HAZEL Johnson may be a rare female in a male-dominated sport, but she knew from an early age that she was always going to take up driving competitively.

At the age of just 19, the Accrington motor sport en-thusiast picked up honours in six championships this year as she starts to make her name in the autosolo and stage rally disciplines.

She has followed in the footsteps of her father Steve – a founder member of Accrington Motor Sport Club and Go Motorsport regional development officer, teaching road safety.

“The sport’s quite a big part of family life, it takes over a bit!” Johnson laughed.

“I have grown up with it because my dad has probably been involved for about 30 years.

“I’ve been at the events since I was in nappies and I started marshalling when I was about nine.

“It’s something I’ve always enjoyed and my dad has never pushed me.

“It was always something I wanted to do and once he knew that he encouraged me.

“He has given me a lot of advice and taught me all the skills that I know.

“He has done less events this year to allow me the opportunity to compete.

“Being a female in a male dominated sport, obviously there are a lot more men involved than women.

“But it’s not been difficult because of that, there’s no stigma attached. I’ve grown up knowing everyone involved so they have all been really helpful.”

Johnson started to drive last year and, like her father, has produced impressive perfor-mances in autosolo events, which involve a series of tests to measure precision driving skill – often involving negotiating a course marked out by traffic cones.

This year she has progressed to win the junior section of the ANWCC Autosolo Championship as well as first in class in the Junior PCA Championship. She was also first novice in the Autosolo Championship and third in her class overall.

Johnson also made her stage rally debut this year and won her class and the novice section in the SD34 Stage Rally Championship.

“It’s gone a lot better than I expected this year,” she said.

“I’m very happy with how it’s gone.

“I’ve won six awards and I’ve learned skills that have helped to make me a better driver on the road as well.”

Johnson is currently combining her driving with life as a student, studying drama at the University of Cumbria.

“I’m in my second year and I dance outside of university too, so I’d like to put that and the drama to good use in the future,” she said.

“I’d like to become a qualified teacher in drama.”

But on the road, she has one aim – to try to surpass the achievements of her father one day.

“I’d like to compete in the British Autotest Championship,” Johnson said.

“I did one event earlier this year, an event run by Alwoodley Motor Club in the north east, that was a learning experience because the car was a lot bigger and a lot heavier.

“My dad has com-peted in the British Autotest Championship and has done very well and has been runner up a few times.

“But he’s never won it so I’d like to beat him!”