Charlotte Traynor on her MX-5 Cup scholarship win and prototype dream

Fresh off her monumental win of the 2025 Women in Motorsports MX-5 Cup Scholarship, 19-year-old Charlotte Traynor joins The Creative Drive podcast from the PRI Show!

Charlotte opens up about her unconventional journey into racing—from a family of pilots to a competitive gymnast—and the moment she knew a race car was her calling. She details how a chance encounter led her to the Mazda MX-5 Cup, a highly competitive and strategic series under the IMSA banner.

This episode dives into:

• What the $100,000 scholarship means for her 2026 season in the Mazda MX-5 Cup.
• Dealing with the pressure of racing, battling imposter syndrome, and finding resilience after hearing from trailblazers like Lynn St. James.
• Her dedication to intense physical training in the Arizona heat and professional sim racing to achieve her ultimate goal of racing a prototype car in the WeatherTech Championship.
• Why she is committed to sharing her real, unvarnished story with fans to break the "robot" race car driver mold and inspire the next generation.
• Her drive to become the first female driver to win a Mazda MX-5 Cup race.

Watch the full conversation below.