GRACIE MITCHELL: RACING INTO THE FUTURE WITH IBERIAN SUPERCARS

The Iberian Supercars grid has long embraced female talent, and this season it features its youngest female competitor - Gracie Mitchell, a rising British driver who sees the championship as both a challenge and a springboard for her international career.

Women have become increasingly prominent within the Supercars Endurance paddock, taking on a variety of key roles both off and on track. This season features three female drivers – Nerea Martí (BMW Motorsport España), Alba Vásquez (McLaren Barcelona – SMC Motorsport), and Gracie Mitchell (Tockwith Motorsports). The latter two compete in the ultra-competitive GTX division, while the BMW M Racing Academy recruit lines up in GT4 Pro. 

The 18-year-old Brit made her Iberian Supercars debut at the final round of last season, driving a Ginetta G55 for Tockwith Motorsports. She immediately made a name for herself by claiming victory in one of the Estoril races, alongside 2023 FPAK Junior Team driver Henrique Cruz. Mitchell's impressive performance prompted the British outfit to offer her a full-season drive for 2025 – an opportunity she was quick to accept.

“Iberian Supercars became an option for me after a one-off round at Estoril last year. It was a late and unexpected call-up from the Tockwith Motorsports team to fill a seat for the weekend. The event turned out to be a real success, as we came away with a win. I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, which led to discussions about the possibility of competing in the championship for the 2025 season. It was a fraction of the cost of racing in the UK, and with everything I do being budget-dependent, it was a no-brainer to finally commit to a championship that offers not only a fantastic organisation and car, but also an incredible team,” she said. 

Mitchell’s track record includes some GB4 testing – the British F4-spec single-seater series – and a season in the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT Championship’s Am class, where she claimed three podiums. However, she’s candid about the challenges she still faces – not least her lack of the Iberian circuits knowledge. “Due to a lack of funding, I’m constantly on the lookout for new partners to come on board and support my journey, helping me get to each circuit. The main challenge this year has been that every round is on a new track (apart from Estoril), which means a great deal of preparation is needed beforehand - whether that’s time on the simulator, taking notes, or watching onboard footage - to give myself the best possible chance at each event,” explained the Tockwith driver, who shares the car this season with Italian teammate Luca Staccini. 

While the Anglo-Italian duo haven’t yet stood on the top step of the podium in the fiercely competitive GTX division, they’ve finished on the rostrum at every event – a run of consistency that has them sitting third in the Iberian Supercars and Supercars España driver standings, and second in the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade.

Understandably, Mitchell is pleased with her results so far – but her competitive streak is evident: “So far this season has been really successful! I am over half way through the season now with three rounds… and so far I have achieved at least one podium each round which has been critical for championship points. However, the bar is always set high and I am still aiming for a win this year!”  

Mitchell’s ambition is clear, with an eye on stepping up to a higher class in 2026 – if the budget allows: “Depending on budget, stepping up to the GT4 category with Tockwith in their Mercedes-AMG GT4 is definitely something I’d love to pursue, if the opportunity arises. As mentioned, this year I’m not only looking for partners for the 2025 season, but also for 2026, to potentially secure the chance to compete in the Mercedes-AMG GT4!” 

But obstacles are there to be overcome – and Gracie Mitchell is proving exactly that. Her latest challenge? Tackling a 24-hour karting race – solo – something no woman has ever attempted before in the UK.More than just a physical and mental test, Mitchell sees the solo 24-hour effort as a way to prove that women’s aspirations in motorsport are limitless.

“Breaking barriers in motorsport as a female is incredibly motivating. Taking on challenges like the 24-hour race is especially meaningful, as no woman has ever attempted the British 24H kart race as a solo driver before. It’s really important to me to take on these kinds of challenges, as I hope to be a role model for the younger generation of girls coming into the sport — to show them that it is possible!” Mitchell emphasised. 

Gracie Mitchell, along with the rest of the Supercars Endurance grid – which includes the Iberian Supercars, Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, and Supercars España – now heads into the summer break, with racing set to resume at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia on the 13th and 14th of September.