An incredibly talented young driver, Alisha Palmowski has signed off on a transformative 12 months after enjoying her first season on the Ginetta Junior grid.

It’s been an intense year for 16-year-old Alisha, who recently completed her debut car racing season, after spending years mastering karts.

It hasn’t been without its challenges, but nevertheless Alisha has proven her levels of determination and motivation to succeed, owning her place on the starting grid.

Despite not finishing quite where she wanted to in the regular championship, the St Philip Howard student made an inspiring comeback during the Winter Series, where she was proud to finish in second place.

“It was perfect to end the season on a high and finally get the results that we thought we may have missed out on during the main championship.

“I think the Winter Series can sometimes be underestimated in terms of its difficulty level because it is such a short championship.

“But in reality, the pressure that comes with that is immense. It is key to be consistent and there is no margin for error as it could be costly.

“To come away with two pole positions and two podiums was just amazing and it ends a really unexpected year,” she said.

Not only are these achievements vital for Alisha’s racing CV, but they have also provided her with a great confidence boost ahead of the new season, proving that with hard work she can succeed highly on the track.

“We’re on the off season now and everything goes quieter, so to be in the right head space and have that confidence ahead of the new season is fantastic.

“We have the confidence now that we have achieved, so there’s no reason we can’t achieve next year,” Alisha said.

After a whirlwind 12 months packed with races, testing and events, Alisha is now enjoying some down time, yet with schoolwork on the horizon she doesn’t get much time to relax.

She says the off season can sometimes feel strange, routine is suddenly switched, and racing ceases to exist. Yet Alisha doesn’t like to take it easy and uses this time to increase her fitness levels.

“I’m working to keep on top of my fitness levels because it is an element I can control and helps me to get an advantage over the other drivers.

“I’m either training or doing homework at the moment.”

Life for any Year 11 student is testing and often stressful, but when you’re a professional athlete, the pressure can feel even more intense.

Alisha believes in the importance of balance and believes it is key to enjoy both work and sport in equal measures.

“I’m lucky that I’ve got a supportive school with St Philip Howard, I’ve just had my mock GCSEs and they went really well.

“It’s about balancing school and racing life, I’m doing well at the moment, but it can be a challenge as an athlete,” she said.

Whether on the track or off it, Alisha has proven to be an incredibly bright mind, bursting with talent.

It was only 13 months ago that she won her prestigious Ginetta Junior Scholarship, enabling her to race on the Ginetta grid in 2022. However, this year she was given a less nerve-wracking role as she sat on the judging panel.

“It was great to see Chase Fernandez win the scholarship this year, around 60 drivers enter so it is no mean feat to win. I was there myself to show support and it was a great experience to see it from the other side on the judge’s perspective.

“I’m really pleased to see Chase get the opportunity to be on the grid next year, I know just how fantastic it is and I’m pleased to be racing alongside him in 2023.”

Making an impression in the Ginetta team, Alisha was blown away after being voted as the Ginetta Junior Driver of the Year, receiving the most votes from a pool of thousands of members.

Athlete, scholar and mentor, there’s not much that Alisha doesn’t do. Adding fundraiser to this list, Alisha is proud to represent Support Dogs UK and is already gearing up for events with them next year.

She’s had a plethora of success this year, but the 16-year-old superstar always remembers to keep herself grounded and look back at her journey.

“It’s been a challenging year for me, learning the new car and the new tracks. When I look back at the development I’ve made as a person, let alone as a driver, it’s like two different people,” she said.

From winning the scholarship a year ago, to finishing in podium positions, Alisha says if she could give any advice to her previous self, it would be to always believe.

“I would tell myself to have that inner confidence that you can do it all. Changes can become overwhelming and daunting at times, but my advice would be to always be confident.

“It’s not an easy path but it’s never over until it’s over, keep going and the results will come,” she said.

Alisha’s success this year truly is monumental. Her career in motorsport is looking increasingly promising, a further 12 months could take her on the journey of a lifetime.

Alisha is currently seeking sponsorship for partners to come on board for the 2023 season, you can view more on her work here.

Do you know an inspirational sporting woman in Tameside or Glossop?

Women in Sport is a weekly column which shares the incredible stories of ladies involved in sport across the area. We are always on the lookout for fresh stories to tell. To nominate someone for the column or get involved yourself, please email Katie on katie.catherall@questmedianetwork.co.uk. 

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