Track Blazer Spotlight: Nathalie McGloin
Nathalie McGloin competes in motorsport at a level few drivers ever reach—racing head-to-head against able-bodied competitors in some of the UK’s most competitive club series.
From Injury to Competition
At sixteen, Nathalie’s life changed after a car accident resulted in a spinal cord injury at the C6/C7 level, leaving her quadraplegic. Rather than letting her injury define her, Nathalie let her determination guide her path. Recovery was followed by a return to education and sport, where competition remained central to her life. She went on to compete at an elite level in wheelchair rugby for Great Britain before discovering the freedom of motorsports—a space where independence, performance, and precision intersect.
Racing Without a Separate Category
Today, Nathalie races an adapted Porsche 987 Cayman S fitted with radial hand controls. Her car also features a custom molded seat insert that provides feedback from the car’s movement, compensating for reduced sensation in her lower body. On track, Nathalie does not race in a separate category. She competes directly against able-bodied drivers (mostly able-bodied men) in highly competitive club championships, including the Porsche Club Championship and the Classic Sports Car Club’s New Millennium Series. In 2018, she secured a race win at Silverstone—an achievement that led to recognition by Guinness World Records and cemented her place in motorsport history.
Leadership Beyond the Track
Racing, however, is only part of Nathalie’s contribution to the sport. Since 2017, she has served as the inaugural President of the FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission. In this role, she works at an international level to improve access and inclusion in motorsports—addressing licensing pathways, vehicle adaptations, and venue accessibility while maintaining the sport’s safety standards.
Her advocacy is informed by direct experience. Nathalie understands what access looks like in practice and where systems can unintentionally exclude capable drivers. Through her leadership, she continues to push for structures that allow more disabled participants to enter and remain in the sport.
Getting Adaptive Drivers on the Track: Spinal Track
In addition to her racing and FIA leadership, Nathalie founded Spinal Track, an organization dedicated to providing track-driving experiences for people with spinal cord injuries across the UK. Much like Just Hands in the United States, Spinal Track exists to expand access to high-performance driving for individuals with paralysis—creating opportunities, building confidence, and proving that disability does not limit performance on track.
Alongside her work within motorsports governance and community-building, Nathalie is an active speaker and ambassador, encouraging greater participation among women and disabled athletes. Her message is consistent and practical: performance is measured on track, and opportunity should not be limited before the lights go out.
Nathalie McGloin’s career reflects a sustained commitment to competition, access, and progress. She races on equal terms, contributes at a global level, and continues to shape a motorsport landscape that better reflects the diversity of those who want to be part of it.
