BUMPERS AS HARD AS THEIR'S

Our ovals are brilliant, filled with action at every point of the track, however, there is a noticeable lack of female drivers. Despite this fact, the formulas that race on our tracks are one of the only sports where males and females compete against each other in the same event. Female drivers have always taken part in formulas on the short ovals, as far back as 1954 where Stockcar racing first started in the UK at the New Cross Stadium, London; where 1 British lady and 1 French lady took part! Since then, nearly every formula features female drivers from BriSCA F2 driver of 55 Courtney Finnikin to National Banger driver 186 Sophie Fasey. However, what can be done to get more female drivers on to our ovals? We spoke to 1300 Stockcar driver 317 Lauren Overy about how her Short Oval career is going and how more female drivers can get involved in the sport.

Lined up and waiting – OnTheOval
We started by asking how Lauren got involved with Short Oval Motorsport, and like most racing in the sport, she got into it through her family. “If I’m honest I don’t remember I time I wasn’t involved in it. My dad has raced for as long as I can remember. My grandad and great uncle before him and now me and my cousin too”, like for many people at our tracks, “it’s just been a family thing”. 
Lauren has been doing very well this season, currently with 3 heat wins to her name at Kings Lynn, and continued success across Spedeworth tracks, we asked who built Lauren’s current car and how she thought it was going. She responded with, “My other half Sid built my current car with some help from my dad and if I’m honest I couldn’t be happier with it. I got a 3rd in the English Championship first time out and a few race wins too so can’t be complaining here haha”.
Lauren moved from ORCi Ministox to 1300 Stockcars, so we wondered what her future plans were for her Short Oval career. “I’d love to race a full year in bangers with my dad, that’s the real dream, however, that will take a lot of convincing. I’d also like to have a go in an f2 on tarmac just to see what it’s like”. 
Lauren leading the way – OnTheOval
After finding out about Lauren's racing career, we asked about what it’s like racing in a more male-dominated sport. “If I’m honest I don’t take a blind bit of notice! I’ve been raised with ‘your bumper is as big as theirs so they will do you regardless so get on with it!’ My dad even said if it was me or him for a race win he’d take me out, therefore, I’ve never taken notice of the but ‘you’re a girl’”. 
Lauren then goes onto say, “I think any motorsport in general needs more female representation. I can understand it looks rather daunting and if I had a pound for every time a lady has said to me “I couldn’t do that against all them men” I’d be racing in an F1”. Lauren believes a good way for women “to get their foot in the door” is to take part in the lady formulas, “then once confidence is there have a go with the boys. I’ve had a lot of friends do that and actually enjoyed it more with the busier track in the all-in formulas”.
If you're interested in getting onto the track, nearly all formulas have hire cars available from the fast hard hitting BriSCA F1s to the much smaller but still impactful Stoxkarts! An article about hiring vehicles and getting into Short Oval motorsport will be appearing soon. Once again we thank Lauren for talking to us and her thoughts and wish her luck for the future. 
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