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British pilot is the first female quadriplegic racing driver ever

By Eleonora Pilastro
Published

Nathalie McGloin (UK) is the first female quadriplegic racing driver in the world and, as if that wasn’t impressive enough, she is also a public speaker and an inspiration.

There is truly no limit to what Nathalie can explore and achieve, once she sets her mind to it. 

Now an accomplished pilot since 2015, before her accident Nathalie wanted to become a solicitor.

“The ambition to be a solicitor was replaced with the ambition to be self-sufficient and strong,” she says.

In university, she started playing Rugby with Paralympic aspirations. 

Little did she know that her future would involve being a profession racing driver and record breaker. 

YT

Nathalie was involved in a car accident when she was young that left her paralyzed. 

“I broke my neck, which means I’m paralyzed from the chest down,” Nathalie explains. 

“My fingers don’t work properly, and I have limited triceps function as well.”

But in motorsport, there are no separate categories for female or disabled drivers, and Nathalie has managed to made a name for herself in a field historically dominated by white, able-bodied men.

"Being strong helps, but it's not a 'strength for strength' or a 'stamina for stamina' challenge like you would experience in other sports. That’s why you can have that parity across the board."

Meet Nathalie McGloin: winner, speaker, racing champion, record-holder. Inspiration.

 

During her time at university, Nathalie truly found herself.

That time became an opportunity for her to prove to herself that she could still get her degree and be independent. 

She started playing rugby during this time, and aspired to compete in the Games. 

"It was my life, that’s what I was doing for four-five days a week."

However, in 2012, an injury forced Nathalie into an unexpected setback that caused her to stop for nine months.

"When I went back to rugby, I just didn’t have the same passion for it."

"One day, one of my rugby teammates told me that his sportscar was faster than mine."

That led to a day spent on a track, racing as fast as they dared.

Although Nathalie lost the bet, revealed with a laugh during the interview, that experience opened the door for another big passion of hers and that would shape her life and success.

During her forced rest from the rugby field, cars became a big part of her life and a hobby she loved to dedicate time to. 

In 2015, Nathalie became the first female quadriplegic pilot ever to achieve a racing license, but that is far from the end of her accomplishments.

That was, in fact, only the beginning.

Today Nathalie juggles many commitments other than driving: she is an ambassador for equality, the president of the FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission, and a public speaker. 

Thriving on adrenaline and proving time and again that she can - and will - reach all her goals, Nathalie is a inspiration.

Be it at the steering wheel of a fast car or on a stage, she has proven that, in motorsport, gender and disability do not represent insurmountable barriers.

We can't wait to see the records she might break next.

 Find Nathalie's story and accomplishments inside the new Guinness World Records 2023 book, out now.



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