Women In Sport

These female stars are empowering girls to embark on a challenge and get involved in sport

- Sarah Rodi

REBECCA JACKSON

Racing driver, motoring journalist, TV presenter, businesswoman and a mum to twins....

Rebecca lives in Reading with her seven-month-old twins and two cats. “I moved to the area in 2009,” she says. “We are well-served in Berkshire as we have everything on our doorstep, but we’re also close to London. The villages are really pretty and there’s a great sense of community. And the drivers are courteous, which is a matter that is close to my heart.

“I live here with my babies, a boy and a girl, who are my world – they’re incredible. They’re fairly easy and they have their own little personalites already.”

Rebecca grew up around cars, and she set up a used car sales business in 2007, enabling her to embark on a racing career. “I went out and bought a Porsche and started club circuit racing, achieving five podiums including a win in my second season of competing in the Porsche 924 Championship,” she says. “The dream was to race at Le Mans one day, the most prestigious endurance race in the world.

“I love the wheel-to-wheel battles of racing. That’s what it’s all about,” she says.

Rebecca spent the next two years racing, and then pitched for sponsorship. “I got to Le Mans, which was everything I hoped it would be and more, and came 19th overall,” she says. “It catapulted me into internaional racing. I went on to race all over the world in the likes of the European GT Series and the Dubai 24 Hour. It opened doors for me that I hadn’t been aware of.”