Charlotte Phelps is an experienced Data, Systems, and Race engineer, who currently works as a Race Engineer for MP Motorsport and full-time Director of the racing company Vivace Motorsport. Having been involved within a variety of motorsport categories such as the W Series and Formula 1, with over a decade of experience in the Paddock, Phelps has gained useful experience in data analysis and has worked with drivers such as recent F1 Academy Driver Emely De Heus, supporting the drivers in achieving a pole position, a race win, and a podium throughout the 2023 F1 Academy season amongst other World, British, and Club championships.
Charlotte’s involvement in the racing industry spans nearly 10 years, initially working as a placement student for the Mercedes AMG High-Performance Powertrains before becoming a full-time Strategy Engineer, responsible for data analysis and the development of new data analysis tools and techniques alongside other duties.
“My role covered multiple different activities but can be summarised mostly as data analysis. The Strategy team is responsible for defining where new Power Unit components are introduced through the season, as well as how each of the components can be run at the circuit. We did this by analyzing data from running at the factory and providing support throughout race weekends to ensure maximum performance is being extracted from the running envelope. (Formula Careers)
Charlotte Phelps standing next to a model Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Car (Formula Careers)
In addition to this event support, we also provided data support to the other engineers in the factory, providing the software and tools they need to be able to analyze data most efficiently and effectively.” (Formula Careers)
When she was younger, Phelps had no intention of going into engineering or even a career in motorsport, initially working towards a career in music and theatre before she discovered engineering. Whilst at school, she studied both Further Mathematics, Physics, and History to give her a well-rounded academic subject package. Whilst at university, she discovered her passion for motorsport, majoring in Electronics Engineering with Music Technology Systems, before applying to the Mercedes AMG HPP (High-Performance Powertrains) to be a placement student, therefore taking the route to Formula 1. Within her former role, she expressed her enjoyment of the thrill and unpredictability of the sport.
“The best thing about my job is that no two days are the same. Projects are fast-moving and varied, so it’s never boring! And of course, having a direct and tangible impact at the circuit throughout a race weekend is amazing.” (Formula Careers)
Phelps with Abbi Pulling, current F1 Academy Driver for Rodin Carlin and Alpine Academy
While having a love for the job, Phelps has expressed her struggles with self-confidence and taking the initiative to do what she wanted to do without caring about what others thought.
“My biggest challenge has always been my self-confidence. Knowing what I wanted, and having the confidence to go for it, despite what others may think, was and is a huge challenge, but the more I do it, the more my confidence grows.” (Formula Careers)
Nevertheless, Phelps has consistently persevered through challenges and believes one of the best things to help her get where she was, was engaging in a variety of extracurricular activities, both in and out of motorsports.
“The best thing I did to get where I am today was to get involved in as many extracurriculars as I could, whether motorsport-related or not. Of course, having a motorsport-related hobby was great when it came to applications and interviews, but any sort of keen interest in something is great to be able to talk about, and separates you from the crowd of people with the same qualifications as you.” (Formula Careers)
As a hillclimb, sprint driver, and race engineer, Phelps has had the opportunity to experience both supporting and being in the racecar. She has positive aspirations for the future and hopes to further her experience and understanding within her role at MP Motorsport. As a Member of the Motorsport UK Women In Motorsport Committee, and STEM Ambassador for the Dare to be Different initiative created by F1 Academy Manager Susie Wolff, she was involved in running an activity in which the girls she taught worked together to build a hoverboard, to take them through the design, building, and implementation stages involved in the engineering process. In her multifaceted roles as both a driver and a race engineer, Phelps embodies a deep commitment to pushing boundaries and inspiring the next generation of women in motorsport and STEM fields. As she continues to fuel her passion at MP Motorsport, Phelps actively contributes to the empowerment of future female engineers, setting a positive example on both the race track and the realms of education and empowerment.
Citations:
McGrath, Louise. "Women in Motorsport Series - Charlotte Phelps, Strategy Engineer - Formula Careers." Formula Careers, 9 Oct. 2020, formulacareers.com/case-study/charlotte-phelps/. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.
"Charlotte Phelps - MP Motorsport | LinkedIn." LinkedIn, www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-phelps-33578587/?originalSubdomain=uk. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.
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