the need for speed
Sales administration manager Anita Chesterton gets her thrills in a fairly non-traditional way, and she’s encouraging more women – at whatever stage of their lives – to say yes to new adventures.
a trusted member of the team
Anita works in the cement division at Holcim UK and has been with the company for 11 years. Her day-to-day role sees her manage a busy team responsible for contract management across complex product lines and systems.
The team handles invoice queries, contract compliance and Salesforce updates that rely heavily on manual coordination, with Anita needing to be a safe pair of hands to ensure her colleagues and the technical systems work as intended.
And it’s these steady hands that have taken her to victory outside of work in the world of sprint racing and hill climb motorsports.
grabbing life (and the steering wheel) with both hands
To discover how Anita entered the fast and furious hill climbing sphere, we have to go back to when she met her husband, Andy.
Anita said: “My husband had built a Vauxhall Nova, owning it for many years before we got together.
“He wasn’t using the car at that point and, because it isn’t street legal, it had just been sitting there. I told him he may as well sell it if he’s not going to use it, but before he did, I wanted to drive it. So, for my 40th birthday he bought me a competition licence and an entry to a sprint.”
Since her first race, Anita has sped through the ranks (quite literally) and picked up many accolades to highlight her achievements.
Anita said: “The first time I drove the car was off the start line at the Curborough Sprint Course, which was quite frankly terrifying! My lap time was slow, but I’ve progressed since then and won various awards including ‘Fastest Lady’ twice and the ‘Lifeline’ trophy.
“I compete in a class called 3A, which refers to modified production. The Vauxhall Nova I race is completely modified and has an enhanced engine, roll cage and has had the entire interior stripped out to make it as light as possible.
“When the light goes green on the track, you set off to complete a circuit of the course as fast as you can. My husband also competes and sometimes I race against him because we take turns to use the car.”
Unfortunately, Anita has had to take a back seat from racing for a while after the Vauxhall Nova’s engine blew up while she was competing at Watergate Bay in Newquay.
“I can’t wait for the car to be fixed so I can get back out competing,” Anita said. “In the meantime, my husband has started another project attempting to build a classic Mini rally car. Now we have none of the cars totally finished and the issue is trying to juggle time and money!”
say yes to the unconventional
Anita has always been a self-confessed petrolhead and has come to recognise the importance of prioritising safety – something that ties into her work at Holcim as well.
“You have to wear the appropriate safety gear when you’re driving, which includes a helmet, HANS device, fireproof overalls, gloves and footwear, and then you’re strapped into the seat with a harness,” Anita explained.
“When you’re in the vehicle, it’s all about staying safe, and that’s a principle we follow at Holcim. When you’re out on site, you know safety is paramount and I’m always mindful of that even in an office environment. Our team all look out for one another and that’s a really nice feeling.”
Anita has some words of wisdom for women looking to enter an industry or take part in a sport that on first glance they might not fit into.
“If you’re interested in something and you have a passion for it, just go for it. There are plenty of supportive clubs out there so just go along!
“I think a lot of people are surprised when they find out what I do outside of work because I don’t look like your typical racing driver, but that doesn’t faze me; it just makes what I do more thrilling.”
Whether in the office or out on the track, Anita’s calmness under pressure has undoubtedly been the route to her success as she inspires more women to steer clear of stereotypes and live life in the fast lane.
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