Emily to race in Asia in her first ever International F4 Race

Richardson Racing Team

Richardson Racing Team Teenage racing driver, Emily Linscott from Basildon, Essex, will be racing a Formula 4 car for the first time ever next weekend, not in her native England, but 6000 miles away in Asia.

The youngster got a call from the F4 South East Asia organisers mid-October offering her the chance to race the last three rounds of the F4SEA Championship, which included one round in Thailand, and two in Malaysia. Due to prior commitments and the fact that she didn’t have the right licence, she was unable to make the race in Buriram, Thailand, now the final round in Sepang, which clashes with her first mock exams.

She and her management team agreed that this was an opportunity not to be missed, so set about raising the sponsorship to be allow her to compete. With the help of an existing sponsor, GoBobby.UK, a Website Hosting and Domain Registration business, she was able to secure the drive, just two days before she had to fly out.

Emily said, “I couldn’t believe I’d been offered this amazing chance to race in my first ever international race, and in an F4 cat too, it’s crazy! I had a major decision to make as racing abroad meant upgrading my race licence, so I couldn’t then race in the Ginetta Junior class I raced all season, but it’s F4 I really want to pursue next season, so I took the plunge.”

Emily’s father, Mark, mentioned the logistical challenges of their decision, “once Em had made her decision, the work started in earnest. Not only did we have to find the financial element of the deal, but also get her new licence sorted too. Not so easy. Because she’s still 15, she cannot have an international race licence, so we had to go back to her kart licence, get her results from when she karted last year and send them to the governing body to upgrade that, which also included having eye test and a full medial, submitting these results and forms along with the respective fees thus allowing us to upgrade her race licence to and F4 Nat A, meaning she can race abroad in F4 only until she reaches 16. On her birthday, she’ll be eligible for full international licence to drive almost anything, anywhere in the world!”

Her schedule meant that she flew to Malaysia last Saturday and arrived Sunday night. She then had media duties the next day and walking the world famous Sepang F1 circuit, on which she will race, to get acquainted with the nuances on the track layout; a very fast and technical circuit that will see her reach speeds in excess of 145mph in blistering heat and unrelenting humidity.

“I’m treating this as my winter testing since I can’t get out in an F4 car in the UK before the testing ban comes in. It’ll be only my second drive of an F4 car, the first being a test in August at Angles in a British F4 spec car, quite different to the SEA car, so there’s plenty to learn. I honestly can’t wait to get behind the wheel and race the other 18 drivers on the grid, it’s going to be tough, but I’m up for it” said the gutsy teen.

Emily’s school, St Clere’s in Stamford Le Hope, Essex, have allowed her to take the week off since it’s such an important career move for her, but she’s got to work for it. The youngster has packed her books and homework she’s been given and will be keeping up with her lessons whilst she’s in Asia. She said, “the flights are 14 hours long, so I’ll be doing my school work on the plane and at the hotel after testing, it’s a deal I’ve done with the school which I’m very happy about, I’m not about to drop my grades now! I’m so grateful to them, and everyone involved, for allowing me to take this opportunity. I’ve also got to say a big thank you to my management team, my parents and my fans too for working so hard to get me here, I’m honestly blown away.”

It’s an amazing level of progression for this affable young lady racer, in just two years, she’s gone from starting to race in hire karts at Brentwood, to becoming an International Formula 4 Racing Driver, racing half way across the world. Truly inspirational!

To prove beyond doubt that this youngster is a truly talented athlete, she’s been nominated and shortlisted for several awards, one of which has her against the current, and five times, world F1 Champion, Lewis Hamilton. Just last week, at the Active Basildon awards ceremony, she won top honours, becoming their Young Sports Personality of the Year; yet another award to go in to the ever-burgeoning trophy cabinet.

We wish her well in Asia and in her future F4 racing in 2019.

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