Amanda Stretton

Amanda Stretton (née Cohn; 24 July 1973, London) is an English female racing driver and motoring journalist.

Biography

The daughter of British automobile collector and historic racer Terry Cohn, she grew up in London and was educated at New Hall School in Essex. At age 13, she raced Motocross bikes.^[1]

In 2001 became the first ever female driver to compete in the ASCAR Mintex Cup where she finished in 6th place. In 2003, she entered the first ever female team in the British GT Championships, and was the first British female to race in the FIA Championships. In September 2004 she became the first British woman to win an international long distance event at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, beating her husband, a competitor. In 2006 she competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.^[2]

Media career

Stretton was invited on to a television show to debate the proposal that "Women can't drive or race", and in light of her feisty and intellectual defence of women as drivers and her actual track record, was offered a position with Channel 4 to co-present their motorsports coverage under the title "Motorsport on 4" which included the British Formula 3, GT, MGF and Rally Championships, as well as the Anglo-American Stock Car Racing series and UK Supercross. She has also presented Channel 4’s Driven.

After Channel 4 lost the television rights to the majority of their motorsports events, Stretton presented most of the events for the new rights holders including Sky Sports, EuroSport, and Silverstone TV; and is one of the radio commentators for the American and European Le Mans Series. She also picked up presentation on non-motorsports events for the Travel Channel and NOW.com.

Stretton now presents Five's Dream Machine series, in which classic cars are restored or kit cars which replicate them are built; as well as UK Horror Homes.^[3] With Murray Walker she co-presents ITV1's coverage of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Away from the track, she presents "Wrecks to Riches" for Discovery Home & Leisure, is a freelance journalist and writes for a range of newspaper columns and specialist motoring titles.

Personal life

Having been born into a motor racing family, she was first married to Martin Stretton, and after they divorced to Bob Berridge, with whom she has two children. Her hobbies include cooking.^[1]

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
2008	Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport	Bob Berridge Gareth Evans	Lola B06/10-AER	LMP1	87	DNF	DNF

References