Two Scottish female racing drivers will go head-to-head in one of Scotland’s biggest motorsport events.
The British Touring Car Championships is returning to Knockhill this weekend, drawing thousands of fans.
And in addition to the showpiece races, the battle involving another high speed car, a Porsche, is heating up with two Scottish women bidding to come out on top.
“It is an absolute dream come true to be in a Porsche. I never thought I would be able to call myself a Porsche racing driver,” said Hannah Chapman, a 32-year-old driver from Fife.
STV News“When you get younger girls come up, they’ll be shocked to see a girl in a race suit,” added 19-year-old Katia Loggie from Aberdeen.
The pair are in their first year competing in a Porsche.
Involved in the Sprint Challenge, they’ve battled it out on circuits across the UK.
For Hannah, financial constraints have meant the prospect of turning out on her home track was not always guaranteed.
“Being from here, and I work here, I’m here every single day,” she said.
“If I didn’t get to race this weekend, it would have been heart-breaking.
“I’m leading the championship as well so to get the chance to be here and hopefully maintain or extend my lead, that would be amazing.”
The lead up to the weekend racing is dominated by practice sessions – a chance for drivers to familiarise themselves for what is one of the championship’s most challenging circuits.
More than 15,000 fans are expected to turn out at Knockhill this weekend, the circuit’s busiest event of the year.
“The staff have been working on it since last August, since the last one,” said Jillian Shedden, Knockhill’s managing director.
“It gets bigger and better each year. The fans come out to support the touring car drivers and all the support drivers.
“We absolutely love it and mother nature is playing ball this year so its looks like we’ll have a great weekend.”
The touring cars are undoubtedly the showpiece races but for support drivers like Hannah and Katia, who sit first and third in their classifications, it’s not the only contest worth watching.
STV News“It’s going to be hard to reign myself in but I need to remember to be smart with my driving as well as going for it all guns blazing,” said Hannah.
Katia says she plans to throw caution to the wind.
“Definitely want a race win, that would be a successful weekend,” she said.
“[I’m going] all out, all the way.”
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