Susie Stoddart: On Track For Success

by Rebecca Hobbs

September 2004

Earlier this year I wrote up my interview with Susie Stoddart for Racerchicks.com, quite adamant that she was one of the most talented young drivers (regardless of gender) in Britain. Now at the end of the season I can confidently say my assumption was correct!

I caught up with Susie at the final round of the Formula Renault UK Championship at Donington Park. She would finish the weekend an impressive an impressive fifth in the championship, two points off fourth. For her performance in the first race, going from 11th to 6th in a courageous display of driving, she would receive the 'Drive of the Day' Award for the second time this year.

"It has been a fantastic year" Susie told me. "I think it has been a particularly strong year for Formula Renault as a whole, with a very competitive field. I've had consistent, strong finishes."

Indeed, consistent is the word. With continual points scoring positions and a trio of podiums, it was only in the final race of the season that Susie did not finish. But of course, the obvious question was looming and I had to ask about the elusive win.

"Ah!" laughed Susie, "Everyone asks how I feel not getting a win! Obviously, I start every race wanting to win but it wasn't to come. There were times when I should have won, Thruxton and Snetterton. But my consistency has been my strength so I won't get hung up on not getting a race win.

This year has been very much about consolidating my driving and gaining even more experience."

One particularly strong aspect of her driving skills is her love of over taking - somewhat of a rarity in some sections of motorsport these days I think we agree! She agreed with me that her strength in overtaking and commitment on the track undoubtedly lies in her karting background.

Talking to Susie it is apparent how comfortable and confident she is within the Comtec Racing Team. It is a shock to many that this is their first season in Formula Renault, taking second in the entrant's championship and sporting two such strong contenders as Susie and her team-mate, Wesley Barber. But Comtec have a strong pedigree behind them having had much success as national and international level in Formula Ford, having seen such drivers as Ayrton Senna, Eddie Irvine and Kimi Raikkonen cutting their teeth with them.

"The team have been amazing" said Susie. "We gelled from the onset and I have a fantastic relationship with the engineers and mechanics. It is a very supportive, committed and ambitious team. There have been times in the year when they've made a mistake and times when I have, and we are always the stronger for it."

Susie is also full of praise for her team-mate. "I get on very well with Wesley" Susie said. "We both respect each other as drivers and think we have pushed each other quite hard from the beginning which has been very positive for both of us and the team."

Possibly, not everyone has been quite so welcoming and I wondered how the reaction had been to Susie as a female racer. Whilst there have been a number of female drivers in the series in the past, it can easily be argued that Susie is one of the more successful and came into the championship as a contender from the outset which perhaps would ruffle the odd feather.

"There have been a few problems in that respect" Susie said honestly, "but I really don't let it bother me." And why should she, she is at the end of the day a competitive racing driver of considerable talent.

As well as strengthening her talents on track, this year has proved to be a learning curve behind the scenes as well. Susie has received excellent support from her sponsors especially BT Broadband. This in turn has further exposed Susie to the promotion and marketing side of the sport.

"It has been hard work" she told me, "and we have ten guests from BT at each round. We give them a full behind the scenes tour which I hope they enjoy. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be here and their support has been fantastic and this will help me in my ambition to make it to Formula One. Away from the track I do internal talks and appearances for them so I have learnt a lot more about the media and promotions which is very valuable."

Not that I feel Susie need ever worry about her persona. She is a delightfully open and easy to talk to person. As well as her own ambition within the sport, her clear love of the sport as a whole is infectious. As we sat at the rear of the team awning a beautiful display of flowers, 'To Susie', was sat on the table. Perhaps an admirer?!

"This is really lovely" she told me. "A girl contacted me earlier this year as she was researching her dissertation regarding women and motor racing and I was more than happy to help her with an interview or in whatever way I could. She arrived this morning to say I was one of few people who had helped and she brought me the flowers and some wine as a thank you. I was really touched."

This was of no surprise to me and perfectly summed up Susie's friendly manner for everyone from the top ranking sponsor to the race fan.

"It is the fans who support the sport who make all the difference" she said as I nodded enthusiastically in agreement. "I know from when I watch sport as a spectator if someone is forthcoming you warm to them. I mean, really what is the point of being a boring old sod?!"

Looking to the future, Susie is now looking beyond Britain's shore and plans are afoot for GP2 in 2005, graduating with the Comtec team.

"I feel I need to learn new tracks and head into Europe and beyond. I now need to make the transition to quicker cars and the associated technology such as paddle shifts etc. And I would like to stick with Comtec."

GP2 (the new embodiment of F3000) will support Formula One and I have little doubt Susie will command much interest from teams, media and spectators world-wide.

In 2005 any hope of my impartiality will be out of the window I'm afraid, as I for one will have the St Andrews flying! 

Rebecca Hobbs is a freelance writer and sociologist of sport who has specialised in Motorsports.

Click here for her website that covers motorsport from a sociological viewpoint including women's participation