Charlie Martin’s Race to the Top

Charlie Martin will talk about her inspiring journey of transition and overcoming barriers to success in motorsport.

Charlie is a British racing driver who is on her way to becoming the first transgender driver to compete in the Le Mans 24hr. With a background competing in European Hillclimb, she is extremely focused & ambitious, often achieving the impossible purely through her own drive & determination to be one of the fastest women in Europe.

Charlie has fought continuously to overcome adversity throughout her life, having lost both her parents at a young age. Entering motorsport without anyone supporting is hard enough, but she also realised she identified as transgender from as young as 7, transitioning to live as female midway through her career in 2012. She recorded her entire transition on her YouTube channel, helping to inspire thousands of people all over the World to begin their own journey.

In 2018 she returned to the UK and begun a full season of circuit racing in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge, taking the brave step of coming out as transgender within motorsport, aiming to improve LGBT visibility & acceptance within the sport she loves, while empowering others to follow in her footsteps to live authentically without fear.

Charlie is a Sports Champion for Stonewall (Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ charity), Patron for Mermaids, & Ambassador for Athlete Ally (USA). Having finished 3rd in her first ever endurance race at Le Mans (Bugatti Circuit) in 2017, and 4th in her debut race with the Michelin Le Mans Cup in 2019, Charlie is well on her way to making history as the first transgender driver to ever compete in the 24hrs of Le Mans.

“The biggest barrier that prevented me from being my true self in motorsport was undoubtedly the fact that I was unable to see anyone else like me, from club racing right up to professional level. I had no idea how people would react to me as trans, but I’m pleased I overcame this fear”.

Welcome to one woman’s story of bravery, ambition & self-belief.