Nicole Drought

Nicole Drought is a versatile racing driver from Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland, who juggles dual careers as an accountant and Ireland’s top female racing driver, breaking barriers across touring cars, sportscars, endurance racing, and rallycross.

EARLY YEARS

Growing up in Roscrea, Tipperary, Nicole Drought’s earliest sporting memory is watching her father compete in rallying as a kid. Her dad competed in both rallying and circuit racing, pushing himself hard in both disciplines and doing well in circuit racing, and she followed him around the country watching him compete, falling in love with the sport along the way.[1][3] That shared passion with her father planted the seed for what would become a barrier-breaking career in motorsport.

Her first direct experience behind the wheel came with a brief flirtation with karting in her mid-teens, which ended abruptly when the engine blew—meaning she didn’t take the conventional karting pathway most racers follow.[1] Instead, Nicole pursued her education and became an accountant, a career she maintains alongside racing to this day.[2] It wasn’t until 2015, at age 20, that she made her move into racing cars, withdrawing money from the bank to buy her first car: a Honda Integra.[1]

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond racing and her accounting career, Nicole is passionate about involving more females in motorsport.[2] She serves as the first and only Irish Ambassador for the International Sean Edwards Foundation, which promotes safety for drivers and circuits.[2] Her racing career has taken her across Europe and to the United States, including trips to Anglesey circuit in north Wales, Le Castellet in France, Palm Beach International circuit in Florida, and Summit Point Circuit in West Virginia.[1][2][4]

EARLY SUCCESS

Nicole entered the Irish Touring Car Championship with her Honda Integra in 2015, and within a year, she made history as the first woman to win a race in the series, taking victory in the Production Class in 2016.[1][2] That same year, she was named Irish Sportswoman of the Year by sportswomen.ie.[2] Unfortunately, her 2016 season ended prematurely due to mechanical issues while she was leading the drivers’ standings.[1]

Her early promise caught the attention of John Campion, who was so excited watching her race live that he rang after her class win and offered her three years of fully funded racing through the CJJ Motorsport Initiative.[2] “This has given me three years, fully funded, to forge out a career in Motorsport,” she said at the time.[2] A friend of her father, Timmy England, had already sponsored her first set of tyres, giving her that crucial early boost.[1]

In 2016, Drought also made her sportscar debut in Global GT Light at Anglesey circuit, qualifying second and finishing fourth.[1] She joined Murphy Prototypes’ Young Driver initiative and traveled to ELMS rounds with an International Sportscar team, expanding her experience beyond Ireland.[2] She even got to test a Porsche GT3 Supercup at Le Castellet in France.[2]

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2015: Entered Irish Touring Car Championship with Honda Integra[1].
• 2016: First woman to win a race in the Irish Touring Car Championship (Production Class, Honda Integra)[1][2].
• 2016: Named Irish Sportswoman of the Year by sportswomen.ie[2].
• 2016: Made sportscar debut in Global GT Light at Anglesey, qualifying second and finishing fourth[1].
• 2016: Tested Porsche GT3 Supercup at Le Castellet, France[2].
• 2018-2019: Competed in Irish Stryker Championship, adapting from front-wheel to rear-wheel drive[1][7].
• Won back-to-back championships in the Endurance Trial Championship (Nissan Micra, one-litre)[1].
• Won UK Citroen C1 Challenge, first woman to do so[3].
• Won UK EnduroKA race at Oulton Park, first woman to do so[3][8].
• 2021: Tested March 811 F1 car at Mondello Park[5].
• 2021: Class win on rally debut at Killarney Historic Rally[5].
• 2022: Tested Rubens Barrichello’s Jordan F193 F1 car at Palm Beach International circuit[1][5].
• Current Open Clubman Irish Rallycross Champion[3].
• 2024: Leading UK MSVR Championship[3].
• 2025: Competed in two eight-hour races with American Endurance Racing at Summit Point Circuit, West Virginia[4].
• 2025: Awarded the Rosemary Smith Trophy by Motorsport Ireland Women in Motorsport Commission and RIAC[4][5].

INSPIRATIONS

Her father, who competed in rallying and circuit racing, was her first and most significant influence, introducing her to motorsport from childhood.[1][3] Nicole also looked up to Rosemary Smith, the trailblazer for women in motorsport, and has met her on several occasions.[3] When she received the Rosemary Smith Award for 2025, Drought said: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to be presented with the Rosemary Smith Award for 2025. Rosemary was iconic and an inspiration for all women in Motorsport.”[4] She added: “I have been lucky enough to collect quite a few awards during my motorsport career but I really do think this one tops them all. I would like to say a sincere thank you to Motorsport Ireland and the MI Womens’ Commission for recognising my achievements this far and giving me an award I will treasure forever.”[5]

REPUTATION

Nicole Drought is widely regarded as Ireland’s top female racing driver and a trailblazer in the sport.[2][6] Her outstanding versatility and success across multiple disciplines—from touring cars and sportscars to endurance racing, rallycross, and even stage rallying—have established her as a proven competitor on both national and international stages.[4] Media coverage consistently describes her as driven, focused, and with speed in her DNA.[1][2]

Her career has been notable for its breadth: she’s competed in the Irish Touring Car Championship, Global GT Light, Irish Stryker Championship, Endurance Trial Championship, UK Citroen C1 Challenge, UK EnduroKA, Stryker Sportscars, Britcar, MSVT Trackday Championship, American Endurance Racing, rallycross, and stage rallying since 2015.[1][3][4][5][7][8] She’s won back-to-back endurance championships, claimed multiple class victories, and has been nominated for the Dunlop Young Racing Driver Award.[1][4]

Reflecting on her transition to rear-wheel-drive Stryker cars, she noted: “They are a kit car, rather than a saloon car. It’s a rear-wheel drive and I was used to driving front-wheel drive, so that was a big change.”[1] Her ability to adapt across different platforms has earned her respect throughout the paddock. She also learned circuits using a simulator from Digital Motorsports at Mondello Park, showing her methodical approach to preparation.[2]

Beyond her on-track achievements, Drought has become an ambassador for women in motorsport and safety. As the first and only Irish Ambassador for the International Sean Edwards Foundation, she promotes safety for drivers and circuits.[2] Her message to young women and girls is clear: “Believe in yourself, never stop following your dreams, and always remember that you’re capable of much more than you know!”[3]

The highlight of her off-track experiences came in two extraordinary opportunities to drive Formula 1 cars. In 2021, she tested a March 811 F1 car at Mondello Park.[5] “It was the most incredible experience. I thought it was going to be the first and last time that I was going to drive a F1 car,” she recalled.[1] But only half a year later, John Campion surprised her again: “I got a message from John Campion asking me when I could travel to the States. He had bought a Jordan F1 car and I got to drive it at the Palm Beach International circuit. It was Rubens Barrichello’s car.”[1]

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Nicole’s 2026 plans will be announced in January.[5] She continues to be backed by Gem Oils, ITM Naas, Siltex Safety, Joe Mallon Motor Group, RAC Air Conditioning, Mondello Park, and IEC Solutions.[5] She also serves as a Nissan Micra ambassador.[1] Her commitment to forging a career in motorsport while maintaining her accounting career shows no signs of slowing, and her focus on bringing more females into the sport remains a driving force in her work both on and off the track.

References:

With speed in her DNA, Nicole Drought continues fast track to the top
Nicole Drought – University of Limerick Alumni
Women in Sport: Motor racing driver Nicole Drought
Women in Motorsport Commission and RIAC Announce Nicole Drought recipient of the 2025 Rosemary Smith Trophy
Nicole Drought Receives Rosemary Smith Award