Chloe Chambers: F1 Academy, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, and What It Takes to Race at the Highest Level
Be Differential
Chloe Chambers: F1 Academy, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, and What It Takes to Race at the Highest Level
Be Differential · Jun 30, 2026
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40:50
Person
Chloe Chambers
A talented young American race car driver who races in major championships for sports cars and open-wheel formula cars.
Topic
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
A racing series where everyone drives the exact same model of high-performance Lamborghini race car, making the races highly competitive.
Person
Max Verstappen
One of the most famous and successful modern Formula 1 drivers, who started racing in F1 at an incredibly young age.
Person
Kimi Antonelli
A highly hyped young Italian race car driver who was signed to a top Formula 1 team's development program as a teenager because of his incredible speed.
Topic
W Series
A former racing championship exclusively for female drivers, designed to help them get noticed and progress to higher levels of motorsport.
Topic
F1 Academy
A racing series created by Formula 1 specifically to help young women develop their skills and climb the ladder toward the top levels of racing.
Brand
Haas F1 Team
The only American-owned team currently competing in Formula 1, the highest level of international car racing.
Term
open-wheel racing
A type of car racing where the cars have exposed wheels outside the main body and an open cockpit, looking like traditional 'formula' cars rather than regular street cars.
Place
Laguna Seca
A famous race track in California known for a crazy, steep downhill S-curve called the 'Corkscrew.'
Place
Watkins Glen
A famous, very fast race track in New York state that has hosted some of the biggest car races in American history.
Place
Monza
A historic race track in Italy famous for being incredibly fast, with long straightaways where cars can reach their maximum speeds.
Term
reverse grid
A racing rule where the fastest qualifiers or finishers from a previous race are forced to start at the back of the pack, making them fight their way to the front.
Term
track walk
When race car drivers walk around the track on foot before the race starts to look closely at the pavement, bumps, and corners to plan their driving strategy.
Place
Road America
A massive, scenic race track in Wisconsin that is highly loved by drivers for its fast straightaways and beautiful countryside setting.
Term
multi-class racing
A race where different types of cars—some much faster than others—are all on the track racing at the same time, requiring drivers to constantly pass slower cars.
Term
Pro-Am
A type of racing where a professional driver and a non-professional (amateur) driver share the same car, taking turns driving during the race.
Car
Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo
A high-performance race car version of the Lamborghini Huracán supercar, built specifically for drivers to compete against each other in identical cars.
LIVE
Hello, everybody, and welcome back to this week's episode of the Be Differential podcast.
I'm your host, Eva Gregory, and this week we are joined by professional racing driver
with Rafa Racing Chloe Chambers.
Hello, thank you for having me on. I'm super excited.
Thank you for saying yes to the listeners. Chloe and I met last year at the Women with Drive Summit.
We were kind of on a panel together that I was moderating, and it's just been so cool to see
even your journey transitioning out of last season into this season and what that looks like.
Before we really dive in, are there any kind of high key points you'd like the listeners to know
about you? Well, I think the biggest thing obviously is where I'm racing this year.
We are about halfway through our season, and I am racing in the Lamborghini Super Trafeo
North America Championship this year. So it's my first full year in sports cars. I guess also
my first time doing things with a teammate in the same car. So a big learning curve, but
it's been really fun with my teammate and just with the team in general.
So and of course racing back in the US. So yeah, super exciting.
No, absolutely. And I want to get into all of your current season experiences. But before we do,
how about we take it back, kind of introducing Chloe Chambers. What got you started in motorsport?
How do you kind of see yourself having been formed in this space? Was it something that was just like
when you were a kid, kind of talk to us about the introduction of motorsport?
Yeah, well, I grew up watching Formula One on TV. My dad was a big fan when he was a kid.
And I think that's a little bit because of the fact that he's British. So it's a little bit more
in their culture than it is here in the US. So especially when I was younger, it's not what
Formula One is today. So growing up watching it was always intriguing to me. And I just asked
my dad one day if I could drive basically and try doing what they're doing. And so
luckily with my dad's knowledge on the sport, he knew to take me go karting as the first step.
And that's where I got started. I love that so much. And I feel like we hear this kind of pathway
for a lot of professional drivers now, but it's so cool when you have that support system
at such a young age to be able to say, yeah, let's try it and see what happens, you know.
So what was you went karting? Do you remember the first time you went karting?
I do remember it. I remember it was cold because it was in like November time in New York. So
I was that already showed my dedication. That's a valid point. That's a good point. Do you remember
kind of that feeling of when you were first driving?
I think the main thing that I remember is like being nervous, but not necessarily being scared.
Like I think that's something that a lot of people ask me even now. They're like, oh,
do you ever like, does that not scare you? And even when I was first starting out my like my
first day in a go kart, it never scared me so to say. I mean, I was nervous because it was new
and whatever, but like it was like those kind of excited nerves of like wanting to see what it's
like basically. Yeah, absolutely. So talk to us a little bit. Once you started getting your footing
in karting, what was your experience like? Did you end up doing competitions? Did you end up kind
of driving at a competitive level in karting? Or was it more the introduction? And then you
kind of started getting involved with cars? Well, yeah. So I ended up racing karts for
eight years, I believe. So maybe nine, actually eight. It was eight. I ended up racing karts for
eight years. So I think a lot of drivers now will do maybe three or four years in karts and then go
into cars. But I think the big thing with like my family's decisions and my decisions have always
been based on if I'm ready to go to the next step, it never really was like, just trying to push me
up as fast as possible, which I think is kind of a thing now because, you know, it started with Max
Restappan when he was very young. So then other kids decided that they wanted to start moving up
really fast. And, you know, now you have Kimmy, who's obviously doing pretty crazy things, being
so young. But I think I ended up racing karts for eight years. I ended up racing in, obviously
starting off in like club level, going up into regional level, national level. I never quite
raced overseas in karts, but I raced in Canada, so technically international. So that was kind of
my carting career was pretty extensive. And then I decided to make the jump up into cars.
Well, I love that. I think the call out that you just shared of waiting until you were ready
is so important because you're right. There's a lot of folks and parents now, whether it's
living vicariously or pushing for the best and fastest, you know, growth process or growth path
for their kids. And sometimes that can cause longer term challenges. So I love that you guys
decided kind of together, okay, we're going to wait until you're totally ready and established.
And then talk to us about that transition into cars. What did that look like?
Yeah, well, I had a pretty like one of a kind opportunity to go and race a car.
I had somebody who basically reached out and was starting a race team and would just pay for the
whole thing in a season of exactly. Yeah. And, you know, you have to say yes to those things,
right? So I would never have raced a car if it weren't for that. And then, you know, you can go
on to say that it, you know, led to pretty much everything else that happened. So I did almost
a full season of Formula Four United States. And then basically later on that year, so that was in
2021. Later on that year, that was when I got the call up for an invite to a basically like a try
out for W series. And W series was kind of the predecessor to F1 Academy. And it was
free to enter you actually won money. So, you know, that was another thing that obviously I
would not be saying no to racing on F1 weekends too. That was like, obviously super exciting for
me, but also for my for my parents who are big F1 fans too. I love that you got to provide that
kind of access in. That's so cool. For the W series, you're saying, you know, that was kind of the
predecessor of F1 Academy. And was it like in this competition process, was it like a shootout style
structure? Or what was it? How was it structured at the time?
So they had, I believe it was nine of us going to, or maybe it was 12, it was like
nine or 12 drivers who all went to this track in Arizona that I think none of us had been to before.
I know at least myself and majority of the drivers had never been there before. So it was kind of like
authentic as you'd get it. So they basically told us there at that test who would be going on to
the preseason test for W series in Barcelona and then they'd narrow down another like two or three
drivers in Barcelona. So then you'd get your full grid of 18 for the full season.
So it was like a true process. It wasn't like shootout right here and now it's decided. I mean,
maybe a little bit, but it sounds like there was still some more vetting to do. Okay. So
talk to us about your experience once you were in the W series. I mean, really, what was that like?
You know, again, you're racing F1 weekends, you're getting this access,
development. What was your kind of experience or takeaway from that series? I mean, it was kind
of just one of those like once in a lifetime type of things where, you know, my first F1 race that
I'd ever been to in my life, I was racing at. So that was Miami of 2022. So the first year that
they held Miami, I was racing in it. So that was super exciting for me. I got to bring my parents
with me. And I think that year as a whole kind of got me more used to doing all of the media stuff.
And I guess racing with F1 and being on those weekends and having that many fans at the track
and many that many people watching us. And then, you know, with F1 Academy, it was like that,
but like times a million. Because F1 Academy just gained so much traction. So it was kind of just
like a first step. Yeah. What was it like for you to be a part of really the kind of first unveiling
of F1 Academy and like coming into its early stages? Well, that was something. So I had,
I had been following F1 Academy since its first year. So in 2023, I was at the beginning of 2023,
I was like freshly out of W Series. I was racing in New Zealand and Formula Regional. So I was still
in the open wheel space. But I think it was difficult for me to get into F1 Academy that
year, mainly because up until that point, I had never had a manager. I sort of was trying to break
into the European space, so to say. And it was just something that was difficult, just doing it
with my family and I, we all live in the US. So that's kind of already a big thing. You lose
like half the day with the time changes and everything. And then, I think also we were
a little bit late on getting into the whole F1 Academy space because I was still
doing W Series up until the end of that last year. So I guess like kind of realizing that
F1 Academy was happening was something that we weren't really aware of until late.
So for 2023, I sort of just watched. And I think honestly, it's the best thing that could have
happened to me because 2024 is where F1 Academy really started getting big. They started having
direct support from the F1 teams. So I got to represent Haas in the first year. And then,
of course, that kind of my results and my performance that year had kind of led me into
being part of the Red Bull Academy program in last year in 2025. So that was probably the best
thing that could have happened to me not getting it in 2023. And, you know, it turned out to be
something super memorable. I learned so much in just those two years. So I will definitely never
be forgetting that. That's incredible. And I love that moment of pause of maybe, yeah, you
didn't get in that first year, but also to be able to observe for a little bit, I think is really
an upper hand while you're observing and watching your developing continues. So I think that's just
incredible to be able to say, you know what, it happened how it was meant to, you know, and definitely,
you know, your performance within F1 Academy and that weekend after weekend when you did compete
there, it was just incredible to be able to see that's kind of when I started learning about you
anyway as it was. So it's cool to just, you know, have those conversations and then see the development
and see what was accomplished in that time. So let's talk about now you're in Lamborghini Super
Trofeo. What has this experience looked like? What has kind of that transition been? I mean,
going from open wheel tonight and kind of getting your foot in in different areas. Talk to us a
little bit about those changes. Well, obviously, the biggest difference is the car itself,
you know, going from open wheel to sports cars is not something new to me. I've been doing it for
the last, I don't know, three years probably. So I think despite that being the biggest difference,
it was probably the easiest thing for me to adapt to. Because at the end of the day,
your driving technique in a general sense stays the same. You know, you're breaking your throttle,
your steering wheel are all in the same place and they all still do the same thing. So the driving
part itself is something I think that's probably one of the easier things to figure out. The biggest,
I guess, compromise that we've had to make this season is comfortability in the car.
In open wheel, you're the only driver in that car and you have a nice custom molded seat and
everything is exactly where you want it. Whereas in sports cars and endurance racing,
you have a teammate and in my case, my teammate is about eight inches taller than me.
So that's definitely been a challenge. But I think, you know, it's something that
will just be a factor in the rest of my career. So getting it kind of figured out now is definitely
helpful. And then, you know, new team, a lot of new tracks still despite everything being in the
U.S. I haven't ever driven at Watkins Glen or Laguna Seca. And then at the end of the year,
we have Monza and I've never driven there either. So still new things in the track department and
then, you know, new team to work with. But it's all been really fun. I've enjoyed coming back
in racing in American motorsport. I think it's something that is very unique and something
that I've missed the last couple of years just being able to hop on a flight and be there the
same day. Yeah, really, that is such a benefit. I mean, from a sleep schedule, from getting adjusted
and acquainted, I can only imagine. Well, I love that you mentioned a couple of tracks that are
some of my favorites just to go to. And I've had the pleasure of being on a little bit as well.
So that's really exciting for later this season. Let me talk about just a little bit or ask about
rather, you've gone through so many different types of racing, different disciplines. Was
there ever a point where you questioned, like, is this path realistic? I mean, you had a handful
of these opportunities that, as you mentioned, were just kind of once in a lifetime. Did that
affirm, okay, this is like being placed perfectly that I'm just I have to keep saying yes. And
there's no doubt about it or were there moments of, oh my God, like, is this really what I'm
meant to do? Is this really a path I can do? I mean, I definitely had those moments of being like,
is this the right thing? Is this like sustainable, I guess, because motorsport is so difficult,
because, you know, there's obviously a large financial barrier, but there's a time barrier.
So trying to do other things outside of motorsport gets difficult sometimes. And, you know,
things like that kind of make you question every so often, if it's actually something
that's worth it for the rest of your life. And I think for me, it always was in moments where,
like, a plan that I had didn't end up going that way. So, you know, those really frustrating
moments like that. But at the same time, I never wanted that to be how my career ended. So, you
know, it kind of gave me a bit of an incentive to figure it out and find something else. And
every time that I've done that, the opportunity that I've gotten out of it has always been
like a big one. And so that kind of was always a bit of reassurance in those moments. And,
you know, I think making it out of those kind of difficult moments and difficult seasons
have always been where I realized that actually, this is definitely what I want to be doing.
Right. No, I love that. I think that it's so important to have those, okay, we pivoted,
we came out of it. And now there's a newfound confidence coming out of those,
you know, challenging moments as well. And, you know, I want to talk more about
Super Trefeo here in just a minute, but you mentioned earlier that you were kind of racing
throughout and different places in the world. And you were the first woman to start on pole and
wane in the Castro Toyota Formula Regional, Regional Oceana Championship, these long names
with all of our entitlements. But I just, that's such an accomplishment in such a feat. And I just,
I want to ask in like another moment of reflection here, what do you remember about that weekend?
Was there something that kind of set that apart that you were able to take away with you?
I mean, for me, that moment is such a small moment because it was one day.
That's incredible. I think that's such a huge feat, you know?
I know exactly. So it's a shame that it's such like a small little thing. But I can remember
the day. It was pretty much, it was in the last race weekend of the season. It was on like the
Saturday of that race weekend. So it wasn't the last day, but it was, or maybe it was. I don't
remember. It was on the last weekend of the series. So, you know, you had five weeks of racing the
entire like season, I guess. So we had four prior race weekends and all four of those, you know,
I had finished like fourth before, but I hadn't gotten a podium yet. And I was like, oh, I really
just want to leave here like with a podium or something like something to take home.
So, you know, I ended up finishing, I think, because it worked in a way where like you're
qualifying set race one and three, and then reverse grid was like something with where
you finished race one, I think, I don't know, something like that. But anyway, I ended up
like qualifying for the reverse grid race on pole, which, you know, people will always say,
oh, it's well, it's reverse grid. But I think when you look at the strength of the fields in
that series over the last few years, like, I think top eight in that series are usually very
strong drivers. And I was coming in with relatively little experience because, you know, before that,
I had only raced in W series. And one of the downsides to W series was that there wasn't much
testing. So F1 Academy gives you testing throughout the year, like collective testing.
W series didn't do that. So when you when you look at the track time that you get on W series,
it was very little. So I was coming out of W series into this series, where some of the
drivers had already gone off and raced in Formula Regional in Europe or other places or F3 or like
Indie Lights. So like things, for me, were definitely a bit of a learning curve and figuring
things out myself. And I think going into that last weekend and being able to win a race was
a showing of my improvement throughout the year, because I think at the beginning of the season,
I wasn't really anywhere near that. So I ended up getting most improved driver that year as well
by the series. So I think definitely it just showed the improvement that I had. And I think
even though it was a reverse grid race, it was still something that I could leave and be proud of.
Totally. Well, Chloe, there's just been I mean, even the little bit that I've learned
leading up to this and hearing your examples and your stories already, there's such a clear
trend of how hard of a worker you are and how willingness to say yes just pays off and you
know, you keep showing up. And I want to talk a little bit, you know, you mentioned that you
didn't have management until right before really F1 Academy and kind of that time. You guys were
balancing and figuring it all out along the way. I mean, can you talk to us about how you were
navigating learning sponsorships, you know, having obligations in those aspects and deliverables,
working on media training or social media performance, networking. I mean,
what percent do you think of your professional career is actually driving? Because I just,
I think it's so easy for people to forget that as a professional driver, you are also still
navigating all of these other nuances and responsibilities. Yeah, I mean, I think when
you look at how much time you actually spend driving, a race weekend is three days.
In F1 Academy, it was four, but you weren't driving on one of those. So it's three days of
driving and you're not even driving the entire day. It's three days and then you have like
six or seven race weekends in a year. So you have like 21 days where you're driving, but you could
probably take those three days and put them into one day when you take the track time. So it's,
it's really not that much that you're actually in the car. So, you know, obviously a lot of that
time is doing all of the marketing, sponsor obligations, keeping yourself fit and
ready for your next race. Or if something surprising comes up, making sure you're ready for it,
time on the sim as well. And, you know, all of the things that I guess people don't see.
I think it's becoming a little bit more mainstream to know about these things, but it's still like
you can't really get the scope of like how much time we spend doing all this other stuff.
You know, people look at the driving and they see the results and that's it,
which is a shame. But, you know, that's kind of how, how it works. And I think also, you know,
some of the drivers, not many are in school, myself included. I'm also in school. So,
like literally just, I'm just picturing you, Chloe, in F1 Academy and Super Trofeo and you're at
these huge scaled events. You're like, Oh crap, I have a homework assignment too. Like that is,
you know, I worked full time through my undergrad and I just can't even imagine being like suited
up and like, huh, I still have to do that later. What a balance. Oh my gosh. Yeah.
Well, let's talk about, so that's a little bit of kind of the off time when we don't see the
race weekends and your prep work. Can you walk through the listener that either is or isn't
familiar? What does an actual race weekend look like for you? How are you mentally preparing
for it? I mean, we've talked about some of the prep leading up to it, but when you kind of get
into that headspace, what does that weekend look like? Well, race weekend will start,
like the first day that you're at the track is track walk day. That's basically it. So,
walk the track, see it slower. You know, there's things when you walk the track that you would
not notice when you're driving. I think things kind of like elevation change or if there's like
little like things just on the track, like in the pavement or something, you know, you might not
see that, but it could be like extra course pavement that you wouldn't really see. So,
it would give you a little bit more grip, something like that. And then you go into practice,
which in Super Trefeo, we have two practice sessions and it's, you know, you split it like
between the teammates. So, you kind of, you'll base the practice sessions off of who's going to
qualify first and who's going to qualify second and then that's who's going to start race one and
for who's going to start race one and then who's going to start race two. So, everything is like
planned out based on which driver you want to start each race. So, then you'll go in and do the
practices in kind of a specific order to be ready for qualifying so that whatever driver is qualifying
first on the new tires will have like the freshest feeling of the new tires. So, you'll do that and
then you go into qualifying, which in Super Trefeo was pretty unique because there are two
15-minute sessions, but they're split by like five minutes between the two. So, your teammate and you,
despite it being five minutes, the five minutes starts as soon as the checkered flag flies on
that first qualifying session. So, your teammate's still trying to get around the track in time for
you to get in the car and be ready to go out on the green for the next 15 minutes and because
they're 15 minutes and there's upwards of 40 cars on the track, there can be red flags, there can be
things that will make it so you don't get a lap in. So, you have to basically just try to get a lap
in at least and then hopefully you can get more. That's a lot to navigate. How have you, because
you did mention earlier, you know, going from being the only person in the car to having a co-driver
and rotating out. What has that kind of process looked like for you? How are you approaching
things differently because of having a co-driver? I mean, I think one of the big things is that you
take a little more care while driving because you know you have somebody else that's still
got to get in the car after you and you want to make sure they get in. Not only that, but you want
to make sure they get in with relatively fresh tires so that they can at least like hang on for
the rest of the race. Some tracks it's difficult, but you know, you don't want to go off and like
absolutely cook your tires before your teammate gets in because then you'll hear about it and
it'll be a whole thing. So, taking a little bit extra care is probably the biggest thing.
Yeah, I could see that. I mean, you're right. You don't want to hand over like an absolutely
abused car. So, looking at Super Trefeo this year, you guys raced on a lot of different tracks
than you did in previous series. What has been your favorite so far? I think my favorite so far
this year has been Laguna Seca. I had never been there before this year, but you know, I've driven
it on the sim countless times. I've seen like videos and stuff, but my first time driving there
was really cool. It was such a cool track and I think, you know, a lot of people have that as
their favorite North American track and I can definitely see why. It is so beautiful. I've
had the opportunity to do like hot laps and ride along and things like that and the corkscrew is
just incredible. I mean, I literally, yeah, I can only imagine. No, that's amazing. So, I want to
ask as you're looking back at where you are in your career now, is there is something that you
had wish you knew when you were like 15 or when you were starting to get into these more serious
competitions? I think the biggest thing that I wish my younger self knew was like how much
confidence I was allowed to carry, you know? Ooh, wait, that's really good. I always was a little bit
like on the shyer side in general, but especially when it came to talking about achievements and
that sort of thing. I mean, by the time I was 16, I had already set a Guinness World Record.
I was doing the stuff with America's Got Talent. And so, you know, like I was still in high school
too. So, it was always like a little bit embarrassing having to go to school and like
tell people about it. I was like, oh, I don't want to like want anybody to know. But now that's
definitely something that I would be like bringing up. And my friends made sure and made sure people
knew for me, but it was like myself doing it was not something I wanted to do. That's really cool
though. And honestly, I admire being 15 or 16, you know, being those ages where you're like
figuring out yourself and to throw an element of things that could make you different is
scary. So, I think you're right, having that assurance and it's okay to be proud or feel
accomplished. And just, I mean, Chloe, a Guinness World Record and freaking America's Got Talent
while you're in high school, like what the hell? That's so cool. I know I was like absent from school
and I had to tell my best friend. I was like, don't tell anybody why I'm gone. I'm just gone.
But like, you know, it wasn't new for me to just be like gone because I was racing too. So, I was
just another race. Meanwhile, your classmates were like, was Chloe on America's Got Talent?
That's incredible. Oh my gosh. So, let's talk about as we're, I mean, again, you've accomplished
so much and you're still so young. Was there a moment and I feel like this is always like,
I don't know, I kind of hate this question, but I always want to ask it. Was there a moment where
you realized like you have become a role model for people? I mean, especially for younger girls
entering the sport, what does that kind of feel like? Whether it's pressure, whether it's like
an honor, whatever it is, I'm always curious, you know, people who are leading the way in
trailblazing, do you feel that when you're in it? I mean, F1 Academy was definitely one of those
places where it was pretty clear that we were role models. You know, I think it was also something
they like F1 Academy themselves made pretty like, made it a big thing for us. And I think,
you know, I always am racing for myself, but if kind of a byproduct of that is inspiring other
people, I mean, I'm all for it, you know, I would love to see a female in F1 one day, I would love
to see like more waiting to get into F1 and like having the ability to do that. And you know, I think
especially to with how many girls we saw in the F1 Academy paddock that were interested in the
sport, I'm sure that will come true very soon. But like, you know, I'm always racing for myself.
And, you know, if it's just something that happens along the way, then, you know, I am
not going to do anything to like prevent any of that from happening. It's definitely
something that I would like to see in my lifetime. Absolutely. Well, I mean, you're so right. It's
clear that you're already setting so many examples. And I'm just very eager to see what the rest of
your career and kind of individual development and growth looks like. So that's super exciting.
As we're looking ahead, what does this year's schedule look like for you? I mean,
we're doing Lamborghini Super Trefeo. There are other elements, I'm sure that are keeping you
busy. What does the year look like? Well, we are, as we're doing this, we're in race week right now.
So we'll be at Watkins Glen from June 25th through 27th. And then our next race is run America,
which is like my home race. It's the closest one to where I live. So
we'll be there in end of July, beginning of August. And then we go off to Indianapolis for the North
American finale and then Monza in October for the World Final for Super Trefeo. And they do
like the regional finalies there as well. So it'll be my first time at Monza. It'll be my first time
in Italy, which is like really surprising. But I'm really excited for Monza. I've heard it's
a really fun track. And especially in the Super Trefeo's, it's going to be a blast, I think.
Absolutely. And for the listeners that aren't aware, how many total races do you have within
Super Trefeo for the year, for the season? So we have six race weekends, and then we have two races
per weekend. So we have 12 races, I guess, in total. That's perfect. So I guess looking ahead of this
year, I think a lot of people, especially in motorsport, we look at success based on strictly,
did you get a podium? Did you place, etc. What does success look like for you in Lamborghini
Super Trefeo this season? I mean, it's a little different, obviously. Super Trefeo is still
multi-class racing. So there's pro, pro AM and then AM. So I kind of got thrown into the deep end
a little bit. They classified me as a pro. So, you know, my first, my first time in the car,
and I was like turning up to race week, like, oh, I'm a pro, because, you know, I was under the
impression, oh, I'd be an AM because they put everybody that's the first year into AM, whatever.
So, you know, it's been a bit of a learning curve. My teammate is in is classified as an AM. So we
are racing in pro AM. And, you know, I think because it's a two driver team as well, you have to
look at your own performance separately from the other driver, even though the results are your
combined performance. Every time I get in the car, I've been just learning so much, especially when
we go to these new tracks to having to learn the track and also still kind of getting to grips with
the car has been definitely a showing of my adaptability, I think. I've been doing a good
job at, you know, keeping it clean. And so we've been put into a lot of tough positions this year.
We weren't able to qualify in Laguna Seca due to a mechanical failure during qualifying. So,
you know, having to start from the back in both races, it wasn't ideal. But it's,
I think where, you know, my co-driver and I were both able to show a different side of racing.
We were able to show how we were able to make overtakes at a track that's not super easy to
overtake at. And, you know, we ended up finishing in a pretty good position in the end. And, you
know, I think I made up something like 15 positions or something during my stint. So,
I think despite the result and despite the starting position not being where we wanted
it to be, it shows the potential that we have. And I think that potential is definitely for a
podium in Pro Am, which I think this year would be a pretty good achievement for us,
especially with it being both of our first times in the car this year, first time kind of doing this
like teammate racing type of deal. It's not really an endurance race because it's only
like an hour long, less than, it's 50 minutes. But kind of having to learn all of these things
together at the same time, I think, you know, having a podium at the end of the year would be
a good achievement. Yeah, absolutely. I think that's a very reasonable ask at this point with
your kind of background that you have to show. Looking back at your career and I guess, well,
let me rephrase this. If you were to go forward like a couple of decades and you're at the end of
your career, what do you hope that you would have learned or taken away? I think I definitely would
have just been able to be happy with my career in general. Like, you know, not necessarily
results wise, like you can always go back and say, oh, I finished in this place this year.
But I think the journey to those results is kind of the biggest thing. So, you know,
F1 Academy last year, I could say, oh, I finished P3 in the standings. But what did I do
to get there? I had the most pole positions. I had the most extra points that include pole
positions, fastest laps, that sort of thing. I won two races. I won the last race. So, you know,
it's that kind of thing that I want to look back on and be happy with.
I love that. So, be differential. This podcast is all about carving your own path.
What's it one piece of advice that you would give someone if they don't feel like they fit?
We'll call it like the traditional mold. I mean, there's not a linear path,
but what's something that you would encourage them to kind of work toward an ambitious goal
regardless? I mean, I always say if it's something that you enjoy, it's something that you really
want to pursue, put everything that you possibly can into it. And, you know,
leaving it too late is not fun. You know, it's like in school. Like, you know,
you're getting ready to do all of your college applications, that sort of thing,
but you leave it too late. You leave really putting your all into it too late. And then it's
unfixable, basically. So, being proactive, putting all of your energy and effort into it
early on, once you know that it's something that you really, really want to do,
I think that's the biggest thing in finding success in anything, really. And it's something
that I had to learn too because, you know, I was a little lazy when I was growing up.
I wasn't super proactive on doing anything. It was always Chloe, can you do this? Chloe,
can you do that? Somebody else telling me to do it? But I think as I've grown up, I've learned that
you just, you have to be on top of things and not leave anything too late.
I think that's a great, great takeaway. Something I always say for people that are kind of asking
me advice is always give yourself the chance, you know, for, like, you want the reason that
there was a no to be not because of anything you did or didn't do. Like, you always want it to be,
I did everything I could and that was truly out of my control. And then you have the freedom of
not stressing about it, knowing that you did all you could, you know. So I think that's a great
takeaway. As we're closing out here, this is kind of similar and this is just on brand as I'm
building this podcast. But Chloe, what do you think you're doing that is being differential?
I mean, I think being myself has been kind of a standout point, especially throughout
one Academy where there's so much media and presence around. I think that's been the big thing
that I've seen other people say. And it's something that like, I do naturally because
I can't really fake it very well. But I think just, just being, being yourself in any situation,
you know, everybody thinks, oh, racing has to be super serious. You have to be like,
very cookie cutter when you do interviews and stuff. But especially,
I can't really help it. So, you know, have fun, be a little silly sometimes. And
it just makes things more fun for you and those around you.
No, I totally agree. And Chloe, it's so clear how authentic you are and how
truly yourself you are. So I thank you so much for taking some time and sharing some of your
insights and experiences. And I guess I'll ask just just to make sure you have your opportunity
here. Is there anything you would want to leave the audience with today?
I think the, the biggest thing is just to find that one passion of yours and to
put all of your energy into it to make it happen. That's, that's the biggest thing.
And that's anything, you know, it can be like something super small, but
that's always the big thing.
Absolutely. Well, listeners, take that away today, resonate on it and do what you will with it.
Chloe, thank you so much for your time. Listeners, thank you for tuning in and we'll see you next week.
Bye.
About this episode
Professional racing driver Chloe Chambers joins host Eva Gregory to share her journey from karting in New York to competing at the highest levels of motorsport. Chambers discusses her deliberate eight-year progression in karting, her transition to open-wheel racing in Formula 4, and her breakthrough moments in the W Series and F1 Academy representing Haas. She also opens up about her current transition to sports cars in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship, highlighting the unique challenges of sharing a car with a much taller teammate and adapting her driving style.
Original notes
Chloe Chambers has done what very few have: won in F4, the W Series, F1 Academy, and the Formula Regional Oceania Championship — where she made history as the first woman to start on pole and take the win.
Now she's bringing her skills to GT racing in the 2026 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America with RAFA Racing. In this episode of the BeDifferential podcast, Chloe pulls back the curtain on the full picture of a professional racing career — the grind between races, the reality of sponsorship and brand building, the moments she questioned everything, and the mindset shifts that have kept her moving forward.
She also talks about working with Red Bull Ford, her goals for the Super Trofeo season, and what she hopes her legacy looks like when it's all said and done.
For aspiring drivers, motorsport fans, or anyone pursuing an unconventional path, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.
Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss out! https://www.bedifferentialpodcast.com/
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