Rally Driver Profile
Page 1 of 2 | next >

Very few rally and racing drivers can boast that they became interested in motorsport whilst doing a History of Arts Degree at University, but Natalie Barratt is no ordinary competitor.

Three unique ingredients proved instrumental as she stepped from classroom to cockpit. Firstly her father, Frank, is a car enthusiast, and it was clear from an early age that Natalie had, much to her mother, Doreen's, concern, inherited her dad's passion for four wheels and speed. Secondly, Buckingham University is situated just five miles away from the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit. Finally, Natalie became friends with Formula 1 driver Marc Gene (then racing in F3), and he encouraged her to attend an intense five-day driving course at Silverstone Circuit. So, at the age of 19, Natalie made her racing debut - on a Grand Prix track.

By the time Natalie graduated from university with a BA Honours Degree, she had continued racing in a Peugeot 306 and a Ford Fiesta XR2. Her motorsport passion lies firmly in rallying, however, and in 1996 Natalie took part in the Nissan Micra Rally Challenge. With competitors in identical cars, the highly competitive single-make series was aimed at highlighting driving talent. Natalie revelled in the mini Micra and was soon setting some impressive times against hard-charging male opposition.

It came as no surprise to her family that Natalie was competitive behind the wheel of a rally car, for her other sporting achievements show great balance, co-ordination and competitiveness. For example, she played squash for her local Under 16 team, holds a RYA Grade 3 windsurfing certificate, is an accomplished skier and holds a purple belt in karate. She may only stand 5' 2" tall, but it's wise not to make her angry!

In 1997 Natalie embarked on a wide variety of British rallies in a Gp N Honda Civic Vti. The high-revving showroom-spec machine needed a deft combination of aggression and finesse. In her first season in the British Rally Championship, Natalie finished 2 nd in the Ladies Cup, 3 rd in the N3 class and 4 th in the Junior category.

In 1998, Natalie gained a diploma in Advertising and Marketing at St. James's College, London, whilst moving from a Gp N to a more powerful Gp A Honda Civic Vti in which to contest the British Rally Championship. The Honda still had too many limitations for Natalie, and before the end of the season she had replaced the front-wheel drive car with an even more powerful four-wheel drive Mitsubishi.

The all-traction Gp N Lancer immediately suited her driving style and Natalie's confidence quickly grew as the car's famous reliability allowed her to drive harder than ever. It matched Natalie's description of what a rally car should perform like perfectly,

and in it she made her World Rally Championship debut on the 1998 Rally GB. Having only contested one event, the Bulldog Rally, in the Mitsubishi beforehand, Natalie still finished Britain's round of the World Rally Championship in 38 th position overall, 11 th in Gp N and 2 nd lady driver.

In 1999 Natalie made her overseas World Championship debut on the Swedish Rally, and also contested many events in the UK . This included finishing 17 th overall on the Scottish Int. Rally and recording a top 10 result on the Mid-Wales Rally. The season was completed with a Ladies Cup winning performance on the Rally GB. Even for somebody who is undoubtedly her harshest critic, even Natalie has to admit 1999 was a good season!

The new Millennium saw Natalie undertake a great number of events - starting with the Arctic Rally in Finland . Temperatures have been known to drop as low as -50°C on the world's coldest rally, but Natalie warmed the hearts of the locals with a stunning drive. Having started 93 rd car on the road, Natalie had overtaken over half the cars in front of her when the headgasket on her Mitsubishi blew. She nursed the car through the final stage to finish 47 th - and together with her female co-driver became the first all-woman crew to complete the hazardous event in over three decades.

Page 1 of 2 | next >