Nathalie McGloin, a Mode Lighting sponsored racing driver, to become world’s first disabled sportsperson to present trophy at Formula 1 British Grand Prix
For the first time in history, a podium trophy will be presented at the Formula 1 2018 British Grand Prix by a disabled sportsperson. Nathalie McGloin, the only female tetraplegic racing driver in the world to be competing at professional level, will hand over the third place trophy in place of David Richards, Chairman of the Motor Sports Association (MSA), who has passed the honour to Nathalie in order to highlight the participation of people with disabilities in motorsport. The presentation will take place on Sunday 8 July 2018 at the Silverstone Circuit.
British driver Nathalie is founder of the charity Spinal Track, which gives disabled people the opportunity to take part in track driving experiences in a specially adapted car. She was also made President of the FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission at the end of last year.
David Richards, MSA Chairman, said, “We’re committed to promoting the unique opportunity that motorsport presents for people of all backgrounds, whether male or female and able bodied or disabled, to compete together on a level playing field. On behalf of the MSA, I’m pleased to take this opportunity to demonstrate my personal commitment to inclusivity, and would like to thank both the FIA and Silverstone for their support in making this possible, not just in raising awareness of the accessibility of our sport but in providing a lasting legacy at the circuit.”
Nathalie McGloin commented, “When David Richards confirmed that I would be presenting the third place trophy after the F1 race at Silverstone, I was speechless. The support I’ve had from the MSA with my new role as President of the FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission has been incredible. Being gifted this opportunity by David is humbling beyond words – it’s something that has never been done before by any other chairman, and the idea was completely supported by Jean Todt, President of the FIA. The sense of pride is enormous and I cannot wait for the F1 weekend to get started now!”
About Nathalie McGloin
Born in 1983, Nathalie McGloin was injured in a car crash at the age of 16, where she broke her neck at level C6/7, leaving her completely paralysed from the chest down. Undeterred by this major injury, Nathalie graduated in 2007 from Nottingham University with a degree in English Studies. She then moved to London to pursue a career in Wheelchair Rugby, and in 2008, gained a place on the national GB Wheelchair Rugby squad. In 2013, Nathalie began her journey to become the first woman with a spinal cord injury to be granted a UK racing licence. A year later, in her Porsche 911 Turbo road car fitted with hand controls, Nathalie participated in a number of sprint and hillclimb events. She won her class in her first event and became the first woman with a spinal cord injury to gain a class win at an MSA sanctioned event.
In May 2015, Nathalie was the first female with a spinal cord injury to be awarded a race licence in the UK, and, a few days later, became the only female tetraplegic in the world to complete a race. She is currently still the only female tetraplegic to be competing in the world. Nathalie races a Porsche Cayman S PDK in the Porsche Club Championship, competing against able-bodied drivers.
In January 2016, Nathalie and her partner, Andrew Bayliss, created the charity ‘Spinal Track’, which gives disabled track novices their first track driving experience in a specially adapted Golf GTI. By the end of the first year, the waiting list for people to participate in a Spinal Track Day was a 12 months.
In 2017, Nathalie and Spinal Track caught the attention of global brand, Stanley Black & Decker, who came on board as the first major commercial sponsor for both Nathalie McGloin Racing and Spinal Track. In January 2018, The Richard Burns Foundation donated two Toyota GT86 cars to add a rally experience to Spinal Track’s driving day event experiences.
In October 2017, Nathalie was asked by Jean Todt to take on the role of President of the newly formed FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission. Not only is Nathalie the youngest FIA Commission President, but she also makes up one of only two female FIA Commission Presidents – the other being Michelle Mouton, FIA Women In Motorsport Commission President.
In May 2018, Nathalie entered the CSCC Championship in her Porsche Cayman S and finished her first ever race in the series with a third in class.
More about Nathalie McGloin Racing: www.nathaliemcgloinracing.com
