I recently interviewed the Canadian 20 year old, Claire Elliot. I DMed some karting and F4 drivers, she is the only one who got back to me so far. I was thinking about starting this to bring more attention because karting is truly where it all starts. Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and all other champions had to start somewhere and they couldn’t have made it without a lot of support. So hopefully this at least helps even if it’s a tiny bit. But anyways here’s the interview:
Aadhya: What first sparked your interest for go-karting, and how did you get started?
Claire: I was first interested in karting from my dad. He was a stock car racer in his 20s. He did asphalt stock cars, and he wanted to get me into it. I started when I was 12 in an arriving drive program they supply the karts mechanics and helmets. The best way to describe it. It’s a step up from public go karts. They go a bit faster but not close to as fast as a four stroke kart goes. I fell in love soon after.
Aadhya: Do you have a message to young girls out there? Because I know it’s difficult as a female in a male dominated sport.
Claire: One message that I would tell anyone that wants to get into motorsports. Especially younger girls. Is to be confident and if guys can do it, so can you. You can do absolutely anything you put your mind to. It’s all about your mindset at the end of the day.
Aadhya: What is your ultimate goal?
Claire: My ultimate goal in racing is to promote and work with businesses the best that I can. Another goal that I have was, I would love to be able to race in the states or test out a radical car or 2 stroke kart.
Aadhya: How would you describe your racing style?
Claire: I would describe my racing style as very cautious. At the beginning of races, I usually let off a little bit from the rest of the group just in case there’s any crashes so that my kart doesn’t end up in the crash.
Aadhya: What goes through your mind when the lights go out?
Claire: I usually try to keep my mind as blank as possible and go into more like a robot state where I try not to think about anything, but getting to the next corner. I always try to look ahead at the next corner.
Aadhya: Do you have an F1 driver you look up to and why?
Claire: I look up to Kimi Antonelli for always having a positive attitude on and off the track. Racing is all about having fun and I think he’s a great example of that. At the end of the day, I think the most important thing is to make sure that you had a good time even if you didn’t have a good race at least try to enjoy your day at the track.
Aadhya: What does your life look like off the track?
Claire: Off the track I am a canvasser for Gerry’s Roofing and Siding and i’m a student studying and marketing at Mohawk College. my days usually consist of working at the track for Gerry’s and also being a college student along with trying to keep up with racing and social media.
Thoughts
Claire’s mindset is so refreshing and I’m so here for it. In a sport where everyone tries to act like a bulletproof, hearing her talk about turning into a “robot” when the lights go out is just cool. But my favorite part is how honest she is about her racing style. We’re so used to hearing drivers talk about being aggressive, so hearing her admit she plays it cautious at the start is a perspective you don’t get often.
Off the track shes an extremely busy and hardworking woman. She also mentioned looking up to Kimi Antonelli for keeping things fun, and I completely agree with her. When drivers actually show personality and enjoy the weekend, it makes the sport so much better for the fans watching and even for the drivers and overall environment in the Paddock. Claire is proof that the talent at the bottom of the ladder should get just as much respect as the drivers at the very top.
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