Kayls Cole Racing

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Kayleigh Cole (22) from Dripsey, Co Cork, did not follow the traditional path into motorsport. Most drivers start karting at six or seven years old. She found her way to it at 13, after years of trying and failing to fall in love with other sports. School clubs, hurling, football. None of it stuck. She laughs about it now. 'I used to actually run away from the ball rather than trying to catch it.'

She got her first go-kart for Christmas 2016. By 2018, she had earned the Junior Driver of the Year award in Junior Karting. By 2019, she had secured two karting championship titles, finished third in the All-Irelands, and earned the Pride of Ireland Award in the UK in recognition of her success.

'I never thought I’d be sitting where I am now, in front of potential sponsors that are companies that I couldn’t imagine,' she says. 'This is like any little girl’s dream. Looking back now, I think that little girl would be very proud.'

With the GB4 season approaching, Cole is ready. The only thing standing between her and the grid is money. She has gone from a budget of roughly €20,000 in karting, family-backed, kept lean, to needing approximately €200,000 to race at an international level.

She also had to make a decision that no young Irish athlete should have to make. To pursue her career seriously, she left Ireland. 'I had to make the move to the UK, otherwise I don’t think I’d be getting the opportunities I’m getting now.'

Cole does not point fingers. But she asks, plainly, why Irish motorsport has been left behind. “There’s not a massive exposure there to say, guys, there’s a guy [Alex Dunne] here on the borderline of making Formula 1.'

'There are so many opportunities for drivers to become massive for Ireland, represent Ireland on a massive stage, but I think the lack of support is stopping drivers from doing that in Ireland'