Charlie Barlow

Charlie Barlow is a British motorsports broadcaster, journalist, and development manager who pivoted from real estate into the high-octane world of Australian motorsport at age 30—proving it’s never too late to chase the checkered flag.

EARLY YEARS

Charlie Barlow hails from Britain, though specific details about her birthdate and early childhood remain private. What is known is that her path into motorsport wasn’t exactly conventional. Before she ever stepped behind a microphone or onto a grid, she spent years in real estate, construction, and administrative roles—hardly the typical résumé for someone destined to become a fixture in Australian motorsport broadcasting.

At 30, while most people are settling into their careers, Charlie made the gutsy decision to blow hers up entirely. She enrolled at university to study journalism, a move that required not just courage but serious financial sacrifice. She worked unpaid gigs to build her portfolio, learned the craft from the ground up, and hustled her way into an industry that doesn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for career-changers. It was a bold reinvention—and it worked.

OTHER INTERESTS

Information about Charlie’s hobbies and personal interests outside of motorsport is limited. However, her professional output suggests a woman who thrives on storytelling, live events, and connecting people to the sport she’s clearly passionate about.

EARLY SUCCESS

Charlie’s early breakthrough came when she landed a role with Supercars, Australia’s premier touring car championship. By 2021, she was working as a presenter and journalist for the series, covering some of the country’s biggest motorsport events. Her ability to deliver sharp, engaging content quickly made her a standout, and she became a familiar face on screens and at trackside.

That same year, she also worked as a host for the Speedweek Gran Turismo Sport Eseries, an automotive presenter and journalist for Drive.com.au, and a news anchor for Hatch Now. It was a packed schedule that showcased her versatility—she could go from interviewing drivers to hosting esports events without missing a beat. By her third year with Supercars, she was a PR and media executive, big screen presenter, and one of the most recognizable voices in the paddock.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2021: Joined Supercars as presenter and journalist, also hosting Speedweek Gran Turismo Sport Eseries and working with Drive.com.au[1][2].
• 2024: Appointed Development Manager at Motorsport Australia, overseeing programs including Girls on Track, First Gear, and the national esports program[3][4].
• 2024: Co-hosted the Motorsport Australia National Awards Gala alongside Greg Rust[5].
• 2024: Led Motorsport Australia’s global esports training program into a new phase of growth[6].
• 2025: Launched Motorsport Australia’s GOAL! program, offering six interactive lesson plans using motorsport to teach STEM principles to students in Years 5-8[7].

INSPIRATIONS

While Charlie hasn’t publicly detailed her personal inspirations, her career trajectory suggests she’s driven by a passion for accessibility and representation in motorsport. Her work with Girls on Track—a mentoring and career development initiative aimed at getting more young women involved in the sport—speaks to a belief that motorsport should be for everyone, not just those who grew up with it.

REPUTATION

Charlie Barlow has earned a reputation as a skilled communicator who knows how to make motorsport accessible without dumbing it down. She’s known for her professionalism, her ability to pivot between roles (broadcaster, presenter, manager), and her genuine commitment to growing the sport beyond its traditional audience. As a Girls on Track mentor, she’s hosted face-to-face events in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Darwin, bringing motorsport opportunities directly to young women who might never have considered it otherwise.

Her colleagues and industry insiders see her as someone who walks the walk. She didn’t just slide into motorsport—she earned her place through study, unpaid work, and sheer determination. That story resonates, especially with aspiring journalists and women looking to break into male-dominated industries. She’s living proof that career reinvention is possible, even in your thirties.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As Development Manager at Motorsport Australia, Charlie is focused on expanding programs like Girls on Track and First Gear, with the 2026 Girls on Track program set to feature prominently at the Australian Grand Prix. She’s also steering the country’s esports program through a period of significant growth, positioning it as a key development pathway for future talent. Her work with the GOAL! initiative—using motorsport to teach STEM—suggests she’s thinking long-term about how to build the next generation of fans, participants, and professionals.

REFERENCES

[1] About | Charlie Barlow
[2] Repco Rundown with Charlie Barlow in Townsville
[3] #320: How to make a career change into Motorsport from real-estate at 30 years old | The SportsGrad Podcast
[4] Motorsport Australia appoints Charlie Barlow as new Development Manager
[5] CROSS FLOW Newsletter – Bendigo Car Club
[6] Motorsport Australia leads global Esports Training Program
[7] Motorsport Australia officially launches GOAL!
[8] Girls on Track | Charlie Barlow
[9] 2026 Girls on Track program revealed for the Australian Grand Prix