The world’s first female quadriplegic racing driver paid a visit to students in Southgate to share some wisdom.
Paralysed from the chest down having broken her neck in a car accident at 16, Nathalie McGloin made her racing debut in 2015 and now competes alongside able bodied drivers in her specially adapted Porsche.
She visited Barnet & Southgate College today (September 29) to speak about her experiences and receive a tour of the college’s Learners with Learning Disabilities (LLDD) centre.
Nathalie also visited the motorsport workshop, home to college racing team BSC Racing, who compete in mainstream championships with four racing cars converted and tuned by the college’s motorsport students.
She said: “Barnet and Southgate College is leading the way in disability provision which is an issue very close to my heart.
“Their motorsport department is also offering some great opportunities to students and I hope to show them through my racing that for young people, even those with a disability, the sky is the limit.
“If they really want to do something, they can find a way to achieve it.”
Nathalie’s racing Porsche made an appearance and students got the chance to hop on board to see how the car has been adapted with an automatic gear box and a hand-operated accelerator and braking system.
Barnet and Southgate College Principal David Byrne said: “Nathalie really is an inspiration to us all and it has been a great experience having her here today meeting our LLDD and Motorsport students.
“The learning disabilities centre of excellence at the College has been open for two years now and it is undoubtedly the best facility of its kind in London with dedicated facilities students with learning difficulties be able to come and learn academic and employment skills.”
By Rhys Handley
