Screen to Speed: Caitlin Wood

Crew Chief Brad: [00:00:00] Welcome to Screen to Speed, powered by Init eSports. In this podcast, we dive into the journeys of remarkable individuals making waves in sim racing and bridging the virtual with the real. From the thrill of digital circuits to the roar of real life racetracks, we explore the passion, dedication, and innovation that drives the world of motor sports.

We’ll hear from athletes, creators, and pioneers sharing their stories, insights, and the powerful ways sim racing is connecting communities and creating pathways into motor sports. So buckle up Screen to speed starts now.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Hello. Welcome everyone to new talks. Uh, today we got Kaitlyn Woods. Uh, she’s a professional racing driver. Welcome Kaitlyn.

Caitlin Wood: Hi. Thank you for having me.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: [00:01:00] Yeah. Thank you so much for joining our in Talks today. Uh, let’s start with, uh, how you get into racing, how all this, uh, passion started for you.

Caitlin Wood: Yeah. Okay.

Um, I started racing when I was young, when I was seven. Um, but I think I kind of caught the bug a few years before that. There’s quite an age gap between myself and my brother. So he’s 12 years older than me. Um, so by the time I was born, he was already go-karting and I was lucky enough to grow up around it in that environment.

So by the time I was seven, I wanted to. My first go-kart and yeah, on my seventh birthday, my dad and my brother took me out to our local cart track back home in Australia, Newcastle Cart Club, and I guess that’s where, that’s where it all started. I didn’t make it past the first corner and I was straight off into the gravel trap.

So, um. My, uh, my poor dad had lots of running round to do after me, but, you know, uh, I loved it. And I guess ever since then, um, [00:02:00] at seven, I’ve never not been involved in Motorsport. Obviously started in go-karts and then progressed through the junior ranks of, of Motorsport. Yeah.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: This is great. Uh, I also started in the same way in cars, so I remember that, uh, first time I went to the, uh, tree or something.

It was really fun.

Caitlin Wood: Yeah, yeah, exactly. So we all start somewhere, right?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, that’s true. Uh, can you tell me more, uh, where you move after go-karts and how your career started to develop?

Caitlin Wood: Yeah, so I guess. You know, carting was always a family hobby, um, you know, for me and my dad and my brother. And it was something we did on weekends, as I’m sure you can relate to.

And I guess the older I got, you know, when I started to come into my teenage years, 12, 13, 14 was when I realized, you know, I really am enjoying this and I wanna do more. So, you know, I spoke to dad and was like, I wanna try [00:03:00] and be better and, and. I’m passionate about Motors sport and I wanna see where that takes me.

So he did his best and we did our best to try and compete in national carding championships and compete against the best. My dad’s kind of motive was if you wanna be the best, you gotta compete against the best. So, um, yeah, we tried to do that as much as we could. And when I turned, uh, 1516, I guess kind of similar kind of.

Uh, story is my brother had made the step up into Formula Ford into race cars, obviously quite a few years before me. And the formula Ford car was back home in our shed, kind of in a million pieces. Um, so it had kind of been in, in, in the shed for, for quite a few years. And I remember, you know, 15-year-old Caitlin in the, in the shed after school with dad.

And I was just like, so when’s it my turn her when, you know, when can I, when can I drive the formula? Ford and Dad was really shocked. I don’t think he, he knew what [00:04:00] to say. Um, so he kind of gave me an ultimatum and he was like, well, if you can put the race car back together, then you can drive it. Um. Yeah.

15-year-old Caitlyn thought, yeah, that can’t be that hard. I can do that. And uh, you know, turns out it is pretty difficult. But, um, yeah, so I then spent those summer holidays in Oz, which was over Christmas and New Year’s with dad kind of rebuilding the formula forward. In the following year, we, we took it racing and I had my first test day, and that’s ultimately how I made that progression into, into race cars.

So again, I was fortunate to have that opportunity to be there and obviously my dad pushed me to make sure I was ready and it was something that I wanted to do. And thankfully, on our first test day, all four wheels stayed on. So I did an okay job. Um, but yeah, we, um, we enjoyed it and it’s a really special way for me to have got started, especially doing that with dad and, [00:05:00] and having that, and that was our own, I guess, little race team.

We did it together. So my dad would kind of be my mechanic and my brother would be my engineer, and we’d. Travel up and down Australia competing in different formula Ford championships, and obviously being 15, I’d never driven on the road before, so I was getting used to driving a manual and understanding the characteristics of driving a car and not a, not a go-kart anymore.

And so I was a really. Fundamental tool to, for me to develop as a driver and, and compete in formula forward. And after that, we then started to look into race teams, et cetera. Um, but yeah, it was a, a very, very fun way to get started.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: That’s great. Uh, so formal Ford is a great car. I race it and I racing, uh.

A lot of times. Yeah. And, uh, it’s really fun indeed. And, uh, of course, uh, when you jump from go-karting to, uh, foremost, it’s completely a different thing, uh, [00:06:00] with a view with, uh, how you race and how you balance the car for the corners and everything. Uh, can you tell me more, uh, about what is your favorite, uh, Australian tar uh, trek?

Which you race.

Caitlin Wood: Oh, that’s easy. That’s easy. What do you think it is?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: No. Yeah. Yeah.

Caitlin Wood: I feel like it’s every Aussie, uh, favorite track. Um, yeah. Either Bathurst Man, Panorama or Philip Island. They’re definitely my two. Mm-hmm. My two favorites back home.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. Philip Island is great. One also I think a little bit underrated in I racing, so I’m all the time. A little bit set. Yeah. When people not racing it, I think it’s, uh, really fun and uh, you know, going with a flow track.

I really like it also.

Crew Chief Brad: Yeah.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: All right. And, uh, uh, then after some time you like, uh, [00:07:00] jumped different formulas after formal Ford or there was, uh, like, uh, GT cars. Uh, so how you move Yeah. Forward with career.

Caitlin Wood: Yeah. I think just like ev everybody in Motorsport, it’s very difficult financially to. To take those next steps.

Um, you know, we, we all know what that’s like. And so yeah, I did a few years, uh, a formula forward. We stepped into a race team and I did one and a half seasons with the race team, uh, synergy Motorsport, because unfortunately we did, we kind of ran out of budget. We ran out sponsors to continue that program.

Uh, afterwards I got a scholarship drive to do a few rounds in Australian Formula four. So, again, obviously sounds similar but separate. We obviously have slick tires and wings and a little bit of downforce and um, yeah, that was two or three races at the end of 2015. And then the following year in 2016, that was kind of my, yeah, fresh 18.[00:08:00]

It was a little bit, I think of, I don’t know what kind of year we call it, but it was my, um, you know, I took a, I took a chance. I took a leap, that’s for sure. And, uh, a German team had been in touch with me called Rider Engineering, for anybody that I’ve heard of them and asked if I would like to be a part of their junior program called the Writer Young Stars.

And that was a part of the European GT four Championship. So it was a big step for, you know, a young Australian living, uh, going to move to the other side of the world. And, um, so I remember kind of my dad sitting me down at the dinner table being like, you know, this is, this is as far as we can take you.

Uh, Caitlin, you know, it was a, it was like a sponsored drive, but obviously my parents had to. You know, give up a lot for me to be able to move to Germany on my own and things like that. So, um, yeah, he said not many Australians get to go and race in Europe, let alone Monza and spa and all these amazing circuits, let alone, you know.

There’s, uh, not many female, [00:09:00] um, Australian drivers before me that have done that either. So he is like, go and enjoy yourself and do the best you can, and you know, if you win, you then got a fully funded drive the following season in GT three. With writer in the Bloon GT series, now known as GT World Challenge.

So for me, I could see the progression and I could see how I could progress my career in GTS and, and continue that progress. So I really wanted to take that step and yeah, and then dad was like, but you know, if you don’t win, that’s absolutely fine. You can come back home to Australia and go to university and.

Continue another route, so to speak. Um, so yeah, that was enough motivation and I think for me to, uh, for me to win. And so, yeah, I won that, that Young Stars program in European GT four, and I won that scholarship. So then that snowballed me into GT three in Blanc Point, in a Lamborghini, in the Lamborghini Gado, REX.

So the previous generation before the hurricane. And [00:10:00] yeah, that was crazy, uh, to compete, you know, in my opinion, against some of the best drivers in the world. And it was an endurance championship. So I had a few teammates that year and we finished on the podium in our first race at Mazano, which was really cool in our class, in the Silver Cup class.

Um, yeah. And then, and then from there, it was a little bit of an unfortunate year with a few incidences and we didn’t, um, finish many races. Just ’cause that’s kind of racing. Um, and yeah, uh, at kind of fresh 18, I’d moved to Germany by myself and committed to, to trying to, to make it work. So it was very daunting.

Daunting, sorry. And obviously, well not obviously, but I didn’t know German. Um, so I struggled with the language barrier. Quite a lot, but I, you know, I tried my best and I grew up a lot in that phase of my life and I’m very grateful for that opportunity to have worked with that race team and progressed myself and continue that journey.

So yeah, I did two years [00:11:00] over there and then after that I then moved to the UK ’cause I thought that would be a good stepping stone to continue that GT journey. And yeah, I’ve kind of been in the UK for a few years now. I did a, the following year, I did a few rounds with. A driver in the Lamborghini Super TR series.

Mm-hmm. Two or three rounds. And then the W series came about in 2019. So I became obviously the Australian representative in the W series, which I was a part of from 2019 to 2021. So yeah, obviously covid happened in those times, which made life very difficult for everybody. Um, yeah. And then, uh, in 2021, I became a part of the Humor W Series team.

Which was very cool to represent a brand like Puma and be a part of their team. Um, and I just competed in selected rounds, so I did Spa Hungary and Coda. Mm-hmm. And yeah, we had a [00:12:00] really good, really good round at SPA and obviously very, was very grateful for that opportunity to. He and the W Series be a part of the championship and get back into single seater racing.

I don’t think without, without that, I would’ve been able to progress into Formula three, you know, into the formula regional cars. So yeah, it was very, very, very cool to be a part of.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, I remember we’ve been into one team on W series, uh, selection event. Uh, yeah. Yeah, that was really fun to see all these, uh, girls and, uh, just they bring every, everybody together.

It was a great event. Really.

Caitlin Wood: Yeah. Yeah, it was, uh, the first of its kind obviously, and they, you know, as you know, got women from all around the world. And that was really for me, exciting and empowering to see so many girls and women drivers from all around the world be able to meet. [00:13:00] And, um, like, ’cause I think, you know, up until that point you.

Sometimes you think you’re the only one, don’t you? If you, you know, ’cause you are a minority. So to be put in a room with, you know, 70 other female drivers was pretty cool.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. And that’s really sad. That’s, uh, W series, unfortunately you stopped there. Um, I. Races and their championships. Yeah, really set. Um, but, uh, I really, I think that, uh, they involved a lot of, uh, girls into this and, uh, probably a lot of, uh, girls also into racing community, uh, because, uh, we had a great, uh, like introduction, uh, to the world that uh, hey girls can, can drive fast and that yeah, that can be the whole series.

With, uh, with girls only. It was really cool. Um, so I know that you won the race at Berg Ring. Uh, can you tell me more about this event and how was it [00:14:00] to win on the Berg ring for you?

Caitlin Wood: Yeah. Yeah. Um, so the following year in 2022, I decided to take a step back into endurance racing. My ultimate goal has always been to compete at Lamont.

I love endurance racing. Um, and I’ve competed in a few 24 hour races. So we thought it’d be a good step to go out to the nor life and get my permit and kind of work my way up the, the ranks out there. And so I did a few VNS when it was VLN, which is now known as NLS, did a few NLS rounds in a BMW three series.

And yeah, we were competitive as a team. ’cause as an endurance racing, you have other drivers in the car with you. So I had two other drivers with me. And yeah, in 2023 I did, I became the first Australian woman to kind of win a race, win a class at the, at the Nords life, which was very, very cool. And. In the moment, we didn’t actually know that.

I [00:15:00] was, I guess the first one. It wasn’t until we sat down afterwards and I’m like, oh, I really, I wonder who did this before me. And we couldn’t find any Aussie woman that had done so. Yeah, it was very cool to, I guess, put that in the, in the books somewhere, um, for people to. To see and to kind of show Aussie girls back home that you can compete in Europe and you can compete on the world stage and that there is, um, it is accessible.

So yeah, it was, um, racing out at the nor life is crazy. There’s, I, as you know, it’s such a long circuit. Mm-hmm. There’s so many cars on track. The traffic is insane. You’re dealing with faster cars, slower cars. So I was competing in the production car class in a BMW three series. Mm-hmm. So we’re kind of, I guess, in the middle of the pack.

We’re not the fastest car on track, but we’re not the slowest either. So you’re, you’re looking for traffic in front of you and behind you. So yeah, it definitely makes you very aware and teaches you so much as a [00:16:00] driver about how to. I guess be fast in traffic as well, not just fast as an overall lap time and you know, know when to go for a move, when to hold back and just be, drive a little bit smarter realistically.

And. The nor life isn’t afraid to, to throw out some wild weather as well. So, um, I remember in one of my stints, in one of the races there, I was out on slicks and it started to rain. Mm-hmm. So it was literally all about ringing, bringing the car home. But you still have, I don’t know, six, seven kilometers left of the, so yeah, it’s a.

It’s a, uh, it’s a crazy, it’s a crazy circuit out there, but it was very cool to be able to get some results out there and, um, yeah,

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: and compete. Yeah, that, that’s awesome. Uh, nurse life will definitely difficult track and endurances, I race a lot of endurances in, uh, racing and, uh, all the time you have to [00:17:00] manage the, the traffic.

If you like LMP two and you got Gs and GD freeze, so you have to watch out for them. And yeah, as you said, sometimes you just, um. It’s taken easy and uh, then you just, uh, pushing, uh, in, in some corners, uh, to, um, like to be more predictable for people on track. Uh, it’s a different world. Yeah. Yeah. And I think endurance is, uh, such a great, uh, because you working with a team, you, you also managing traffic and you’re saving fuel and you’re doing a lot of, uh, stuff.

So I really like Endurances as well. Um, yeah, so how, how do you see, uh, your road to lemon? Because that’s your dream. Uh.

Caitlin Wood: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Um, you know, there, well for me personally, there hasn’t been an Australian woman compete at Lamont since 1935, and there’s only been one, and her name was [00:18:00] Joan Richmond.

So it’s been 90 years. Um, so I’m, yeah, I’m definitely passionate and ready to kind of break that. Mm-hmm. Break that drought and get on the grid somehow. And yeah, the road to Lamont. Ultimately the next step is to try and get on the Michelin Lemmont Cup grid or ELMS grid and get some experience. And the road to Le Mon, um, race with Michelin Lemmont Cup is obviously, uh, very important because you race at Lamont, albeit in, you know, a small, uh, in a shorter distance race, two one hour races, but it gets you on that platform and you’re able to progress.

So. Yeah, I guess the next step in my career is to try and raise the, the sponsorship and the budget and the funding to be able to, to do that and take a, take a step into the prototype. I would love to mm-hmm. Raise l and p three. I would love to do that. Um, but I also have experience in gts, so I’m very open-minded and I’m very happy to drive anything and everything.[00:19:00]

So yeah, I’ll continue kind of pushing for that route full of mon, but. I would never say no to an opportunity at the same time.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: We wish you good luck, uh, for that. Uh, hopefully we’re going to see you thank you and LT free and, uh, 24 hours of lemon. Uh, yeah, that’s a absolutely amazing event and a great track to drive on.

Definitely. Um, how do you see, um, the representative of women into the racing right now? Like, do you see that something changing and uh, actually like community more friendly to everybody?

Caitlin Wood: Yeah, absolutely. I think, I don’t think it’s just motor sport. I think it’s sport as a whole, and I think it’s society as a whole.

We’re definitely making steps in the right direction to make Indus, you know, male dominant industries or industries more accessible to everybody that previously weren’t. And you know, specifically motor sport is. Becoming more [00:20:00] aware of where it needs to help, um, help drivers and try and progress them, and especially women as well, and, and open those doors.

And like we said before, I think the W series was really important to be that representation for the, you know, a next generation of drivers and engineers and mechanics and journalists. And for people just to see women involved in motorsport in all different avenues, which is really important. And I think.

The one thing that everybody struggles with, whether you’re male or female in motors sport, is always the budget in raising that. Mm-hmm. To be able to go racing. So having, um, scholarship programs and initiatives like the Iron Dames and obviously now F1 Academy is great to see, to be able to put these talented women up, um, and for the world to see ultimately to see them perform and perform well, which is important.

Um, I’d say. Society is, is more accepting. Don’t get me wrong, I think there’s [00:21:00] always been a little bit of a stigma about female drivers and it’s just ultimately, you know, at the end of the day, we know our own capabilities where as individuals, as drivers, and you just go out on the track and you just perform.

And it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or anything like that. And that’s, that’s I guess, the most important thing. But, um. In terms of opportunity, I think representation is very powerful and it’s a very powerful tool and we’re, we’re kind of seeing that with Netflix and drive to survive, not only with women, but with opening a new audience into Formula One and all of these avenues.

But what I’m really passionate about as well is obviously we want to influence and inspire the next generation, but then what, what do we do with these women and these girls to. Once they are inspired, where are the opportunities? Where are the stepping stones? And you know, not just as a driver, but as an engineer and as a mechanic, and are we enabling, [00:22:00] are we still having.

It be accessible, it’s all well and good sparking all this inspiration. Mm-hmm. And getting people interested. But I think the next step is to really try and increase the opportunities and the scholarship programs and, um, university opportunities and work, work placement and all of these different avenues to actually get women on the ground and, and in the field.

And not just women, but you know, everybody from all different areas. So yeah, I think that’s also really important.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: I think I agree with you that, uh, we have to have like workplaces and, uh, like for women or like, uh, whatever would, would like to be involved into racing. It’s really important. Um, what advice can you give to young women, uh, who, uh, trying to go for the same path as you?

Caitlin Wood: Yeah. Um, motor sport is tough. It is tough. [00:23:00] Um, it’s like any sport in the world or any, anything that you wanna achieve, it’s not gonna come easy. And that’s okay. And that’s part of the journey. Um, and that’s what makes you a better driver, a better person, a better athlete. So enjoy the journey. Um, believe in yourself and.

Try not to take no for an answer. If someone tells you, no, you can’t do that. You know, turn around and tell them and ask them why you can’t. Um, you know, always try and keep, keep striving to be the best version of yourself that you can be. Um, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is that you enjoy it.

I think throughout my career there’s definitely been ups and downs, just like anybody’s career or any sports person. Sports person, sorry. And I think. You can kind of fall in and out of love with the sport when it does, when it does hurt you. Um, so, you know, bring yourself back to the point of what you enjoy most about the sport and [00:24:00] what, what, what gives you the most joy and, you know, um, that ultimately will be where you’ll perform best as well.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, you’re absolutely right with this, uh, I think and, um. Can you tell me where people can follow you and, uh, just, uh, you know, to see you and, uh yeah. Follow your career?

Caitlin Wood: Yeah, that would be great. Um. Obviously, uh, my name is Caitlyn Wood and I on all of my socials, I’m Caitlyn Wood Racing. So yeah, Instagram, Facebook, uh, LinkedIn, all those good things.

Um, always feel free to reach out. I think I’m probably most social on my Instagram, but I need to get better at. Being better on social media and I do have a sim at home and I do jump on I racing. Mm-hmm. So I need to, um, I need to join, join in on some races with you guys. Definitely.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. True. I think you have to join some of the screen to speed events if [00:25:00] you’ll have time.

For sure. We’ll be happy to see you on the track. Absolutely. Yeah. Uh, alright, uh, so the last one, uh, will be fun, quick questions. Uh, uh, what’s your favorite track snack?

Caitlin Wood: Snack? Snack? Oh, that’s such a good question. Um, um, probably I’m probably boring. You know, I’m probably just gonna say like a protein bar, something easy.

Mm-hmm. But like a chocolate protein bar, when I want something sweet, but I know I can’t have anything too naughty, so it just kind of eases the cravings.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: All right. Uh, next one will be the hard one. Uh, GT or single sitter for the rest of your life.

Caitlin Wood: Ah, that’s hard. That’s so hard. Um, well, oh, that’s so hard.

Well, endurance racing has to be gt, but overall lap time or overall qualifying lap has to be single seater. So, [00:26:00] am I going racing or am I just doing poly lapse, is the question?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, I think your answer was, was good enough. I think I’m.

Okay. And uh, the last one, uh, race you’d redo in a heartbeat.

Crew Chief Brad: Oh, good one. Um, probably,

Caitlin Wood: probably Spa with W series in 2021. Mm-hmm. Um, and it was wet and. It was that parental race weekend where the F1 didn’t end up racing, but uh, yeah, we did on the Saturday and. Yeah, I would probably relive that because I finished fifth and I was so close to the podium.

Mm-hmm. So I, I was given another crack. I remember battling Marta, who was my teammate at the time, and we were PMA teammates. And, um, I made a, [00:27:00] a really good move around the outside of her, around Poon. ’cause obviously I, I had the wet line. Um, and yeah, we had a really good battle. So I’d probably say, I’d probably say that race because I’d like to get it back.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. Far more free. Uh, I bet it’s, it’s great on the spa and, uh, especially in the rain.

Caitlin Wood: Yeah. Yeah, it was cool.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Okay, so guys, thank you so much, uh, for watching. Caitlyn, thank you so much for taking your time, uh, to be with us today. And, uh, don’t forget to follow her on her socials so you can find her in Instagram.

Uh, and we probably going to see her in one of the screen to speed events. Thank you so much guys.

Caitlin Wood: Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me. It was lovely to chat with you. Thank you.

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