Posted October 6, 2023 by Leo Nulty News

Nicole Drought Wins at Oulton Park for Pro-AM Racing

Nicole Drought became the first woman to take a win in the UK EnduroKA series when she crossed the line to win the 5 hour Endurance race at Oulton Park in Cheshire last weekend.

The Roscrea native, who works as Finance Manager at Mondello Park, was also the first woman to take an outright win in the C1 Endurance series, when she took victory in Anglesey Circuit alongside Colin Lewis back in 2019. This season, she has driven the Pro-AM KA on three occasions. In Donington, she handed the car over in the lead, only for a suspension component to fail in the closing stages, whilst in Snetterton, she looked set for the win, before a team mate incurred a drive through penalty for exceeding track limits. This dropped them well down the order, but Nicole unlapped herself, charged back up to second and crossed the line only 40 seconds behind the winner.

This time round, Nicole was at her favourite circuit, Oulton Park, and had Will Hillyard and Justin Roberts alongside. They qualified fifth and in horrendous conditions, remained inside the top ten in the opening stages. With two hours to go, having been forced to make an extra stop, the team decided to refuel the car and put Nicole back in for the remainder of the race. With just over 2 hours and ten minutes to run, Nicole rejoined the race in twelveth position and began an incredible charge back up the order. With half an hour to go, Nicole had climbed to second and, under what was to be the final safety car, she was right on the rear bumper of the leading car of F4 racer Teddy Wilson. When the safety car pulled in there were just 20 minutes to go and Nicole was immediately on the attack.

With just 15 minutes to go, she got alongside on the exit of Old Hall corner and the pair ran side by side to Cascades. On the apporach to the downhill off camber corner, Nicole managed to get around the outisde, with an armful of opposite lock, to grab the lead. From then, the Pro-AM car went defensive and despite the best efforts of Wilson to take the lead back, crossed the line to take an impressive victory. Having broken away slightly on the final tour, Nicole set her personal fastest lap, less than a tenth off the fastest lap of the race, and well clear of the rest.

Nicole Drought: It’s great to be on the top step once again in 2023 but that was a tough race. I never stopped pushing and once I took the lead I just went defensive. As ever, the car and the Pro-AM Racing team’s strategy were second to none. I have to thank them for giving me the tools to do the job. Also thanks to all my supporters and commercial partners, I couldn’t do this without them.”

Scott Thompson, Pro-AM Racing : “Another wet weather masterclass from Nicole during her final 2hr 10min stint in horrendous conditions that saw 12 safety car periods and multiple car rolls. The last 15mins of the race were phenomenal (a must watch on the YouTube stream). A brave pass for the lead, then text book defending, making no mistakes all the way to the line to take our 2nd win of the year.”

Nicole also leads the 2023 Open Clubman Irish Rallycross Championship, which returns to Mondello Park on the 18/19 November. She returns to the UK to race at Brands Hatch later this month, driving the Pro-AM EnduroKA and a modified Honda Civic on the same weekend.

Nicole is backed by Gem Oils, ITM Digital, Siltex Safety, Joe Mallon Motor Group and the Westgrove Hotel and Leisure Centre.

Action image from Mark Lees.