Birthdate: 31 May
Lives: Penarth, South Wales, UK
Claire was born in Cardiff, South Wales and currently lives in the small seaside town of Penarth, just outside the capital city. She is 35 years old and finished her academic education with a BSc. Hons and Masters Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. She now has a career heading the corporate department for the Vale of Glamorgan Local Health Board, although her ambition is to work with a rally/race team.
Claire is no stranger to horsepower – starting out with the real thing and riding horses from the age of 4 before moving onto cars in the 1990s. This move was no surprise - she was brought up in a rallying environment, with her father Terry running the Howells Garages Austin Rover Rally Team in the 1970s and 80s. She was voted the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ by her local motor club in 1997, and hasn’t looked back since!
Since starting her motorsport career, Claire has worked up through the ranks taking both the Welsh Ladies Rally Title and Speed Title and a rally championship Group N victory along the way. The highs have been matched with the lows – a high-speed accident on the notorious Belgian tarmac rally stages in 2001 served as a painful reminder of the dangers of motorsport - and a lack of budget in 2006 resulting in a year away from the driver’s seat.
Last year saw the build and testing of a new Subaru Impreza rallycar and 2008 sees a return to competition……..keep an eye on the website to see how the year develops!
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