At just 17 years old, British-Canadian racing driver Chloe Chong is already making waves in the world of motorsport. Her passion for racing began at the age of six, sparked by watching Formula 1 races with her father. This shared love for the sport led her to pursue go-karting at the legendary Buckmore Park, a track known for nurturing talents like Lewis Hamilton, one of Chloe’s biggest inspirations.
With a rich cultural background and a strong focus on diversity, Chloe takes great pride in her Chinese heritage, using her platform to inspire young women and individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue their racing dreams. Now, Chloe is ready to take the wheel in the Rodin Motorsport F1 Academy Team for Charlotte Tilbury, as she continues to break barriers and showcase her talents on the track. She is racing in Montreal at the the F1 and F1 Academy Canadian Grand Prix from today until June 15th.
We had a chance to ask Chloe more about her passion for F1 racing, what she hopes to bring to the sport as a young woman and what it means to her to have the backing of her sponsor, makeup maven, Charlotte Tilbury. Here is what she had to say:
You started racing at such a young age, inspired by Formula 1 and your father. Can you tell us more about that moment when you knew motorsport was your passion, and how you took the first steps to make it a reality?
A driver knows that motorsport is their passion straight away when they have their first ride in a go-kart, and I think that stands true for me. Just driving, and having the feeling of the wind going past you, having the track to yourself and being in control of such a powerful vehicle made it really cool for me. To make it a reality, we explored whatever we could figure out – we spoke to people on the paddock, figured out the next steps to take, and what races I could do since there are loads of options.
To be honest, if it weren’t for the help of so many friendly people on the go-karting paddock, I don’t think we would have gotten this far. It was just me and my dad sorting this out, and being very new to the sport, it was definitely a bit daunting, but with the help of these people, it made this journey possible.
What has the experience been like racing in the all-female F1 Academy series, and how do you see this platform helping to change the narrative around women in motorsport?
It’s been super helpful to be a part of F1 Academy, especially to continue my journey in my sport and to use it as a launchpad to take sponsors and build that skillset that you need to become a professional driver these days. – there is a lot of pressure with handling media commitments and having a lot of eyeballs on you. It’s been helpful for me from that point of view, but it also helps inspire the younger generation and that’s something that I’ve been about for a really long time.
Racing and go-karts in the UK, you’d be maybe one of two girls out of 30 drivers in the British Championships to race, and it would feel a bit lonely out there. You may get some judgmental comments or looks just because you’re a female, and I think being able to change that narrative and make it a movement to bring girls into the sport and to show the world the talent that girls have makes Formula 1 Academy a really powerful tool for us to use.
You’re an active voice for diversity and inclusion in motorsport, especially for young women aspiring to race. What message do you want to send to the next generation of racers who may be watching your journey?
I would say to find the right people to support you, and they’ll know what’s right for you and guide you really well. This year, finding the right people to support me has made a big difference in my racing. I would also say to trust yourself and know that it is about you – it may seem self-centered – but it is your career and you have the full capacity to make your own decisions and trust your instincts. If you’re passionate about it, you’re doing something right.
Your racing suit features Charlotte Tilbury’s empowering mantra, “Makeup Your Destiny.” How does this message resonate with you, and how do you incorporate empowerment into your journey as a female athlete in motorsport?
I’m insanely proud to carry the mantra “Makeup Your Destiny” on my suit. Not only because I’m representing such a cool brand with Charlotte Tilbury, but also because it’s another message that I can give to young racers. It represents what I’m all about – being in control of your destiny, dreaming on, and fighting hard to get there. It makes me really happy to be able to carry that on my suit.
In addition to racing, you have a variety of personal interests, from fashion to music. How do you balance these passions with your intense training and competition schedule, and how do they influence your life on and off the track?
I do have a lot of passions off the racetrack. I always say that motorsport is my number one priority, but a lot of the time it can take up your life and at times it can become overwhelming in some places. I wouldn’t say it’s stressful to balance these passions, but instead it’s a good outlet to take my mind off the racing; I think as an athlete, you need to do that.
I’ve gotten really into cycling, I really love it and I’ve set myself some goals to complete a really long mountainous rise in the Alps this summer. In some ways, I regret it, but having something else to focus on and another goal to work on apart from the racing, especially when we have long gaps between the races helps me reset. When I go back to the next round of F1 Academy, it helps me focus even harder. Sometimes, when you’re 24/7 thinking about motorsport, you lose your attention to detail in some things. It’s less of a burden, and more of a necessity to use it at an outlet.
Your presence on platforms like Instagram allows you to connect with fans and share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your life. How has social media influenced your relationship with your supporters, and what do you hope they take away from your content?
Social Media is definitely something that you’ve got to get used to if you want to make a career in motorsport; being able to use your platform to attract sponsors and to allow you to learn that you have support from around the world and not only from your own country. It feels quite amazing to think about how I have about 100k followers on Instagram and nearly 80k on Tik Tok, and to just think about 180k people…I can’t even picture that.
It’s a special feeling for me, and I can’t quite vocalize how much it means to me to have this many people supporting me from around the world. It definitely feels special and is helping me pursue my dreams, to have their support through the good and bad times. There are some really lovely people in the world, and I can’t thank them enough.
