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Most racing stories start with childhood karting, but Katrina “Kat” Gray takes a route that feels a lot more like real life. Kat joins us from Lincolnshire in the UK, where she teaches people to drive for a living and still finds time to chase lap times on some of the most iconic road racing circuits in the country. Her path into motorsport begins with under-17 driver training on a circuit, a uniquely British workaround since learners can’t drive on public roads before 17, and it quickly turns into a full-on obsession with track days and racing.
We get into the details of grassroots UK racing, including Kat’s current ride, a supercharged Mini Cooper R53, and what it’s like competing in Track Action where multiple classes share the same race. Kat walks through her nine-year progression from Citroën C1 endurance and sprint racing to the Focus Cup Championship, then finally into the Mini she always wanted. Along the way, she names the tracks that shaped her as a driver, from Silverstone and Donington to Cadwell Park, Knockhill, Oulton Park, and Brands Hatch, and explains why the paddock vibe keeps pulling her back.
We also talk honestly about women in motorsports, sponsorship challenges, and why visibility matters when you’re often the only woman on the grid. Kat shares what she loves most: meeting fans up close, welcoming young girls into the car for photos, and showing that this sport can be a long-term passion at any age. If you care about UK motorsport, club racing, Mini Cooper racing, driver confidence, or building a more welcoming paddock, this conversation will stick with you.
Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a nudge to start, and leave a review so more listeners can find these stories. What part of Kat’s journey feels most familiar to you?
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