23rd January 2013

Liverpool baker to race in Lithgow - From the Liverpool Champion

Baker and racing car driver: Katherine Wilson with the clubman racing kart she will drive at Lithgow this weekend. Picture: Luke Fuda/Liverpool Champion

IN her trade Katherine Wilson works night shift as a baker.

On most weekends, however, the 30-year-old, from Liverpool, dispenses with the white coloured baker and pastry chef uniforms, dons her motor racing suit, pops on a helmet, and goes kart racing.

Wilson uses choice cake and pastry recipes to cook the best for customers, and also strives for perfection on the racetrack.

And this Saturday and Sunday at Lithgow Raceway, Wilson will compete in the seventh annual Women’s Race Meeting to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

All competitors will wear pink.

The Australian Karting Association runs the meeting and Wilson can’t wait to go “full throttle” in the clubman racing category class.

“Kart racing is my passion, and I grew up in a motor sport family,” she said.

“One of the best things about the sport is the adrenalin rush and the speed.”

But it was only four years ago that she turned to kart racing after coming from a soccer background.

Her brother Gordon suggested she try the sport.

Wilson also does martial arts training on a weekly basis to maintain her fitness.

She said her partner, Paul, has also been supportive of her kart racing; he attends every meeting.

His car tows the trailer loaded with the race kart.

Wilson pointed out that the 100cc engines generate plenty of horsepower during the races.

“You can get up to speeds of 85 kilometres per hour.”

The annual cancer fund-raiser is of course an important cause to support with the kart racing.

“This will be my fourth year racing at Lithgow.”

She is chasing a pink plate, to be awarded to the winner of the final this Sunday.