Amanda Stretton

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

Biography

The daughter of British automobile collector and historic racer Terry Cohn, Stretton grew up in London. Aged 13 she raced Motocross bikes, and aged 18 she competed on both the national and international historic cars circuits, earning "Best Newcomer" at the Classic and Sportscar Awards.

In 2001 became the first ever female driver to compete in the ASCAR Mintex Cup where she finished 6th. 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 - also beating fellow competitor, her husband.

In 2006 she was the first British woman to compete in the 24 heures du Mans race [ [http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22750-1731178,00.html Super mum driven to show she has Le Mans credentials - Times Online ] ]

Away from the track, Stretton works alongside husband Bob Berridge to oversee the commercial aspects of the two-car team that operates under the combined Chamberlain-Synergy banner, which compete in the Le Mans P2 series.

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 Channel4 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." [ [http://www.womenspeakers.co.uk/speakerdetail.asp?speakerid=89 Women Speakers - Speaker Detail ] ] 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 Mia (born 2003) and Marcus (born 2004).

Her hobbies include cooking [ [http://www.womanmotorist.com/index.php/news/main/2892/event=view Amanda Stretton's Tall Racing Mountains ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.amandastretton.co.uk Personal website]
* [http://www.historicracing.com/search_female.cfm?start=21&page_no=2&otd=5440&orderType=name Bio at HistoricRacing.com]
* [http://www.racerchicks.com/racers/stretton.html Bio at RacerChicks.com]