Historic official appointments for Sydney opener

Jessica Nicholson and Felicity Wood have become the latest women in Australian Motorsport to make history, being appointed a race director and technical delegate respectively of a national motorsport series.

Nicholson will take on the role of race director of the 2022 Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Series, while Wood is the category’s technical delegate.

The national series is one of a number of Australia’s leading race categories to feature at the season-opening Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight.

The new Dunlop Super2 Series season will open at Sydney Motorsport Park, with Aussie Racing Cars Super Series and Touring Car Masters confirmed for the event.

The latest breakthrough comes after Kaye Callandar was appointed as the first female Clerk of Course for the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight earlier this month.

The feat comes after long-serving official Danielle Meyn was appointed to be Clerk of Course for the scheduled Perth SuperNight last September before the event was cancelled due to COVID-related border restrictions.

Long term official Nicholson enters the role with an array of experience in motorsport, having previously held the role of deputy race director in Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia.

“It’s nice to graduate once again. I am so excited because I have a really good team of people around me, like Glenn Pincott, and a really good category, so I am looking forward to working with them,” Nicholson said.

"Although I didn’t get as many rounds as I would have liked in the Carrera Cup due to travel restrictions, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time there and I learned quite a bit being part of the Porsche. 

"However, the real opportunity to flourish came at the Bathurst 1000 where I was able to be Deputy Race Directory for four categories and I think that played a major role in my selection.

"It was also was amazing because it boosted my confidence too. I worked so hard for those six days and did the best I could do, so to be rewarded with this position as Race Director was quite pleasing.

“I think I am ready. I am obviously a bit nervous, but I have had a taste of what I will be doing and I have some familiarity with the category and the individuals in it, so I know what I am in for.”

Nicholson, Wood and Callander will all be in race control in their respective roles during the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight at Sydney Motorsport Park on 4-6 March.