Stephanie Carlin

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  Stephanie Carlin is a pioneering force in motorsports management who has risen from marketing and PR beginnings to high-level leadership positions, demonstrating that women’s impact in racing extends far beyond the driver’s seat.

  EARLY YEARS

  Unlike many figures in motorsport, Stephanie didn’t begin her career behind the wheel but rather in the business operations side of racing. Her journey began in marketing and public relations within the A1GP championship, where she developed a foundation of commercial expertise that would later define her career trajectory in the male-dominated world of motorsport management.

  EARLY SUCCESS

  Stephanie’s entry into motorsports leadership accelerated in 2006 when she joined Carlin, beginning a path that would see her influence grow substantially over the following years. In 2011, she took on the role of commercial manager at Rodin Carlin, the racing team owned by her husband Trevor Carlin. This position leveraged her marketing expertise as she handled sponsor negotiations and driver contracts while developing a comprehensive understanding of team operations. Her early success wasn’t measured in podium finishes but in the operational excellence she brought to Rodin Carlin, a team that has amassed more than 470 race victories and 30 titles across various categories since 1999.

  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 2020: Appointed Team Principal for Team X44 in Extreme E, Lewis Hamilton’s electric rally racing team[4].
  • 2022: Promoted to Deputy Team Principal at Rodin Carlin, overseeing technical activities across multiple championships[4].
  • 2022: Led oversight of Rodin Carlin’s F3 and F1 Academy teams, expanding her technical leadership role[4].
  • 2024: Appointed as McLaren’s Formula 1 Business Operations Director, reporting directly to Team Principal Andrea Stella[1][3][4].
  • 2024: Took responsibility for McLaren’s debut in the all-female F1 Academy series[5].

  REPUTATION

  Over her 17-year career in motorsport, Stephanie has cultivated a reputation as a determined and capable leader breaking new ground for women in an industry historically dominated by men. She is widely respected within the paddock for her operational expertise, strategic business acumen, and ability to navigate the complex commercial realities of modern racing. Her leadership style combines commercial savvy with technical understanding, earning her recognition not just as a female leader in motorsport, but as an exceptional leader, period. Colleagues particularly value her commitment to nurturing talent, evidenced by her role in shaping numerous drivers’ careers throughout her time at Rodin Carlin. Her appointment to a senior role at McLaren—one of Formula 1’s most storied and prestigious teams—stands as testament to the high regard in which she is held throughout the industry.

  FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

  Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Stephanie aims to redefine McLaren’s business operations as their F1 business operations director, with a particular focus on developing their presence in the F1 Academy. She is committed to breaking down barriers in motorsport and shaping a more inclusive future for the industry. One of her primary goals is to normalize women’s presence in all aspects of motorsport—from engineering and management to competition—making “women in motorsports” no longer a noteworthy headline but an everyday reality. She intends to continue supporting McLaren’s first F1 Academy driver, Bianca Bustamante, ensuring she receives proper development and backing from partners like Cisco. Through strategic partnerships and targeted initiatives, Stephanie plans to expand opportunities for women throughout the motorsport ecosystem, reshaping what’s possible in this traditionally male-dominated field.

  References:

  McLaren F1 Team Announcement
  Rodin Carlin Team History
  McLaren F1 2024 Executive Structure
  Stephanie Carlin Career Profile
  McLaren F1 Academy Program Launch