A TEENAGE racing driver has been nominated for sports woman of the year.

Emily Linscott, 17, is in the running for Sunday Times Sports Women of the Year Awards in the "Young Inspiration Award" category.

The Langdon Hills youngster, who went to school in Stanford le Hope, has gone from strength to strength in her racing career so far, and has still been competing in the USA throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Emily is in the running against three other sportswomen - a football player and coach and a hockey player.

In her bio on the awards shortlist, the Sunday Times said: "During lockdown, 17-year-old racing driver Emily Linscott got the opportunity to travel to America to compete.

"Despite the risks posed by the pandemic, the young driver took eight top-10 places in competitions, including fourth place at Autobahn, Illinois and setting a new lap record at Nola Motorsports Park in Louisiana.

"She also holds a lap record at NCM Motorsports Park in Kentucky from last year.

"She is mentored by British Indycar driver Pippa Mann."

Emily said: ”I didn’t know what to say, which is quite unusual for me, I was so shocked but so happy too, how cool is that.

"This year has been a strange and difficult one everyone but when the President of the United States banned all flights from the UK and Europe into America, I was devastated, I honestly thought I’d not get to race at all this year. 

"After missing the first three races at the circuit I own the lap record at, I felt awful, I wasn’t in a good place!

"But, with a lot of hard work from myself, my amazing mentor, Pippa Mann, and too many other fantastic people to mention, I eventually got the news I could fly to America as part of an Elite Athlete programme during lockdown.

"Two days after getting that text, I was on the plane. I knew it would be tough being away from my parents for four months, as I’d never been away from them for longer than a week before, but I had to follow my heart to further my racing career Stateside.”

The young racer is still in America taking part in some road tests before returning home next month.

She hopes to return to the USA to compete in the 2021 series.

Earlier in October she competed in the final rounds of the 2020 Lucas Oil School of Racing Formula Car Series at Sebring, Florida.

She achieved a podium finish in what was her strongest event performance of the year.

Of her performance this year, Emily said: "Although the last race didn’t end how I would have wanted, I’ve finished this season driving the best I’ve driven all year.

"I’m looking forward to taking all of the experience I’ve gained this year into 2021.”

People can vote in the Sunday Times' Sportswomen of the Year awards until November 16 at midday.

A virtual ceremony will be held on November 25.

Visit www.sportswomenoftheyear.co.uk/stvp-competition/2020.