Drivers celebrate wedding at Hallgarth Hotel Golf and Country Club (From The Northern Echo)

Drivers celebrate wedding at Hallgarth Hotel Golf and Country Club

9:19am Monday 5th April 2010 in

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THE UK’s number one female racing driver has made a quick pit-stop to wed at a chequered flag-themed ceremony.

Despite the damp conditions, both Amanda Whitaker and Anthony Dunn were in pole position for their big day at Hallgarth Hotel Golf and Country Club, Darlington.

However, their honeymoon plans are on hold as Ms Whitaker’s attention is on the start of the racing season, later this week.

And just days after the wedding, Mr Dunn, a performance driving instructor, had to be in Oxfordshire for a Jaguar car launch.

“We could have gone away somewhere for a week, but we decided to leave it until after the racing season finishes so we can go away for longer,”

said Ms Whitaker.

“It is nice to have something to look forward to.”

The pair met ten years ago, while working at Silverstone as racing instructors, and became engaged in January, after Mr Dunn popped the question at a picturesque spot overlooking Durham Cathedral.

It took just over three months to organise the wedding, on Saturday, March 20, which was attended by 54 guests, and more than 80 for the evening party.

Ms Whitaker, 36, who grew up in Shildon, County Durham, said: “It was hard work planning the wedding in such a short space of time, but it was a really good day.”

In true racing style, the colour theme throughout the day was black and white, inkeeping with the chequered flag, and the wedding cake featured two characters in racing outfits.

The bridesmaids, Ms Whitaker’s cousin’s daughters, Neive Hinder, five, and Bethany King, nine, wore black and white dresses, and Mr Dunn’s nephew, Jack, five, was pageboy.

The couple, who live in Woodham, near Newton Aycliffe, described the highlights of the day as being the speech by Mrs Whitaker’s father, Ronnie, a former racing driver, and their rings being flown to the couple, attached to an owl.

Mr Dunn, 35, said: “No one knew about it until the registrar asked people to stop taking pictures during this part of the service. Everyone loved it, and it was a real talking point of the day.”

Ms Whitaker has been racing for more than ten years and has won three consecutive national single-seater titles, more than 50 race wins, multiple lap records and currently holds four Monoposto lap records.

Other honours include winning the 2006 European Formula Atlantic Championship, top overall points scorer in 2006 European F2 Championship and the first female in history to win a National Formula Ford Championship race.