Lisa Billard, a 16-year-old French driver, competes in F1 Academy races at speeds up to 155mph, yet she hasn't passed her driving test. She is currently learning to drive a regular car, a Renault Clio, with a strict instructor who knows she's a racing driver.
Strict instructor and new challenges
“I've done my first lesson driving on the road and it was really strange as you have to drive at 30mph,” Lisa laughed. “My driving instructor knows I am a racing driver, so he is very strict with me when it comes to the speed.”
Lisa drives in Formula 4, where her car reaches top speeds of 155mph. She said: “I am learning new things because it's a manual so it's different to Formula 4 and all the rules are different. There is no flag and you have to stop at the traffic lights.”
From go-karting to F1 Academy
Originally from Normandy, France, Lisa's passion for motorsports began at seven when she started go-karting with her dad. Standing out as a young girl in a male-dominated sport was difficult. “The boys were a lot more aggressive with me on the track because they didn't want to have a girl in front of them,” she told Daily Mirror.
Last year, she became the youngest-ever Wild Card driver for Round 6 of the F1 Academy season in Singapore. The F1 Academy is an all-women driving school for drivers aged 16 to 25.
“It's really good [in the academy] to have other girls who are doing the same thing as me,” Lisa said. “We are all chasing the same role and it feels like a family. We understand each other and [know how] difficult [the] path [can be] for a girl.”
Goal to reach Formula 1
Her goal is to break into Formula 1, which currently has no female drivers on the starting grid. “My goal is one day to become a Formula One driver, and not only to just do it as a girl, but to be one of the best drivers in the world,” she said.
“People assume we just want to go fast, but the goal is to be the best on the track.”
Physical demands of racing
When she isn't driving or training in a simulator, Lisa stays fit through rock climbing. During a race weekend, cockpit temperatures can peak between 50°C and 60°C due to engine heat, hot asphalt, and thick fireproof suits. Drivers can lose up to four litres of fluid over a single race weekend.
“Losing that much water means I am quite sweaty after a race,” Lisa said. “You need to make sure you are very hydrated before to make sure you have enough endurance. Being sponsored by Gatorade works well for this as they always help me keep well-hydrated and I have a specialist tracking everything.”
