UK women reach top gear

Jokes about women drivers are set to become a thing of the past, as a new breed of female petrol-head emerges.

The British love of motoring is taking its grip on women across the country, according to new research by MINT Loans. More than a sixth of women (15 per cent) indulge their obsession by watching the Grand Prix and nearly one in three (31 per cent) are hankering to take part in a track day.

It would seem that the raft of motoring programmes dominating our TV screens is inspiring this new breed of driving divas, with more than a quarter (27 per cent) being avid viewers of Top Gear.

And their passion is so great, that more than a tenth (11 per cent) will give any excuse to take to the road, even volunteering to be designated driver on nights out.

With celebrities such as Jodie Kidd and Suzi Perry making driving fashionable, it is no surprise fuel-frenzied women are playing a bigger role in the world of motor sports. Nearly one in ten (eight per cent) competition rally drivers are now female – a significant increase since the year 2000.

Female petrol heads are using a number of methods to indulge their love of motoring – one in 10 women who took out a MINT loan did so especially to buy their dream car.

Far from not knowing the inside of the bonnet, half of women say car maintenance is a top priority. And many (10 per cent) are taking this one step further by making a number of ‘boy racer’ modifications to their vehicle, including adding spoilers, alloy wheels, leather seats and sophisticated sound systems.

Such is the extent of their motoring madness many women are making sacrifices in order to purchase their dream vehicle. Nearly one in five (18 per cent) give up their social life, 17 per cent forego annual holiday and one in ten (nine per cent) put their car before fashion and buying clothes.

Jerry Toher, Managing Director of MINT said: "Our research clearly shows that today’s woman is taking a keen interest in cars and taking every opportunity to get behind the wheel. What’s really interesting is that these driving divas are prepared to make major sacrifices in order to finance their cars, whether it’s cutting back on nights out or downscaling their wardrobe.

"As we all know, cars can be a costly business. Taking out a loan is often a sensible way to finance such a purchase because it allows you to spread the cost over a longer period of time through affordable, regular payments. However, if you are planning on taking out a loan you should research the market thoroughly to make sure you’re getting a good deal and never borrow more than you can afford."