Annabel Meade

Annabel's passion is racing. She started riding her BMX, then wanting to race when she was in her early teens, which progressed to cars when she was old enough to drive. Annabel drove a few times at race schools to learn different circuits, as somehow she knew one day she would race.

Annabel knew the only way to fulfill her ambition was to go it alone - with no support from her parents and to pay for it herself. Annabel studied Business and then Interior Architecture at University, which was tough as during these years she was still recovering from a road traffic accident. Showing great determination and courage, she persevered through her studies and since then has simultaneously grown her experience as a freelance architectural designer (by working in London in order to pay for her racing) and carved out the foundations for her racing career. Annabel's focus never wavered and the chance she had been waiting for finally happened in 2000. She competed in half a season of the Ford Fiesta Si championship at Knockhill, Scotland and impressed many, as she was voted Best Female Racer
in Scotland that year. To have no background in racing and with no experience - winning an award in her first season was a fantastic achievement!

Since then Annabel has progressed her knowledge, although with practically non-existent funds with driver training, race school days and karting. She surrounds herself with books on racing techniques, technical books on car set up, on creative visualization and on fitness training, so that when she does get racing full time she will have some technical background and understanding necessary to get on with the job ( although she knows there is no substitute for track time).

This has been a great learning curve and has shown the belief she has in her ability is justified, as she sold her flat to submit a last minute entry to race at Brands Hatch, November 2003. This was a huge challenge for Annabel as the race was in the rain (with no prior experience of racing in these conditions) and in a car she had never driven before. Annabel earned the respect of many that day as she qualified 11th and set the 8th fastest lap time out of 22. She has now built on her knowledge through driver training with a well respected F1 driver coach and through the Silverstone Race Driver School.

Annabel has shown she has relentless drive, focus and courage, as everything she has achieved, she has done on her own. She is fundamentally a sportswoman who is able to combine the physical demands of the sport she loves with her intellect and technical understanding. This will provide a solid foundation to a long and very successful, race and championship winning career in sportscar racing with LeMans as her ultimate focus.