What if any advantages did you notice being a woman in the
largely male dominated sport?
I’m very proud to be a woman in this sport, but for me this issue
is not so important. I believe that we’re all the same when we put
on our helmets. Physically it’s challenging racing in F1, but I don’t
feel I have a problem here. However, stepping up the physical
training has made me more robust and aggressive as a driver.
The positive thing for me is to be able to be a role model for
other women. It’s hard to see yourself as a role model, but seeing
the powerboat in Norway now with a lot of women in smaller
classes makes me very proud. Also, from a media and sponsors
perspective, it can be to my advantage being one of the very few
women. Being an outside dark horse makes it a bit more special.
However, it’s important for me not to use this fact in the wrong
way. There are a lot of women in motor sport that seem to be
there just to feel special. I’m racing to win, nothing else!
How did you come to the UIM F1H2O series?
In the 2007 season I was racing in a F2 team with Jonas
Andersson as a teammanager. With a big help from him and my
sponsors we managed to race a few F1 races at the end of that
year. After that, racing in F1 has been a drug to me and I have
been racing F1 ever since.
What have been the hardest things you’ve had to learn to do in
F1?
The hardest thing in F1 is to understand that winning is not
easy and that many things can go wrong. I’ve destroyed a lot
of engines and parts and had many setbacks. Being a private
team and finding all the sponsors myself, it’s sometimes very
hard to watch the state sponsored teams. Money is an issue in
this sport, but by thinking about it, you lose. We have to do what
we can with what we have and do everything to get to the next
level. There are no excuses in F1 powerboating.
What one thing do you feel you need to work on the most to
become a consistent challenger for a victory?
Sponsorship and better equipment. I’ve proven that I as a driver
can be up there in the top, but we needmore speed and reliability.
That costs money and time. I have also really stepped up my
physical training and feel more determined than ever.
What are your strength’s as a driver?
My biggest strength as a driver is that I never give up. I will fight
till the last lap and I can take a lot of beating both physically and
mentally.
How does being successful in the entertainment business tie
into being successful in powerboat racing?
Music and racing is my life and I feel very privileged to be able to
work with both of my hobbies. I have a lot of concerts and gigs
during the years but the racing has to come first. I’m sure that I
could have been able to take my music a step further had I not
been racing. It’s not easy always to find time and energy. :riting
and recording music requires a free mind and spirit and is not
easily united with being an athlete. However, I am very happy to
be able to perform every week in front of big crowds and I feel
very much alive when I sing. Sometimes it’s hard to say what
makes me more complete. So, I choose not to put one over the
other.
“Writing and recording music requires
a free mind and spirit and is not
easily united with being an athlete.”
H20 MAGAZINE - MARCH 2014 | 15
h2oracing.net
