Nottingham Trent University student set to represent England in Dubai racing competition

A Nottingham Trent University (NTU) student will be heading to Dubai to represent England after qualifying for a racing competition, moving her from karting to race cars.

Alicia Barrett from Southwell is entering her final year of studying zoo biology at NTU, and in May she will head to Dubai for the Formula Woman Nation Cup. A step up from her current Radical SR3 racing cars.

Not only is she in her final year of university and an aspiring racing driver, she’s also a key member of NTSU’s Motorsports Society taking up their Social Secretary role and being a racer and mechanic on their teams.

It is her first time qualifying after narrowly missing out on the competition two years ago.

This year she qualified fifth fastest out of 50 drivers, and will now represent England as one of the 38 women racing in the cup this may.

Alicia told ITV: “It’s been very very, busy. I have a dissertation due in a month’s time which is very full-on, but it’s all very fulfilling, I enjoy it.”

She hopes that performing well in the cup will promote her racing career to other motorsport teams and then she’ll be able to move to more senior racing categories.

Alicia also expressed her want to get into F1 Academy, its the most recent and popular advance in motorsport for women. They use Formula 4-level cars and race at the same tracks as some Formula 1 races.

The championship gives the season winner a spot in GB3 to help progress their career. Last season’s champion, Abbi Pulling will start her first race at the end of April at Silverstone Race Circuit.

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When talking about the future of women’s racing, Alicia thinks there is a way to go before seeing a female Formula 1 driver. She said she hopes to see it in her lifetime because she believes the racing world is moving in the right direction for this to happen.

Feature image via Motorsport UK YouTube