Lindsay Dent
Mar 7, 20196 min
Updated: Oct 13, 2020
Lindsay Rice is a Canadian race car driver. She is also an entrepreneur, brand ambassador, and philanthropist.
I am a 27 year old race car driver from Mississauga, Ontario in Canada. I have wanted to race cars since I was a little girl, and I finally made it happen at 23 years of age. It was a long journey to get into racing for me as I wasn’t sure how to do it as a first-generation racer in my family. One day I made a decision to start volunteering with a race organization, and I remember telling everyone – ‘one day, I will be in one of these cars’. In 2016, I made it happen. I gathered some sponsors, I found an amazing team and coach, and I haven’t looked back since.
I have many mentors in racing – first of all there is Marco Cirone, he is a 5-time Platinum Masters Champion with the Porsche GT3 Cup racing series here in Canada. He has been my coach and partner since the beginning. I have him to thank a lot for helping me get into racing and following in his very reputable footsteps. Another would be female racer Katherine Legge. She races in GT racing in the United States (but originally from the UK), and she is just reeeeally awesome. I enjoy her abilities to fight for podiums and win amongst men in her field. She doesn’t put a huge emphasis on her being female, she simply goes out there and drives – and drives very well. #weraceasequals
My piece of advice is to always, always, aaalways put the work in. It is so important to put your head down and really work for what you want in life. Racing is no different than any other job in this perspective. You put the work in behind the scenes to get the results that you want.
If I wasn’t racing myself, I would probably have my own racing team. The only thing holding me back from this is that I spend too much time focusing on getting in a race car 😊
In order to overcome challenges in the workplace, in society, in life – just be yourself. Stay true to who you are, what traits you hold, and things will always happen for you. The world rewards those who are their own person.
One: driving – this may be materialistic to some to hear, but this is everything to me. I have been told that I am a good driver with natural talent many times. This makes me so proud because this is my sport. To be good at what my sport is very, very important to me.
Two: hospitality –I have also been told that I am good at taking care of others. This is another thing that matters a lot to me - I cherish my family and my friendships very dearly.
Three: respect – I hold this dear to my heart. When I go racing, my competitors deserve respect on and off the track – just like I do. I have made some great relationships emerge from racing because of that respect.
“Remember when you wanted what you have now” – I love this line. It helps to remind you to stay grounded and appreciate the things that I have and not always try to move forward too fast.
In 2018, I had two first place wins in my Audi RS3 LMS. After I got these wins, I set a personal record in my car at my home track, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. What a feeling. My personal record was a time around the track that was comparable to some top level drives in the US – which is huge for me. This showed me that I can do it – I can fight amongst the pros.. and I will stop at nothing to be driving next to this talent.
My secret sauce is to relax – if you have the talent, let it show naturally. Once you think too much, or get too worked up about something - you may spoil it’s beauty.
My hidden skill is my creative and artsy side. I come from a family who has worked in development and design of homes, and this is something that I absolutely enjoy doing. When I was younger I would create the blueprints to my ‘perfect home’, and even today I find much joy in interior design.
If I could move my career to anywhere in the world, I think it would have to be somewhere in Europe – Italy, France, or Spain. This is because racing is very recognized in Europe (also, the Mediterranean is perfection) – there are more professional series and professional drivers to race against. In Canada, we have around 4 top-level professional series, where as Europe has many, many more.
I don’t have anything bad to say about being female. I am a driver, I am a creator, and I am a person of society – and there is nothing that is ‘worst’ or ‘best’ about my gender. As long as I am doing what I love (racing, spending time with family, eating), then I am living a happy life as an individual.
Time passes the slowest when I am working on things I am not passionate about – and I am sure that a lot of people can relate to this. What passes time the most is when I am working on sponsor proposals, my website, online media, and it moves VERY FAST (literally) when I am in my race car. I get out of a 45 minute race, and I feel like ‘it’s over already?’.
Lol. This one is funny. What always sounds like a good idea is me racing anywhere, anytime. Then I remember that there are large costs involved :P
Nemo. I am adventurous, I like to break the rules sometimes, but I absolutely adore my family and would be so happy to re-unite with them across the ocean.
Trust your intuition, and never, ever back down from what you believe in.
I am extremely passionate about my family, racing, and food. I wish I were more passionate about cleaning my car (I’d rather just drive it).
I have never been able to follow pop culture well or even politics or the news. I find that I’d simply rather do what I need to do in life to make sure I am happy.. that I am contributing properly to society and taking care of our earth, and that my family and friends are happy. This is what is most important in my world.
Cherish. Every. Second. You never know what might happen next.
Teleportation! !!!!!! No space in my life for travel time.
That one is easy – cars cars cars. Motorsport. Engines. Speed.
I had a bad spill on track and took out another two cars. This was a time that I had to remember that it happens to everyone, we all make mistakes and have to deal with the outcome. No one is perfect, but it is how we deal with the aftermath that defines us.
People definitely assume that I am a fun-loving, affectionate girl, which I am – but they don’t know me with my helmet on. 😊
Website: www.riceracing.ca
Instagram: @riceracing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riceracingTO/
Twitter: @riceracingTO