Abbie Eaton’s Drive to Diversify Motorsport and Address Financial Barriers

Abbie Eaton consistently aspired to become a professional racing driver. Currently, she is committed to ensuring her newly established team facilitates the entry of more individuals from varied backgrounds into the sport. The 32-year-old, following a successful season competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup, began attending races alongside her father at the age of six. She recalls, “He’s always raced bikes and cars,” adding, “I grew up around those circuits”. Eaton states, “When I got to 10 years old – after a couple of years of pestering him – he finally got me a go-kart.” After six years, upon transitioning to cars, she first experienced the significant financial challenges inherent in the sport. Her parents, a garage salesman and a mental health worker residing in Willerby, close to Hull, informed her they were unable to continue funding her racing career. “They said we’re not in the position where we can spend money on this. We’re not going to remortgage the house, so if you want to do this, you’ll have to raise the funds yourself.” She dedicated numerous hours to contacting companies unsolicited, seeking potential sponsorship. She recounts, “I was obsessed. If I was being driven somewhere on the motorway, I’d be looking at the names on trucks, then I’d be researching them, trying to find some like-minded individuals who were into the sport or view it as an option for their company,” adding, “I taught myself Photoshop and would mock up liveries with their company colours on.” Her past experiences have influenced the guiding principles of Rebelleo Motorsport, the team she established alongside an investor. They aim to secure funding to attract a greater number of individuals from varied backgrounds into motorsport. Eaton states, “We love motorsport, but we realise it is quite broken,” continuing, “It’s very, very expensive to get into. That means it’s not accessible to the majority of the population. “We want to give money to other drivers, aspiring mechanics, engineers, so they can come and work with us as their first step on the ladder in motorsport. “I’m really passionate about it. I want to give back and make the sport that I love more accessible.” Eaton has recognized that her position as one of the prominent women in her profession leads to her being a role model for young girls. She comments, “When I was younger, I was focused on trying to make a career in the sport, but now I notice a lot of young girls attending race weekends and wanting autographs and photos.” Eaton shares, “I had an email from a dad who came to Silverstone the weekend I won, and his daughter said she wants to work in engineering and work with people like me. And that’s what makes it all worthwhile.” In September, Eaton achieved a historic milestone as the first female driver to secure a victory in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. Despite this accomplishment, she indicates difficulty in securing the £300,000 required to compete in her chosen sport next year. “Probably 95% of my work is trying to get the money together to go racing and making sure teams and sponsors are looked after. Then you get the 5%, which is the fun part, which is driving on the track.” “For 2025, I’m currently not racing, which is very, very disappointing – especially after the year I’ve had. We’re looking for sponsors to allow me to keep driving.” She has conducted discussions in Hull and expresses that obtaining sponsorship from a local business would be “awesome.” “I’m really proud to be from Yorkshire and one thing that really sticks out to me about Hull is that there are so many self-made people and businesses. I think it’s inspirational. “I’ve also noticed a lot more female CEOs and it would be great to have that empowerment to have the support of a local company, or one run by a woman.” Eaton, currently residing in Milton Keynes, plans to return to East Yorkshire for Christmas to spend time with friends and family. She endeavors to visit frequently, but notes that professional commitments often impede these plans. This represents a sacrifice she accepts to maintain her career as a racing driver. She observes, “The last couple of years, I’ve been able to work as a paid racing driver. But the sustainability to be able to do it year on year is getting harder,” adding, “My goal is to keep racing in the Carrera Cup for the next few years, but also move into coaching or mentoring so I can help younger drivers pave their way into motorsport.” What guidance would she offer to her younger self at age 10? “Don’t give up. Motorsport is tough. It’s hard to get the finances together – it’s difficult to open the doors to the right opportunities. But if you keep banging on those doors and you persevere and you’re determined, then you will eventually achieve.”