Perth motorsport starlet Chloe Grant teamed-up with six-times Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy to sample the thrills offered by the eco-friendly Hydro X Prix staged at a one-time opencast coal mine.
The televised, spectator-free Extreme E off road series event featuring teams from around the world was staged at cavernous Glenmuckloch in Dumfries and Galloway, which is earmarked for a new lease of life as an energy creating pumped hydro storage facility.
ART Grand Prix driver and Girls on Track UK ambassador Chloe (17) seized the opportunity to tackle adrenalin pumping laps of the lunar-like landscape, tucked between F1 Academy track dates in Valencia and, this weekend, Barcelona.
She was thrilled to join legendary Olympian Sir Chris, who exchanged the velodrome for rallycross after retiring from cycling 10 years ago, at the wheel of the Spark Racing Team’s eye-catching electric off-road Odyssey 21.
“It was very different from any other car I have ever driven but I absolutely loved it,” said former Perth High pupil and Loughborough student Chloe, who is backed by Laser Tools, Specsavers, John Clark Motor Group, Island Leisure Lodges, Kevin Cuthbert PT and Fierce Sports Racing.
“It was really exciting, so much fun. I’d love to try it again.
“It’s off-road so it was really bumpy and sometimes you were driving sideways to keep in control.
“It was great getting to try this type of driving along with a legend and keen motorsport driver like Sir Chris. We weren’t too sure what to expect but we both had a ball.
“Chief marketing officer Ali Russell and everyone else was so welcoming.
“But now I’ll be back in more familiar territory heading for the next ART Grand Prix event in Barcelona.
“It’s the third of the season and while I’m absolutely loving the experience and learning so much, my target this season has to be a podium finish. That would be fantastic.”
Eleven times world champion Sir Chris, whose illustrious CV also includes drives at Le Mans and the World Rallycross Championship, welcomed the green credentials of Extreme E, which sees all the kit shipped in containers from venue to venue, with Sardinia next up.
He was also impressed with the Perth teenager Chloe’s talents.
“I have respect for anyone who takes on a challenge in motorsport,” he said.
“I think from the outside sometimes it might look easy but that’s because drivers at the highest level make it look that way.
“Believe me, it’s anything but. It is intimidating, it is scary, fast and you know the consequences can be severe if you get it wrong.
“So I take my hat off to Chloe and I wish her well in what has been a male dominated sport for too long.
“Young drivers like Chloe are showing that won’t be the case going forward.
“The more female drivers there are, the more role models there are for girls to follow.
“I started my cycling career with a £5 bike from a jumble sale. You can still progress a fair way without spending a huge amount of money.
“But motorsport is tough to break into, it’s not really a meritocracy. Promising young drivers often don’t get a chance because of the finance involved.
“Regardless of gender, you can have all the talent, the drive and determination but without backing it’s not a reality.
“So it’s great that Chloe is getting a platform to show what she can do and more brands - like those involved in Extreme E - are supporting female drivers.”
