Janelle Navarro in the FPR workshop
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6:00 AM Tue 24 January, 2012
Source: BigPond Sport
MOTOR RACING is still very much a male-dominated sport, but Janelle Navarro is proving that gender should be no barrier to following your passion and doing what you love. The Melbourne-based 26 year-old is the number two mechanic for the #55 Bottle-O Racing car and is paving the way for fellow women to participate in the world of motorsport.
BigPond Sport chatted with self-confessed Blue Oval supporter about what it's like working with the factory Ford team...
BIGPOND: Janelle there aren’t many female mechanics in V8 Supercars - how did you get into it?
At high school I did an automotive certificate, which is an entry point into doing an apprenticeship and it just basically went from there.
While I was doing my apprenticeship I did a lot of voluntary work with V8 Race Experience and development series teams. Once I finished my apprenticeship I was lucky enough to get a job in the main series straight away and started my career. I’m now heading into my sixth year working in motorsport.
BIGPOND: Where does your interest in motor racing come from?
I don’t know … it’s just something I’ve always liked. I used to go to the local Victorian V8 rounds such as Phillip Island and Sandown with my dad and my uncle, and I lived close to Calder Park so we used to go there quite a bit. Motorsport wasn’t really a huge interest in my family although I am a Ford fan from way back. I always used to watch the races and say to my dad ‘I’ll be there one day’. He didn’t think I was that serious about it but I proved him wrong!
I feel like I’ve been working my whole life to get where I am, and I feel very fortunate that I discovered what I love to do and got into it quite early.
BIGPOND: What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
It sounds a bit cliché but seeing the cars cross the finish line! Because it reinforces that the cars we’ve prepared are reliable and that’s always a satisfying feeling. I enjoy the travelling too, I get to see a lot.
BIGPOND: As a female do you get treated any differently?
Generally I’ve been quite welcomed, I think because I have the right attitude- that’s probably helped a lot. I didn’t want to be treated any differently. I had the option of wearing a more 'girlier' shirt and I said no I want to be the same as everyone else. The boys have been really good to work with, I’ve met some really good people in this job.
It can be a bit confronting sometimes, sure, but I guess the best bit about doing this job is I can bury my head in the work and knuckle down and get it done.
BIGPOND: What's next for you in your career?
As a Ford fan, working with the factory team (Ford Performance Racing) was all I ever wanted to do. Now I'm here I'm happy to follow the path and see where it takes me.
For other women thinking about getting into this sort of job I’d say don’t hold back. If you do, I recommend getting some voluntary work because that will always take you so much further and it gives you an opportunity to show you’re committed and you want to do it.
Also, you really have to do it for the love of the sport, not any other reason. It can be very tough at times, but also very rewarding.
