Who knew that a conversation about whether racers should be considered athletes along with stumbling across a McLaren video would change my perception about motorsports racing. My curiosity ended up taking over and the more research I did, the more engrossed in it I became.
Since the seventh grade, I knew I wanted a career in sports journalism. My childhood consisted of playing several sports, including basketball and badminton, but motorsports was not on that list. Being able to combine my love for writing with sharing athletes’ stories is what drew me into the field.
Over the past few years, I have grown to love many racing series, notably Formula 1 and IndyCar. There is so much more to it than simply watching drivers get strapped into their cars and go at insane speeds on different tracks in cities and countries worldwide. It’s being able to witness drivers and teams win and all the emotions that come with it, to sitting in complete silence after a devastating loss that could have been different if there were a few more corners to go or if it wasn’t for an unexpected issue that was out of the team’s or driver’s hands.
My first race experience as a member of the media came during the 2023 IndyCar season when the series made its annual stop in Toronto. I was writing for a publication and walked in awe in the paddock, seeing drivers whiz inches by me on their scooters, taking in how close I could get to these cars and seeing the teams at work making sure they were all set for their respective sessions.
I then sat in on press conferences allowing me to see the rest of the media at work. Once I observed the first session, I told myself to give the questioning a shot. Before I knew it, I was back in the media room after a wet qualifying session where Christian Lundgaard had grabbed the pole position.
“Do you think you will be able to have the same pace for tomorrow or will that be dependent on weather and other factors?” I asked when called upon.
“I hope so,” he said and went on to explain his thoughts on having a fast car, but not being the fastest lap over the weekend until then.
I wrapped up by asking him if he believed anything could happen in the race.
He paused and then said, “Anything can happen here, for sure.”
I left the track that day with adrenaline filled in my veins, itching to get back to the media center so I could have another go at asking questions and putting together my article.
That was it. I knew I wanted to regularly find myself being part of the media during race weekends and to be there in the midst of it all.
Lundgaard ended the weekend securing his first race win in the series and Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s first win of the season. It’s surely a race he, I and many others will never forget. He shaved off his iconic mustache shave in victory lane, explaining he made a bet with his best friend to get rid of it once he got that first win. The laughs, the cheers and the cameras flashing put into perspective the significance of the moment I was experiencing.
In a series so competitive and fierce, the passion from the drivers and everyone involved and the different personalities makes me want to keep coming back for more.
Within every series, there are drivers of different ages and talents, all having unique paths from where they were to where they are now and what they have/want to make of their careers. Aside from the drivers, their teams and series are made up of several individuals who additionally have their own stories of trials and successes. Tying in my storytelling, I look to make those journeys known and share what motivates them and their love for racing.
I’ve also had the opportunity to be part of my university’s formula racing team. It is named Formula Society of Automotive Engineering, using the acronym FSAE. It is a student-run team that designs, manufactures and competes with an electric car every school year, learning about what it takes to cover everything from a business standpoint, be it sponsorships to social media.
This year, I was also chosen as the annual winner of the Rod Campbell Award, which provides the recipient with six to eight weeks of paid apprentice work with a variety of motorsports organizations run by Campbell’s proteges. The award has helped jumpstart the careers of the winners in the world of motorsports. I applied for the award in late February as it piqued my interest in several aspects of the automotive and motorsports industries. After having the privilege of being the recipient, I spent the summer speaking to and working with several professionals who have given me new insights and experiences in the field. From working with the Canadian International AutoShow team to shadowing an IndyCar race with NBC Sports to other projects, I feel more encouraged to continue striving for and doing what I love within the realm of media.
I am lucky to be involved with a group of mentors and previous winners who have been supportive and attentive to the goals I have for myself within motorsports. This award has given me the chance to start my career, which I am thankful for and I hope to carry on the award’s legacy.
Besides covering motorsports as part of a career, it has also given me new connections and some of my closest friends as we share similar interests in series and teams the more we’ve spoken. I’ve lost track of the number of hours we have spent debriefing breaking news, yelling at our TV screens, and sometimes even waking up for a race before the sun is out.
In the end, it’s the highs, the lows, the sounds, the smells, the people, the teams and everything in between that reeled me into something I now can’t imagine my life without.
It just keeps getting better.
Natasha Pinto is currently studying Journalism at Toronto Metropolitan University. Having written articles, co-hosted a podcast, and run social media accounts, Natasha looks to create written and digital content within motorsports. Natasha was selected as the 2024 winner of the Rod Campbell Award. It was established as a paid summer internship to perpetuate a launchpad for young professionals looking to begin successful careers in the automotive and motorsports arenas.
