenaline that goes on during a race weekend.

“Motorsport is a way of life and it makes me feel happy. I can watch racing and I can do racing and that is amazing.

“I struggle with my anxiety a lot at times, but when I am in motorsport I don’t feel the odd one out. I am with people who understand what I am talking about and that really helps me get over it, nothing else has been able to do that.”

She is supported by Geena is supported by Spirit Air, a private air charter company that is part of Spirit Motorsport.

John Cowan, president of Spirit Air, said: “Geena has demonstrated maturity and determination, so we were happy to support her in her motorsport objectives.

“She is hoping to be the first openly LGBT driver to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours, and she will help Spirit Air to build its presence in the private air charter industry.”