In this episode of She Dares Wins, recorded live at the Be Right Back event, Michelle sits down with Tessa Wittock, a stunt driver and car drifter whose journey takes her from investment banking in London to drifting in muddy fields, then all the way to Hollywood, working on Mission Impossible 7 with Tom Cruise.Tessa shares how she got hooked on drifting after a passenger ride in a Skyline, built her own off-road Suzuki Vitara, and taught herself to drift before going on to win European drift titles and carve out a name in a male-dominated motorsport and stunt world.This conversation is packed with adrenaline, honesty, and practical advice for anyone who wants to push past their limits—on the track or in life.In This Episode, We Cover:From banking to burnout (the good kind):How Tessa left investment banking to pursue drifting full-time and what that transition really looked like.Learning to drift from scratch:Her early cars: Fiesta ST, Focus ST, VXR Nürburgring, Suzuki VitaraTeaching herself in muddy fields and at Santa PodBeing a visual learner and jumping into other people’s cars to improve.Breaking into stunts & Mission Impossible 7:How drifting opened doors to the British stunt worldHer mentor Terry Grant and introduction to stunt director Wade EastwoodAuditioning against other female drivers and landing Mission Impossible 7Driving everything from BMW M5 to a military H2 HummerWhat it’s like doing one-shot, high-pressure stunts with multiple cameras and huge crews.Competing at the top level in drifting:Winning Queen of Europe and placing second in King of EuropeHandling (and sometimes not handling) the pressure of qualifyingThe infamous “Ticked Off at Teesside” story and what she learned from it.Women in motorsport & role models:Navigating a male-dominated industry and not letting it define her limitsEarly female inspirations: Belinda Chalice and Lisa BranchWhy she admires Jess Hawkins and the impact of F1 AcademyHer message to young women: “If I can do it, anybody can.”Teaching others to drift:Running her drift academy at Three Sisters Circuit in WiganWhy she believes anyone can learn to drift—students aged 81 and 84 includedHer top tips for first-time drifters (including Caterham drivers):Look where you want to goUse your eyes to guide your handsAlways be two steps ahead on trackCommon misconceptions racing drivers have when they try drifting.Mindset, nerves & performing under pressure:How Tessa manages nerves on the start lineThe music she uses to get in the zone (drum & bass)Using mental checklists before a run to stay calm and focusedDealing with self-doubt and moments that made her feel “not good enough”Pivoting, pushing on, and continually challenging herself.Cars, dreams & what’s next:Her dream garage – drift car, A90 Supra build, off-roaders, and supercarsWorking as a product expert for Rolls-Royce, driving long distances and on trackWhy she wants to try rally and ultimately something Dakar-relatedPlans for a touring drift academy to bring drifting around the UK.The She Dares Wins “Dare”:Tessa’s dare to other women:Challenge yourself to do something different and out of your comfort zone—every day if you can.Tessa’s dare to herself:Step into rallying and push into a completely new motorsport discipline.https://berightback.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
