Beyond the Grid: Jess Edgar’s Next Chapter in Racing

For many young racers, the dream of reaching Formula 1 is the ultimate goal. But for Jess Edgar, a former F1 Academy driver, reality and ambition have led her to a new direction - one where opportunity and longevity in motorsport take precedence over the rigid pursuit of single-seaters.

Born into a motorsport family, Jess Edgar’s journey behind the wheel started almost as soon as she could walk. “I started karting when I was four years old,” she recalls. “My grandma and granddad raced, my dad and my uncle raced - I grew up watching my dad, so I wanted to follow in their footsteps.”

That early start laid the foundation for a career that saw her progress through the ranks of British karting before making the pivotal jump to single-seaters in the GB4 Championship. From there, she earned a spot in the F1 Academy, a groundbreaking initiative designed to provide greater visibility and opportunity for female drivers. Competing on a global stage, from Singapore to Abu Dhabi, was an eye-opening experience. “Coming from racing only in the UK, it was incredible to travel the world and compete in places I’d never have gone otherwise,” she reflects.

After two seasons in F1 Academy, Edgar now faces a new crossroads. The dream of Formula 1, while still aspirational, has become a more distant reality—one that she has had to reassess with pragmatism. “The dream was always F1, but after two years in F1 Academy, I’ve had to step back and realize that it’s… I don’t want to say ‘just a dream,’ but realistically, it is.”

Instead, her focus has turned to GT racing, a discipline where opportunities for professional success are far more sustainable. “There’s more realistic opportunity in GTs than in getting to F1,” she explains. “So my next step is finding sponsorship to compete in a GT championship.”

Her perspective is one shared by many talented drivers—male and female alike - who recognize that single-seaters are not the only path to a thriving motorsport career. With major

manufacturers investing in endurance racing and GT programs, the category offers stability, manufacturer backing, and long-term career prospects that F1’s limited grid cannot match.

Despite shifting her focus, Edgar remains a key figure for aspiring female racers. While some women in motorsport have faced gender-related barriers, she considers herself fortunate. “I’ve never really come across anything that made being a girl in motorsport feel different from being one of the boys,” she admits. Having grown up in the racing world, she was surrounded by family and competitors who treated her as just another driver.

Her inspiration throughout her career has been close to home. “My cousin was always a year ahead of me in racing, moving up into F4 and F3, and I always looked up to him. That was my goal—I wanted to follow that path.”

Now, she finds herself on the other side of that dynamic, knowing that her presence on the F1 Academy grid gave younger girls a reason to believe in their own potential. “It’s nice that younger girls can see us on TV and know that there’s an opportunity for them too.”

Edgar’s approach to racing is a balance of preparation, physical fitness, and adaptability. Training at Rodin Carlin’s facilities, spending time on the simulator, and keeping up with a daily gym routine all factor into her readiness for race weekends. But when asked about the mental and physical challenges of the sport, her answer is refreshingly straightforward: “I’ve never really struggled with either, to be honest. I think starting so young made me used to it.”

However, she does admit to being less fond of simulator work than some of her peers. “I’m not a massive fan of the sim,” she says with a laugh. “But it’s the best tool you have when you can’t test on track.”

For those dreaming of a seat in the F1 Academy, Edgar’s journey provides insight into how doors can open in unexpected ways. “When I started, it was the first year of the series, so no one really knew what to expect” she recalls. Initially, her sights were set on the W Series, but when the opportunity with F1 Academy arose, her family connections in Formula 3 helped spark conversations with the right people.

“My cousin was racing in F3 for MP Motorsport at the time, and through discussions, we heard about F1 Academy. He suggested we look into it, and when we spoke to Trevor and Steph at Rodin Carlin, they said they’d love to have me on the team.”

That leap into the unknown paid off, and she became part of a movement that has since gained incredible traction, racing alongside F1 and appearing in Netflix’s new motorsport documentary series. “It’s crazy to think I’ll be on Netflix,”she says. “Filming all the media activities was something I’d never have done if it weren’t for F1 Academy. Things like that are important - it shows the world that motorsport may be male-dominated, but we’re changing that.”

For those looking to follow in her footsteps, Edgar’s message is simple but powerful: “Follow your dreams. Nothing is impossible if you give 100%.”

With a new chapter on the horizon, her journey is far from over. Whether in GT racing or another championship, one thing is certain—Jess Edgar is not done making her mark on motorsport.