Following research that revealed shocking statistics about what Kiwis think about the driving ability of New Zealand women, Jaguar has partnered with three of the country's best female motorsport drivers to share their stories and showcase their skills by coaching Kanoa Lloyd through a series of high-octane driving challenges, inspired by iconic Jaguar driver, Sybil Lupp.
Kanoa spent a day at the track with some of the best motorsport drivers in the country - race driver Tiffany Chittenden, expert co-driver Amy Hudson, and of champion kart racer Rianna O'Meara-Hunt.
Kanoa loved the experience and was very grateful for the expert coaching she received.
"I don't consider myself an awesome driver but when you have someone like Tiffany Chittenden next to you, you can't help but go further and faster. She's so calm and encouraging, and I trusted her incredible skills, which made me trust myself," she said.
"By the time I got to do the Flying Quarter Mile with Rianna, I forgot all my nerves and just focused on the fun of the challenge."
Kanoa also said being female actually helped her learn advanced driving skills, despite what sexist stereotypes may have you believe.
"I think women are really collaborative by nature, which means that we're fast learners. So I was able to work with the professionals and pick up heaps of new skills really quickly."
The challenges covered agility, speed and endurance:
Smart Cone Challenge
After some expert training from award-winning rally co-driver Amy Hudson, Kanoa took on the Jaguar Smart Cone challenge, showing agility and precision as she made her way around the smart cone course, with the cones illuminating either red or green lights to signal where to go next.
The lights can be different each time, so she didn't know exactly where to go until the last possible moment. Instructor Amy was the first New Zealand Women in Motorsport Ambassador, and when she's not co-driving, she's working as a mechanic in Hamilton while she works to gain a New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering.
Flying Quarter Mile Sprint
One of Sybil Lupp's most well-known pursuits, this challenge saw Kanoa reach 230km/h in the Jaguar F-Type with the help of champion kart racer Rianna O'Meara-Hunt. Rianna has raced karts for 12 years and at just 20 years old has already collected a slew of awards.
Her career highlight so far is winning the prestigious CIK Trophy of New Zealand event, gaining the opportunity to representing her country at the Rok Cup World Finals in Italy, where she secured sixth place. Rianna was also the first ever junior women to win a rotax pro tour state title in Australia and first junior women in New Zealand to win a rotax max challenge round.
One Hour Endurance
Testing longevity and sustained power, Kanoa teamed up with karting champion Tiffany Chittenden in the Jaguar F-PACE SVR to achieve an epic average speed of 99kmph over a one-hour endurance challenge.
Chittenden is one of the most celebrated female figures within the automotive and karting industry, and with a heritage in motor racing, her career highlights include the first female ever to win a British National Karting Championship. Tiffany also coaches the four current Junior Kart NZ Champions.
By nailing the challenges, Kanoa has set the pace for other convention-breaking women to follow, showing anyone can have an appreciation for high performance vehicles.
"She did a really great job. She was really impressive, especially considering she's only had her driver's license for six months or so," said Rianna, one of her coaches.
"She seemed a little nervous when she hit 230km/h, but I would be too if I didn't do it regularly! It was awesome to see how happy she was to nail the challenge – such a cool experience!"
The experience hammered home what Kanoa already knew about female drivers, even if Jaguar's research shows many Kiwis remain clueless.
"My mum is still the best person I know at backing a trailer, my sister is my number one pick for a road trip, and women in motorsport are a force to be reckoned with," Kanoa said, adding that young women wanting to get into racing cars have no need to be hesitant.
"Motorsport is incredibly inclusive - there are so many women in the industry who are well-respected - and going that fast is so much fun! Don't let anything hold you back."
Jaguar is committed to challenging gender conventions by championing high performing women such as Tiffany, Amy and Rianna to inspire a new generation of female drivers to experience the thrill and excitement of high-performance cars.
But Jaguar doesn't believe that breaking conventions or defying expectations should be restricted to the race-track – so have announced a 'She Sets the Pace' community grant to celebrate women of all walks of life. The quarterly grant recognises everyday trail-blazers can win $10,000 to pursue their passions, as well as a Jaguar I-PACE for 3 months.
What are they looking for?
- Someone who isn't afraid to fly in the face of common assumptions - either in your industry, your career or your personal life.
- Someone who has overcome barriers or obstacles to achieve success - whether that's overcoming resistance from others, creating something new, or achieving something that hasn't been done before.
- Someone who is making an undeniable impact - either within an industry, for our country, or in our collective culture.
A judging panel will select a winner every quarter, with $10,000 offered to help you achieve the unexpected and forge your own path.
This article was created for Jaguar.
