From professional drivers and mechanics to influencers and business owners, women are not only part of the conversation but are actively driving Northern Ireland's car scene forward.
These women are and have redefined what it means to be involved in the automotive world, proving that passion for cars knows no gender.
From behind the wheel to behind the scenes, these women are breaking barriers, inspiring the next generation, and making their mark.
Here are 10 women driving Northern Ireland’s car scene forward:
5. Molly Kerr
Drifting runs in the Kerr family, with Molly Kerr, the younger sister of renowned drifter Harry Kerr, quickly rising as a star in the world of drift racing. Known for her fearless driving and technical skills, Molly has quickly made a name for herself on the drift scene. With a deep passion for motorsport, she’s not just participating in drift events, she’s dominating them. Her skill behind the wheel, combined with her dedication to mastering the art of drifting, has earned her respect in the tight-knit drift community. Competing across England and Scotland, she continues to push the boundaries of the sport, inspiring other women to pursue motorsport and showing that there’s no limit to what can be achieved with passion, drive, and determination. Photo: Molly Kerr Facebook
6. Vicky Cunningham
With more than 55k followers on her social media, Vicky has built a dedicated following by showcasing her hands-on work with cars, whether its installations, builds, or breaking them down and fixing them again. A true Honda enthusiast, Vicky has an impressive collection of the iconic brand, and her passion for cars shines through in every project she shares. From restoring classic models to customizing modern ones, she shares her journey on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Also, Vicky works closely with Raze Automotive, an automotive apparel retailer, blending her expertise with a love for car culture both on and off the road. Photo: Vicky Cunningham Facebook
7. Abby Higgins
A true German car enthusiast, Abby Higgins is making her mark in the automotive world through her work with Storm Competitions and Lisburn’s Auto Salvage. Abby is always hands-on, fixing up her own cars and showcasing them at major car shows like Dubshed. With nearly 100k followers on social media, she shares her deep car knowledge, from restorations to performance upgrades, inspiring a large and engaged community of automotive fans. Photo: Abby Higgins Facebook
8. Bernadette Collins
Bernadette Collins is a highly respected Formula One strategy analyst for Sky Sports and F1TV, and a former F1 strategy engineer for the Aston Martin F1 team. Her career began as a trainee at McLaren after graduating from Queen’s University Belfast in 2009. Just three years later, Collins became a performance engineer and was promoted to lead that role in 2014, working alongside 2009 World Champion Jenson Button. In 2015, she joined Force India, where she played a pivotal role in helping the team secure 4th place in the 2016 Constructors’ Championship. Outside of her technical career, Collins was an ambassador for the UK government’s Make it in Great Britain campaign in 2012 and was named to Forbes' 2016 30 Under 30 list for Manufacturing & Industry in Europe, cementing her as a trailblazer in motorsport engineering. Photo: pexels