Pippa Mann
Sports Car racing // Ipswich, England
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Pippa Mann is a British racing car driver with over two decades of experience. She has achieved milestones in IndyCar and Indy 500, inspiring female athletes.
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When a boy tells you he’s a race car driver and you so want to ask him if he gets scared driving that fast.
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FULL BIO: Pippa Mann
Pippa Mann is a British racing car driver who made history as the first British woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the first female driver to break the 230 mph barrier at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
EARLY YEARS
Growing up in Europe, her passion for racing was nurtured by her father, a racing enthusiast who shared his love for the sport despite having no professional connections to it. As a child, seeing IndyCar driver Sarah Fisher compete sparked her interest in pursuing a racing career, leading her to begin karting at a young age before progressing to open-wheel racing in Europe.
EARLY SUCCESS
Mann began her competitive career in 2003 at age 20, signing a three-race contract with Manor Motorsport for the British Formula Renault winter series. By 2007, she had made history as the first female driver to compete in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, scoring points and starting from pole position in her debut year. Her move to the United States in 2009 to race in the Indy Lights series proved fruitful when in 2010, she became the first female pole sitter at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and secured her first race victory at Kentucky Speedway.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2007: Became the first female driver to race in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, scoring points and starting from pole position in her debut year[1].
- 2010: Became the first female pole sitter at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indy Lights Freedom 100 and won her first race at Kentucky Speedway[1].
- 2011: Became the first British woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500, racing with Conquest Racing[2].
- 2016: Named by Autocar as one of the top 100 British Women in the Car Industry[1].
- 2017: Became the fastest female driver in history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a lap of 230.1mph on Fast Friday[4].
- 2019: Secured her best-ever Indianapolis 500 finish, placing 16th[2].
REPUTATION
Beyond her driving achievements, Pippa has built a solid reputation as both a competitor and advocate for women in motorsports. She leads Shift Up Now, an organization dedicated to securing funding for aspiring female racers, providing them with opportunities to access competitive equipment. Her business coaching drivers in the SRO America and IMSA GT4 series demonstrates her commitment to developing talent. Her resilience through challenges and dedication to inspiring the next generation have established her as a respected ambassador for women in racing.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
Looking toward the future, Mann aims to expand Shift Up Now’s impact across various motorsports series including IndyCar, NASCAR, IMSA, and SRO sports car racing. She envisions developing a robust junior athlete program that supports female racers transitioning from karting to car racing across different disciplines. Her own racing activities are expected to continue in 2025, with planned track activities already indicated on her social media.
References:
Pippa Mann – Walero UK
OrthoIndy Helps Verizon IndyCar Driver Pippa Mann Stay on the Track
Pippa Mann On Women Racing
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