FULL THROTTLE
The Next Generation of Canadian Women in Motorsports
Introduction
It doesn’t matter who you are, we compete equally, the car does not know the difference.
Katherine Legge, Professional Race Car Driver.
The vast majority of sporting events are strictly divided along gender lines: men compete against men; women compete against women. Very few sports see all athletes competing head-to-head. Motorsport is one of them; the attributes and characteristics typified by gender–like strength and power–fall to the wayside in favour of skills like mental quickness and strategy.
The racetrack is the perfect stage for a team of ambitious drivers to shatter gender barriers in the relentless pursuit of their goals.
Passion, Speed & the Pursuit of Progress.
Breaking into the highest levels of motorsport takes incredible dedication and sacrifice. Racers must sharpen their mental strength and hone the connection between their mind and body differently than any other athletes.
In October 2021, three Canadian motorsport athletes - Nicole Havrda, Demi Chalkias, and Cherie Storms - would pilot the powerful Mercedes-AMG GT4 in an endurance race at California’s Buttonwillow Raceway Park. Determined to establish themselves as serious competitors in a male-dominated sport, they set out to level the racetrack and inspire others by proving what’s possible.
Meet the Women Behind the Wheel
Nicole Havrda
@nicolehavrdaracing
Nicole has always been competitive, spending her formative years as a ski racer and a competitive swimmer. However, it wasn't until she saw her first Formula 1 race in person that she set her sights on an auto racing career. She started racing karts, and by the end of her first season, she was winning races. She has now moved from karts to cars and is currently preparing to compete in Formula 3 competition across North America this season.
Demi Chalkias
@demichalkias
Demi knows all about conviction and determination. After life as an elite triathlete, she set her sights on auto racing. Starting from karts, Demi soon transitioned to cars and started seeing success. She has seen the top step of the podium at many races. She won the 2018 GT4 Championship and, in 2020, became the first woman to win the CASC GT3 Championship. When Demi is not racing, she teaches advanced driving, conducts public speaking events and works with charitable organizations.
Cherie Storms
@cheriestorms
As the three-time Sports Car Club of BC Competitor of the Year recipient, Cherie has always had a strong connection to motorsport. Her father was an experienced racer and instructor, so it was only natural that she would find herself behind the wheel building a reputation for herself. She competes across Canada and the USA in both sprint and endurance sportscar racing. When she is not on the track, she is a mentor in an organization dedicated to promote and encourage female racers
Going Full Throttle
When it comes to the track at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, endurance means more than just hours of driving. Drivers must endure the unrelenting siege of competitors vying for their position at every turn and on every straight. They have to push through the sunset, as the light turns some of the fastest turns on the track into blind corners where drivers must rely on instinct and memory to accelerate through. Then, the drivers and their vehicles have to work in concert to survive the grueling pace of racing at the absolute limit for hours on end without wavering until, finally, the checkered flag waves.
Not just anyone, or any vehicle, can survive or even thrive in this type of environment, but that’s what makes this team of extraordinary women and their Mercedes-AMG GT4 so special. It’s these types of situations, where we find ourselves pushing past our limits, barriers are broken and perceptions are changed.
If you want to see more, check out the trailer of the Full Throttle documentary, streaming soon.
55 Years of Driving Performance.
For 55 years, Mercedes-AMG has been pushing the limits of performance automobiles and the drivers that pilot them, knowing that the end result depends on the synergy between the two. That’s why, from the road to the track, every Mercedes-AMG model is designed and built with the driver in mind; giving them the tools and resources they need to succeed in a highly competitive environment.
Explore Mercedes-AMG