OK! Magazine UK – 26 August 2019

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racer – that’s a bit weird,’ but I just laugh them

off. It doesn’t bother me any more.

What is the industry like for a woman?

It is getting better now, but when I first began

it was extremely rare to see a girl around the

circuit. Most of my races have been against

all men! Getting sponsorship can be difficult

as some brands say: ‘Sponsoring a female in

motor sport is not really our thing,’ but then

some say: ‘You’re a female in a male-dominated

sport so you’ll get us media coverage.’

Are races different when it’s all women?

I don’t know any driver who is happy to finish

second, we all want to win, so in that respect it

doesn’t make the slightest difference.

Have you suffered any injuries?

A kart once landed on top of me and I hurt my

neck. I struggled to hold my head up for a while

because I strained the muscles. I also hurt my

wrist recently after a crash but luckily it wasn’t

broken so I carried on with the season’s races.

Do you get nervous before a race?

Every driver gets nervous, and if they say they

don’t, they’re lying. I’m always the last one to get

into my car as I want to be chatting and relaxing

• that’s how I cope. Other drivers just sit there. As
  soon as I’m in the car and waiting for the lights to
  go, my nerves disappear. I love the feeling when
  I’m out on the track. It’s about making decisions
  as quickly as possible and remaining focused.

Do you ever worry about the risks involved?

I’ve never thought, if I do this I’m going to get

hurt, as it’d make me slower. If you’re fretting

then you probably shouldn’t be in the sport. My

mum says she gets cold hands and feet at the

start of each race. My dad probably worries too

but he never says anything [laughs].

James: I worry more about a bad result

because she can be quite miserable. Obviously

you get a reality check when something does

go wrong and you think how it could have been

worse, but it’s much safer nowadays.

Alice, how often do you train?

I try to train five to six days a week. I go to work

doing on-site labour for my dad until 4.30pm

and then I go to the gym for a couple of hours.

Are you determined to be successful?

I have moments when I’m frustrated and angry

when things go wrong and with all the sacrifices,

but I channel my emotions to stay focused. I want

the best result. We all have bad days, in sport or

at work, but it’s just about doing my best in the

circumstances. I’ve never had a back-up plan.

Would you like to race full time?

That’s the aim. Professional male drivers don’t

need to have second jobs, and there are now

some females who don’t. It’d be nice to be able

to recover after race weekends. My ultimate

aim is to race in Formula 1 and stand on that

podium. It would be a dream come true.

‘EVERYDRIVER

GETSNERVOUS

ANDIFTHEYSAY

THEYDON’T

THEY’RELYING’

Away from the

race track, James

does the driving

because Alice is

‘too impatient!’

James proposed to Alice last

year in Ireland. ‘I knew it was

coming because he asked for

my ring size,’ she tells us

ABOVE: ALICE WEARS DRESS BY COAST. JAMES WEARS JUMPER, SHIRT, TROUSERS AND SHOES ALL FROM RIVER ISLAND. BELOW: ALICE WEARS DRE

SS BY COAST; AND BRACELET BY SWAROVSKI. JAMES WEARS SHIRT BY RIVER ISLAND