Alice Powell
A British racing driver who shattered the glass ceiling in single-seater formulas, proving women could not just compete but win championships.
Born 1993 (age 33)·British racing driver·Birthday: January 26·Millennials
Biography
Alice Powell arrived on the motorsport scene with a quiet determination that quickly turned into a roar. Growing up in Oxfordshire, she climbed the karting ladder before making a historic leap into car racing. Her 2010 season wasn't just a good year; it was a landmark, as she seized the Formula Renault UK title, becoming the first woman to ever win a championship in that series. She carried that momentum into the fiercely competitive GP3 Series, again breaking new ground by scoring points. After a brief hiatus, her return was marked by international success in Asia. Powell found a perfect platform in the all-female W Series, where her calculated aggression and experience shone, netting her a race victory and establishing her as a veteran leader. Beyond the cockpit, she has become a respected voice in commentary, advocating for greater diversity in a sport she continues to challenge.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alice was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alice Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Alice's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first woman to win a Formula Renault championship, taking the 2010 UK title.
- First woman to score championship points in the GP3 Series in 2012.
- Won the International Class of the Asian Formula Renault Series in 2014.
- Secured a race victory and multiple podiums during the inaugural 2019 W Series season.
Did You Know?
She was the first woman to win a Formula Renault race at the Brands Hatch circuit.
Powell tested for the Formula E team Envision Virgin Racing in 2021.
She runs a karting team, Alice Powell Racing, to help develop young drivers.
“I just want to race, to compete, and to win on equal terms.”
