[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/ndr-michelle-hayward\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/ndr-michelle-hayward\/","headline":"Michelle Hayward Is The Driver To Watch!","name":"Michelle Hayward Is The Driver To Watch!","description":"Owning the competition, Michelle Hayward has become the first female driver to top the National Driver Rankings! We\u2019re excited to say that Michelle Hayward has been crowned as the first woman to top the National Driver Rankings! Like all great drivers, this Cheshire-based driver has a history of successes behind her and a natural talent that\u2019s visible in her impressive stats. We just know that the National Driver Rankings won\u2019t be the last thing that she conquers! The National Driver […]","datePublished":"2018-11-08","dateModified":"2018-11-08","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Michelle-Hayward-National-Driver-Rankings-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Michelle-Hayward-National-Driver-Rankings-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/ndr-michelle-hayward\/","about":["BLOG","LATEST CAR NEWS","MOTORSPORT"],"wordCount":480,"articleBody":"Owning the competition, Michelle Hayward has become the first female driver to top the National Driver Rankings!We\u2019re excited to say that Michelle Hayward has been crowned as the first woman to top the National Driver Rankings! Like all great drivers, this Cheshire-based driver has a history of successes behind her and a natural talent that\u2019s visible in her impressive stats. We just know that the National Driver Rankings won\u2019t be the last thing that she conquers!The National Driver Rankings compile data from over 60 MSA Approved National Championships and ranks drivers based on their lap times in qualifying and the races. Last year, James Gornall who raced in the Nankang Tyres BMW Compact Cup took the top spot and all drivers in the top 20 last year were male. As we know, motorsport as a whole is a predominantly male-dominated sport but could the tides be changing?(Michelle\u2019s Mallock Mk27 1600, which she\u2019s been racing in for over 4 years, image source: clubmansregister Facebook page)Her 2018 Clubmans Sports Prototype Championship (BARC) victory is incredibly impressive, to say the least. The league consists of racing front-engined sports racing cars and once again, she was the first woman to take home a win. Racing in the Sports 1600 Class, Hayward boasted the fastest lap in every race bar one and dominated pole position across 5 different tracks.Not only did Hayward come 1st overall, but thrashed the competition, leaving second place a whopping 101 points behind. Furthermore, the Sports 1600 Class is the most competitive of the three classes, with 17 drivers in total. Hayward finished 1st in all qualifiers bar one, where she came 2nd and came 1st in all races bar two, where she came 2nd and 4th. With 16 races in total and 14 first place finishes, it\u2019s not hard to see how she\u2019s made it to the top.(Hayward\u2019s Fun Cup Beetle and the winning Mallock Mk27 1600, image source: Michelle\u2019s Twitter and Instagram pages @michmissile)Although Michelle is probably always the only female driver in her races, she clearly doesn\u2019t let that intimidate her and will prove time and time again that winning races has nothing to do with your gender. But not only does she win and compete in the Clubmans Sports Prototype Championships, Michelle\u2019s also their official secretary!Hayward is one of many inspiring British female racing drivers helping to change the male-dominated image of motorsport. To name a few, Jamie Chadwick recently became the first woman to win a BRDC British F3 Championship Race, Tatiana Calderon became the first female in an official F1 test role (tested for Sauber) and Flick Haigh became the first female outright British GT Champion in the GT3 class!Congratulations to Michelle Hayward and we look forward to seeing your future successes!For more information and to see where you have come, please visit\u00a0www.nationaldriverrankings.co.uk"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Michelle Hayward Is The Driver To Watch!","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/ndr-michelle-hayward\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]