Formula E presenter Nicki Shields is the guest on this week’s episode of Fuelling Around as she opens up on the beginning of Formula E and women in motorsport.
The former Escape to the Country star has been presenting Formula E since its inception in 2014 and has become one of the most recognisable faces of the sport in the UK.
Shields reveals how after presenting The Gadget Show Live and Escape to the Country how she landed the gig at Formula E.
“There were two big things that happened,” Shields explains. “I started filming a series on sustainability and climate change and one of the programs had a feature on the future of the electric vehicle and that’s how I found out that Formula E existed. And at the same time I got a break hosting episodes of Escape to the Country.
“I did an interview with Renault and they said they were part of this new racing championship, this must’ve been 2013, possibly 2012, way before it was publicly announced, and they told me about this series and I said ‘good luck, that’s gonna work, I mean a racing championship with electric cars and no noise?’. I went home and thought about it, and if the cars go as fast as they say they do with these city circuits like the Monaco GP in Formula 1 and the sustainability, I thought it would be great.”
Shields on more women in motorsport
Also on the podcast Shields discusses how she always wanted to become a Formula 1 driver herself when she was younger and speaks about the rise in women in motorsport over the past few years.
Elsewhere she revealed her wonderful car collection, and not surprisingly she owns the electric BMW i3.
Enjoy plenty more Fuelling Around
There are two more episodes to come from series two as more petrolhead stars prepare to jump in Dave and Jason’s passenger seat.
But if you can’t wait until next week for episode two, fear not, you can listen to the whole first series of Fuelling Around, including the best bits, to whet your appetite.
You can also listen and subscribe to the popular automotive offering on Spotify and Apple podcasts.