Lindsay Rice - Get To Know Her

Q & A with race car driver Lindsay Rice.

Lindsay, how did you get into racing?

I got into racing much differently than most drivers I know.

At a young age, I knew that I loved cars - I had been introduced to this world by my father, who always had a love for nice cars.. and he got this passion from my grandfather.

Although we loved them, my family was not necessarily into motorsport, so I didn't have exposure to this world at all. I took it into my own hands when I was nearly 20 years old and started my research on what I could do to get into racing.

Over the next 3 years I volunteered with a team, a racing organization, I networked, and I was able to create a platform to build on to excel my competitive motorsport career. The plan was to get a car and sponsors together to begin my competitive sport - and at the end of year 3, the plan was to race.

This is exactly what I did for my inaugural season, with the help of some truly amazing people. Lucky girl I am.

Did you always know that you wanted to drive race cars?

I really didn't. Like I said, I knew I loved cars but I had no idea there was a world of racing out there until I was around 12 or 13 maybe.

The closest I got to driving a race car until then was my battery powered mini-Jeep, which I would drive with my sister Carly and my cousins in the passenger seat. We probably maxed out at around 6km/h. It was thrilling. Ha.

But, even when I started to learn more about racing at 13, I still didn't think it was possible for me to become a part of this world. It seemed very distant to me, especially as a Canadian and as a female.

When I turned 15 my father let me get behind the wheel of a street car and I never looked back. This was the moment I knew that I loved the speed, the control, the handling. Mostly, the adrenaline. It was my perfection.

I knew that one day I’d get into racing - no matter what it took - it was just too natural for me, and I was insanely passionate about being behind the wheel from that point on.

Tell us a bit about your background.

I am from Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto in Canada. My dad is a mix of English/Irish/Western European (a bit of a mutt, really!) and my mother's family is Dutch. This is why I like to cheer for Max Verstappen :)

I grew up in a town called Lorne Park and had a really great childhood. I am the youngest, so my sister blazed the trail for me to have life a little easier than she did - funny how that works (but not by too much).

I had a lot of good friends, good family, and when I was 16 I got my first car - a 2008 Mustang with Pony Package.

I would honestly drive that car all day, all night. My friends and I would drive around from the minute school let out until we had to go home for the night. It was my favourite place, really.

If you talk to anyone in my high school they will remember this car - ha - it was a beautiful, loud beast. I had lowered it, I put on some clean Rotiform wheels, and I had an 8" subwoofer in the back. I thought I was really, really cool.

....and I still think that I was.

What are your aspirations in your racing career?

After having great success since 2016, I think that the sky is the limit. I just want to race. Every day, every night, whenever I can.

My more immediate aspirations would bring me back into factory GT cars. I've been in Porsche and Audi factory cars and they are pure performance, the ultimate race cars that I have driven. A Le Mans race in the future would be pretty cool.

In the long run, I see myself doing endurance racing and possible extending my career into different categories of race cars. I think this is the best way to continue to improve my skills.

What was your biggest moment in your racing career so far?

My biggest moment - hm.. - I think it is honestly every single time I am out there. I can't describe the happiness I get when I am behind the wheel. And I continue to improve each and every time I am in the car. This is huge for me.

I get most thrill when I am pushing my race car into corners at high speeds.. feeling every inch of movement of the car underneath my seat. These are my moments - all of them.

More specific please, Lindsay!

Ok, ok - if I have to be specific.. I will always remember a battle I had with another car during the Race Ontario Championship in 2016 in GT3 category. This isn't my biggest 'moment', but it was definitely the most fun.

It was my first season racing and my first ever endurance race. I had another car on my tail, and we battled for about 1 hour straight - back and forth, neck to neck, teeth to teeth. I passed, he passed. We had a few bumps and scratches but it was the most respectful, challenging, rewarding race in my career so far. I absolutely love having a good battle in a race. OH ya, I also came out in front of him and took 2nd place :)

Let us know your past times, outside of being in a car.

I am a philanthropist, a socialite, a dog lover, I have an eye for interior design (thanks to my mother), I absolutely love to travel, I love sharks, marine life, and music. And sometimes I really enjoy having a good night in and re-charging my batteries.

Oh one more thing.. I absolutely love steak - I could always have a juicy rib-eye. And I really love my family. I’d do anything for them and I spend a lot of time with them.

If you could drive any track in the world, what would it be?

Yas Marina. 100%

What do you think about the W series, the all-female racing series that begins in 2019?

To be honest - I think it is pretty cool. I know that there are a lot of females who are interested in the series so this is a great platform for them. It is a way to get more professional level female racers some seat time, in high performance Formula cars.

Do you think you would ever race in the W series?

I do not have any plans to make a move to a series like this, however, you never know what may happen. My career so far has been perfect - and this has involved me competing amongst the boys. I have raced side by side with them, I have beat them, and more importantly, I have never felt discriminated against by any male at the race track so I am OK with where I am.

What do you like most about the racing you do?

Aside from driving, it is my motorsport family.

Racing has brought so many people into my life who I cherish very much. This goes for my team, my fans, the series workers, and my sponsors. I really feel so lucky to have these people supporting me.

To name a few really important people: Bestline Auto Tech (George Bourque and Chris Goessl - they have been by my side for every race - the good and the bad). Marco Cirone, my support since day one and my first ever racing coach. Total Canada - they have believed in my racing for the majority of my racing career now and they also support a few females in Canada racing - I am truly honoured to have partners like them. Rebecca Cafe and her mom Joyce - they were fans in the stands I met during an autograph session, who are now part of my actual family. Rebecca is interested in possibly racing one day, and I hope that I can help her on this journey.

Finally - my actual family. My mom has been at the race track for every single race and has been an amazing support. And my father has believed in my dream since day one, even though sometimes he thinks I’m crazy. And my sister Carly - she has always, always supported me and I am truly blessed to call my sister my best friend. She is my complete opposite, but she gets me and my obsession with racing and she helps me often with the behind-the-scenes work.

How can other drivers get into the motorsport world?

Research, volunteer, shadow, learn. Repeat.

Get yourself out there.

Any advice for aspiring racers?

My advice here can be applicable to any of your passions - so everyone, ready carefully :)

Make a plan, keep your head up, and immerse yourself in whatever it is you love to do.

Never let anyone tell you no. If they do, you may have to leave them behind.

Work every day, every night, and do not stop until you reach your goal and do what you love in life. This is so important.. Do what you LOVE in life.

And remember - Things can change so fast, so cherish it once you get there. Here is a quote I really love to live by : “Remember when you wanted what you have now?”

Chase your everything. Cherish your everything.

Where can we follow more of your racing?

I'd love to interact with you and answer any of your questions! You can follow me on Instagram - which is where I am most active - at @riceracing. I also have a Twitter account, @riceracingTO and a Facebook page, @lindsayriceofficial. Make sure to continue to follow Lindsay Rice news on my website (www.riceracing.ca) as this is where I keep all of the newest releases about my race season, my race cars, testing, events, and more.