Katherine Legge

Katherine Legge is a Guildford-born British racer whose barrier-breaking career spans karting circuits in England to factory drives in DTM, Formula E, IMSA, IndyCar, and NASCAR—making her one of the most diverse competitors in modern motorsports.

EARLY YEARS

Katherine Anne Legge grew up in Guildford, England, where the British motorsport scene became her playground. Between 1990 and 1999, she cut her teeth on England’s karting circuits, racking up multiple race victories and championships while mastering car control and racecraft. The karting years laid the foundation for what would become a relentless climb through British developmental series including Formula Ford, Formula Renault, and Formula Three—each rung on the ladder sharpening her skills against some of Europe’s most promising talent.

It was a world dominated by men, but Legge didn’t just show up—she started beating lap records and claiming firsts that would define her career’s trajectory.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the cockpit, Legge made a significant geographical leap when she moved from England to America in 2005, chasing opportunities in North American open-wheel racing. While specific hobbies and non-racing pursuits remain largely private, her career choices reveal someone driven by new challenges and uncharted territory—whether that’s tackling a new racing series or partnering with brands like ELF Cosmetics, the first female-focused beauty brand to serve as a primary sponsor in motorsports. In April of a recent year, she was inducted into the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach “Walk of Fame,” a nod to her lasting impact on the sport and the Southern California racing community.

EARLY SUCCESS

Legge’s early breakthroughs came fast and loud. In 2000, she became the first woman to achieve pole position in a Formula Zetec race. A year later, she beat Kimi Räikkönen’s lap record and took pole again—then became the first woman to receive the British Racing Drivers’ Club “Rising Star” accolade in 2001. These weren’t feel-good participation trophies; they were legitimate speed markers in fiercely competitive series.

But 2005 was the year Legge announced herself on the international stage. Racing for Polestar Motor Racing in the Toyota Atlantic Championship, she won the series opener at Long Beach in her very first career Atlantic start, becoming the first woman to win a developmental open-wheel race in North America. She followed that up with wins in Edmonton and San Jose, earning five podiums total and finishing third in the championship. That same year, she also became the first woman to win a race in the British Formula 3 Championship. The accolades piled up: the Toyota Atlantic BBS Rising Star Award and RACER Magazine’s “Most Promising Road Racer of The Year.”

In December 2005, she became the first woman to test an A1 Grand Prix car, wheeling the A1 Team Great Britain machine. By 2006, she was racing in Champ Car with PKV Racing, where she became the first woman to lead a lap in the series—12 laps at Milwaukee, to be exact. That same year, she survived a violent accident at the Grand Prix of Road America when her rear wing broke; she walked away unharmed, a reminder of both the danger of the sport and her resilience within it.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2000: First woman to achieve pole position in a Formula Zetec race.
• 2001: Beat Kimi Räikkönen’s lap record and took pole; became first woman to receive the BRDC “Rising Star” accolade.
• 2005: Won three races in the Toyota Atlantic Championship (Long Beach, Edmonton, San Jose) and finished third in the championship; became first woman to win a developmental open-wheel race in North America and first woman to win a British Formula 3 Championship race; received Toyota Atlantic BBS Rising Star Award and RACER Magazine “Most Promising Road Racer of The Year.”
• 2005: First woman to test an A1 Grand Prix car (A1 Team Great Britain, December 9–11).
• 2006: First woman to lead a lap in Champ Car (12 laps at Milwaukee, June).
• 2008–2010: Factory driver for Audi in DTM.
• 2013: First woman to lead an American Le Mans Series race at Road America.
• 2013–2015: Competed in IMSA with DeltaWing, including endurance races like the Daytona 24 Hours, Sebring 12 Hours, and Petit Le Mans.
• 2014–2015: Raced two Formula E events with Amlin Aguri.
• 2016: First woman to lead the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
• 2017: Secured Acura NSX’s first-ever victory with MSR as a factory Acura driver.
• Qualified for the Indianapolis 500, becoming the ninth woman to do so.
• Competed in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, WEC, ELMS, and SRO as a race winner and championship contender.
• Raced in the NTT IndyCar Series and competed at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the Time Attack 1 division, driving the #93 Acura Integra.
• Currently racing in the NASCAR Cup Series with Live Fast Motorsports.
• Inducted into the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach “Walk of Fame” (April).

INSPIRATIONS

While Legge hasn’t publicly detailed her racing heroes or early inspirations, the fact that she beat Kimi Räikkönen’s lap record in 2001 offers a tantalizing glimpse into the caliber of drivers she measured herself against early on. Her career choices suggest she’s inspired less by nostalgia and more by the next challenge—whether that’s mastering a front-wheel-drive Acura Integra for Pikes Peak or navigating the high-stakes world of NASCAR.

REPUTATION

Katherine Legge is widely regarded as a pioneer and trailblazer in motorsport, someone who has redefined the limits of speed, precision, and performance across nearly every major racing discipline. Her resume reads like a tour of motorsport’s toughest arenas: open-wheel, endurance prototypes, GT racing, electric formula cars, and stock cars. She’s described as a sportscar stalwart and a formidable competitor, known for her skill, determination, grit, innovation, and unyielding passion.

Media coverage consistently highlights her barrier-breaking achievements—all those “first woman to” milestones aren’t just footnotes; they’re testament to her entering spaces where women were rarely seen and then leading races in them. She’s built partnerships with major manufacturers like Honda, Acura, and Bridgestone, and her collaboration with ELF Cosmetics represents a rare crossover between motorsport and female-focused consumer brands.

Her reputation extends beyond results. She’s credited with inspiring a new generation of racers and fans, transcending the sport itself. Of the custom #93 Acura Integra she piloted at Pikes Peak—a front-wheel-drive machine packing around 360 horsepower and incredible braking—she said, “It’s one of the most fun cars I’ve had the privilege of driving.” That quote captures her approach: technical, thoughtful, and genuinely enthusiastic about the machinery and the challenge.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of 2026, Legge is racing with Live Fast Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series and remains active in the NTT IndyCar Series. Specific long-term goals and retirement plans haven’t been publicly stated, but her trajectory suggests she’s far from done adding to an already historic career. With sponsorship from ELF Cosmetics and continued backing from major manufacturers, she’s positioned to keep competing at the highest levels while expanding motorsport’s appeal to new audiences.

References:

Wikipedia: Katherine Legge
Katherine Legge Official Website
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb: Behind the Wheel with Katherine Legge
Live Fast Motorsports: Katherine Legge
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