ONE of the country’s top female racing drivers has spoken to students about the importance of gender equality.

Amanda Whitaker’s visit to Darlington College had been booked for months, but became all the more relevant in the light of the recent Sky Sports sexism scandal. The three-times National single-seater championship winner, who lives in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, says that motor racing is one of the only sports where women and men compete equally.

She said: “There’s absolutely no reason why more women cannot compete in motorsports.

“It is one of the few sports where women can directly compete. There are times when I am the only woman on the starting grid at Silverstone. I want that to change.”

Mrs Whitaker is the first woman to win a National Formula Ford Championship race and attended the college in her Formula Ford 2000 car yesterday morning.

Adam Wheelhouse, 17, attended a question and answer session.

He said: “It has made me think about the struggle women have to get to the top of their profession.”