Louise Goodman, one of the most recognisable faces from the media world of motor sport, is making her Knockhill debut in the Celtic Speed Mini Cooper Cup as part of the return of the British Touring Cars to Knockhill on the weekend of August 25th / 26th. Louise is an award-winning TV presenter and journalist with over 20 years of media and Formula One presenting experience and appropriately, she will be racing a Mini backed by Dundee based Grand Prix Adventures.
Dubbed ‘the first woman of Formula One’ Louise made her name as part of ITV’s Grand Prix presentation team and is currently co-presenting their live coverage of the British Touring Car Championship but her skills extend way beyond reporting from the pit-lane. Not content with just talking about motorsport, Louise is also pretty handy behind the wheel. She has mixed it with the best in karts and on the race track and finished a highly creditable 3rd in class at the British round of the 1999 World Rally Championship. She also became the first female to take part in a Formula One pit-stop at the 2006 British Grand Prix.
Louise will be getting her first taste of Knockhill on Friday 24th ahead of a full grid of 32 identical Minis taking to the track for the first of three races on Saturday 25th. Her “day job” will mean that she needs to give up the race seat on Sunday 26th and pick up her microphone and head set as she reports from the hot bed of the BTCC paddock, interviewing the likes of Jason Plato, Matt Neal and Scotland’s star driver Gordon Shedden.
Circuit Director Stuart Gray said, “We are delighted to see Louise on track for the Mini Cooper race with GPA as it will give viewers a real insight as to the unique challenges of Knockhill. The circuit has enjoyed 20 glorious years of the BTCC coming to Scotland and Louise’s drive fits perfectly with the anniversary celebrations that have helped make Knockhill such a much loved part of arguably the worlds most competitive national saloon car championship. She has met and interviewed all the best drivers in the world, visited every Grand Prix circuit on the calander and has a strong motor sport record of her own, so I am sure she will be dicing near the front of the grid.”
Louise said. “t’s been a few years since I sat in a racing car so I’m not really expecting to be giving the regular drivers too much trouble but I’m very excited, and more than a little nervous, about racing at Knockhill. It’s a fabulous circuit and I’m sure it will be quite a challenge – and a lot of fun. I’ll be getting some lessons from one of the very best before my race … Gordon Shedden has agreed to take me out on track and give me a few tips. I think I’ll be needing all the help I can get!”
For further information about Louise please see her website www.louisegoodman.com and for further information on the 20th Anniversary Touring Car event at Knockhill please contact Stuart Gray on 01383 723337.