Amanda Stretton
Encyclopedia
Amanda Stretton is an English
female racing driver and motoring journalist.
automobile collector and historic racer Terry Cohn, Stretton grew up in London
. Aged 13 she raced Motocross
bikes
, and aged 18 she competed on both the national and international historic cars circuits, earning "Best Newcomer" at the Classic and Sportscar Awards. She was educated at New Hall School
in Essex.
In 2001 became the first ever female driver to compete in the ASCAR Mintex Cup where she finished 6th. In 2003, she entered the first ever female team in the British GT Championships, and was the first British female to race in the FIA Championships. In September 2004 she became the first British woman to win an international long distance event at Spa-Francorchamps
, Belgium
- also beating fellow competitor, her husband.
In 2006 she competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
race.
Away from the track, Stretton works alongside husband Bob Berridge to oversee the commercial aspects of the two-car team that operates under the combined Chamberlain-Synergy banner, which compete in the Le Mans Series
.
to co-present their motorsports coverage under the title "Motorsport on 4" which included the British Formula 3, GT, MGF and Rally Championships, as well as the Anglo-American Stock Car Racing series and UK Supercross. She has also presented Channel 4’s Driven.
After Channel4 lost the television rights to the majority of their motorsports events, Stretton presented most of the events for the new rights holders including Sky Sports
, EuroSport
, and Silverstone TV; and is one of the radio commentators for the American and European Le Mans Series. She also picked up presentation on non-motorsports events for the Travel Channel and NOW.com.
Stretton now presents Five's Dream Machine
series, in which classic cars are restored or kit cars which replicate them are built; as well as "UK Horror Homes." With Murray Walker
she co-presents ITV1
's coverage of the Goodwood Festival of Speed
. Away from the track, she presents "Wrecks to Riches" for Discovery Home & Leisure
, is a freelance journalist
and writes for a range of newspaper columns and specialist motoring titles.
Her hobbies include cooking
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
female racing driver and motoring journalist.
Biography
The daughter of BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
automobile collector and historic racer Terry Cohn, Stretton grew up in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Aged 13 she raced Motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
bikes
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
, and aged 18 she competed on both the national and international historic cars circuits, earning "Best Newcomer" at the Classic and Sportscar Awards. She was educated at New Hall School
New Hall School
New Hall is one of the oldest Catholic schools in England. It is located in the former Tudor Palace of Beaulieu in Essex.Today New Hall is a leading Catholic independent boarding & day school for boys and girls aged 3–18. Founded in 1642, New Hall School, Chelmsford, is the oldest Catholic school...
in Essex.
In 2001 became the first ever female driver to compete in the ASCAR Mintex Cup where she finished 6th. In 2003, she entered the first ever female team in the British GT Championships, and was the first British female to race in the FIA Championships. In September 2004 she became the first British woman to win an international long distance event at Spa-Francorchamps
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race. It is also home to the all Volkswagen club event, 25 Hours of Spa, run by the Uniroyal Fun Cup. It is one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
- also beating fellow competitor, her husband.
In 2006 she competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
race.
Away from the track, Stretton works alongside husband Bob Berridge to oversee the commercial aspects of the two-car team that operates under the combined Chamberlain-Synergy banner, which compete in the Le Mans Series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
.
Media career
Stretton was invited on to a television show to debate the proposal that "Women can't drive or race", and in light of her feisty and intellectual defence of women as drivers and her actual track record, was offered a position with Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
to co-present their motorsports coverage under the title "Motorsport on 4" which included the British Formula 3, GT, MGF and Rally Championships, as well as the Anglo-American Stock Car Racing series and UK Supercross. She has also presented Channel 4’s Driven.
After Channel4 lost the television rights to the majority of their motorsports events, Stretton presented most of the events for the new rights holders including Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
, EuroSport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
, and Silverstone TV; and is one of the radio commentators for the American and European Le Mans Series. She also picked up presentation on non-motorsports events for the Travel Channel and NOW.com.
Stretton now presents Five's Dream Machine
Dream Machine
The phrase Dream Machine can have a number of different meanings:*Dreamachine, a light effect*Sony Dream Machine, a line of clock radios by Sony*Dream Machine , a UK-based progressive space rock band...
series, in which classic cars are restored or kit cars which replicate them are built; as well as "UK Horror Homes." With Murray Walker
Murray Walker
Graeme Murray Walker, OBE is a former Formula One motorsport commentator...
she co-presents ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
's coverage of the Goodwood Festival of Speed
Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed, commonly abbreviated as FoS and referred within the United Kingdom as simply the Festival of Speed, is an annual hill climb featuring historic motor racing vehicles that is held in the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England.Typically held in late June or...
. Away from the track, she presents "Wrecks to Riches" for Discovery Home & Leisure
Discovery Home & Leisure
Discovery Home & Leisure has been used as a name for the following channels:*Planet Green*Discovery Real Time*Discovery Turbo...
, is a freelance journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and writes for a range of newspaper columns and specialist motoring titles.
Personal life
Having been born into a motor racing family, she was first married to Martin Stretton and after they divorced, to Bob Berridge with whom she has two children Mia (born 2003) and Marcus (born 2004).Her hobbies include cooking
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...