Gabrielle McDonald
We talk to Gabrielle McDonald, a former Triple British Drag Racing Champion and Ireland’s fastest woman
Gabrielle McDonald is officially fast, in 2010 she won the Triple British Championship for Junior Drag Racing, which made her the first Irish person, the first girl and the first foreigner to win all three championships. Not content with Junior Drag Racing in October 2012, she began her Top Fuel licence and became the first person in the world to ever go from Junior Dragster to Top Fuel in one move. Whereas Junior Drag Racing, goes to speeds of 137km/h in 7.9 seconds across an 8th mile track Top Fuel runs 4 seconds over 1000ft at 483km/h.
1. If you were a car what car would you be ? Ohh good question, I’m going to have to say an Audi R8. They are beautiful cars!
2. What is the fastest you have ever driven? I think about 428 kmh
3. Who taught you to drive a junior dragster? Dave at Santa Pod Raceway taught me how to drive a junior dragster. Rune Fjeld is currently teaching me how to drive a Top Fuel dragster
4. How far would you like to go in motor sport? I am currently in a class that is the top of the drag racing field, but one day I would love to be European Champion and then race in the NHRA
5. Whom do you most admire in your industry? Erica Enders-Stevens. She races Pro Stock in the States. She is my idol! She started in juniors too and she was the first woman in Pro Stock
6. What is on your car stereo right now? Mainly songs from my favourite band, All Time Low!
7. One item you couldn’t live without? Probably my phone. It has everything I need on it!
8. How do you relax? I love to read and listen to music. I think that’s the best way to relax. But sometimes, I play the piano too. I find that very calming.
9. Who is your hero? Probably my mam. She is such a strong woman, she does absolutely everything for me. She has supported me through everything I have ever wanted to do and she has never pushed me to do something I didn’t want to do. She let me make my own choices, she let me become whoever I wanted to be. She is always there for me, I really couldn’t have asked for a better mam.
10. Describe yourself in one word? Ambitious. I have a very strong need and desire to do the best of my ability and I almost always achieve my goal.
For more info on Gabrielle check out her website here
October test in Santa Pod Raceway
Geraldine Herbert
19th March, 2014
