Inspiring Stories: A chat with Lucy Gould
In our sport, drivers tend to be the stars of the weekend. But little is said about the fact that behind every successful race car is a team of engineers and mechanics who work tirelessly. I had the opportunity to talk to Lucy Gould, a 19-year-old mechanic from Dorset, UK, to learn about her story as a mechanic for Rodin Motorsport.
A Family Legacy in Motorsport
Since Lucy can remember, motorsport has been an important part of her life. With a grandfather who built and raced his own cars at the club level, Lucy grew up surrounded by the excitement of the sport. "As a child, I enjoyed watching my grandfather work in the garage and on the track," recalls Lucy. From that moment, she knew she wanted to be involved in motorsport, and mechanics seemed like a good starting point.
Being a mechanic is no easy task. Lucy mentions that one of the most challenging aspects of her job is the unsociable hours, especially during competitions. "It's also quite challenging when you're under time pressure," she says. But these challenges are rewarded when the team achieves good results on the track. "At the end of the day, it's all worth it when you see the car performing well."
For everyone, the best part is the victories, and for Lucy, one of the most memorable moments was her team's first win in Spanish F4 earlier this year in Jarama. "All the hard work and long hours pay off, and it gives the team a great boost," she shares enthusiastically. She also highlights her experience at the last round of Extreme E in Chile in 2023, an opportunity that allowed her to explore a new country and continent and work in a championship she had never imagined participating in.
Lucy enjoys every aspect of working on race cars, especially the constant learning opportunities. "I'm always learning something new, and I love having the chance to work on different cars," she explains. This thirst for knowledge drives her to continually expand her skills and seek new experiences.
Despite the challenges, Lucy feels fortunate to work in an extremely supportive team, where she has always been treated with respect. "I feel very grateful to be part of a team that supports me where my gender makes no difference," she affirms.
To date, Lucy has worked in Spanish F4, the F1 Academy, and one round of Extreme E. Although she typically works on Formula 4 specification cars, she has also had the opportunity to work on various other specifications. She has collaborated with up-and-coming drivers like Alex Ninovic, Jess Edgar, and Abbi Pulling.
Like many in the field, Lucy's dream is to reach Formula 1 and work as a mechanic. As her career progresses, she aims to try different roles and continue expanding her knowledge. "All I know is that I see myself working in motorsport for the foreseeable future."
Regarding her studies, Lucy studied at the National College for Motorsport, starting in September 2022. Although she was due to finish in June the following year, a unique opportunity took her to the Rodin Motorsport factory in October 2022 for a week of work experience with their F3 team. At the end of that week, she was offered a job with the Spanish F4 team, which she immediately accepted.
"I couldn't recommend the college more to young people looking to get into motorsport as mechanics," she comments. Despite not finishing her course, Lucy has no regrets about learning on the job. "I was very lucky to work with such experienced people at Rodin and develop my knowledge and skills while attending races and tests with the team," she concludes.
Special thanks to Lucy for giving me this opportunity.
Interview made by Camila Albornoz
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