Holly Espray

Holly Espray is a true go-getter. Her proactive approach, exemplified when she reached out to Women in Automotive (WinA), showcases her confidence and initiative. WinA immediately recognized and resonated with these qualities.

Still so young, Holly understands the dance of motorsport and media. She is acutely aware that eyeballs on your product is a huge part of the game.. As a race driver, the product is you! Espray is constantly searching for ways to improve and does not allow the difficult times or results to deter her. 

Holly began mastering the mechanical art of working on her race car many years ago and is currently racing in the V8 SuperUtes, regularly placing just outside the top 10 cars in a 22 strong grid. This is a strong start to the year in just her second SuperUte season.

Holly’s social media channels are brimming with content and she’s just getting started. We hope you enjoy our chat!

1 - Tell us a bit about what you do and what you are up to this year?

- I have taken on a huge project. Last year was my first season in the V8 SuperUtes. I did it on the smallest budget possible. This year I'm really hoping to improve on my results as my knowledge of both working on the ute and driving the ute improves. 

2 - Where did this love for racing and cars come from?

- My family has always enjoyed competition. I got into motorbikes, then into racing BMX bikes. I got a go-kart when I was seven and was told by my Dad that if I wanted to race it I had to learn how to prepare it and fix it. I built my first race car with my Dad when I was 13 and I'm so happy that that car is still racing today with another young girl in it. 

3 - What has surprised you about race car driving and working in the industry?

- Well there's always something different happening, whether it be another competitor bumping you down the straight, trying to drive around a wrong set up or an issue with the car. The speed at which the car travels and things can go wrong very quickly. I found this out at Bathurst when a small car issue put me in the wall.

4 - Tell us about a tough time and how you overcame it.

- I raced at Phillip Island last year (2023) in May and it was the worst race meeting ever. It didn't stop raining all weekend. I got bumped into a spin (in one of the races) then t-boned by another car so I was out for the weekend. It was a very long drive home and a large part of me wanted to say I'm done! I worked really hard to repair the car and was so happy to get to the next round at Sydney Motorsport park in April.

5 - What's the end goal?

My end goal is to be the first successful [female] V8 Supercar driver. I think it's amazing what Simona [De Silvestro] and Renee [Gracie] have done but I really would like to be a genuine championship contender… or maybe I might try Nascar :) 

6 - How do you juggle everything? Is work life balance a myth? 

My life is a constant juggling act, so I have decided to just take on casual work as it was ridiculously difficult getting enough time off from a full time job. I spend my time between the dining room table (where I am now) chasing sponsorship, the garage working on race cars, and handing people their food at Guzman y Gomez! :) I will soon be starting another casual job at Repco.

7 - What are your daily habits that help you succeed? What tools do you use?

I always have a clear goal of what I need to do each day, so my tools vary between a laptop, a mobile phone and a spanner!

8 - One piece of advice to young women entering racing or wanting to be a mechanic?

I think the most important thing is to make sure it's definitely your passion. It's a long road and it's a hard road but if it's what you want to do then you're not really working you are just living your passion. So whether it's learning how to change a gearbox or maximising your throttle application out of turn three, you're going to enjoy every second of it.

Thanks for talking to us Holly. We look forward to following your journey!