It's been quite the year for British racing driver Jessica Hawkins. Fresh from winning the British GT4 Silver Cup alongside co-driver Will Orton, the 31-year-old is showing exactly what's possible for women in motorsport – both on and off the track.

And she's no stranger to breaking barriers. As an Aston Martin Driver Ambassador, Hawkins made history in 2023 when she became the first woman in almost five years to test a modern F1 car, completing 26 laps at Hungary's Hungaroring circuit. She's also raced in the British Touring Car Championship, and even worked as a stunt and precision driver on the James Bond film No Time To Die. Talk about an impressive CV.

But it's not just her own racing career she's focused on. As Aston Martin's Head of F1 Academy, Jessica is helping develop the next generation of female racing talent, including young driver Mathilda Paatz, who competed in round five of the F1 Academy championship in Austin. And with Formula One attracting a growing community of female fans, she's excited about what that increased visibility could mean for the future of the sport.

While in Austin, Texas for the United States Grand Prix, Jessica sat down with Cosmopolitan UK for a quick Q&A about her recent championship win, the importance of opening doors for young women in motorsport and more.

Cosmopolitan UK: Congratulations on your British GT4 Silver Cup win! How does it feel weeks on?

Jessica Hawkins: "It still feels good, of course. It's my first championship win in green, so I think it means that little bit more because of that as well. And I've still not celebrated yet, actually, so I need to celebrate!

"I'm really proud of the year that we've had, especially after bouncing back from a really tough season last year. It took a lot to come back and do that."

... And what do you hope that win means for the next generation of female drivers?

"Hopefully, it inspires even just one young girl. We're seeing lots more fans in the GT world coming along to the racing, and lots more girls too. There are young girls walking through the paddock who are able to get up close because our paddock's a little bit more open. It's a tiny little bit more accessible than Formula One, so I can actually bring people in and show them the car, and they can sit in it.

"One viewing of a race car, or sitting in a race car, can really inspire a young girl to go and fulfil her dream. That might stick with them for a lifetime as they're growing up. So, if I can do my little bit, or as much as I can, I will continue to do that."

What’s something people don’t realise about being a racing driver?

"I think it's how much effort goes into actually being on the grid. Obviously, everyone is in a very different situation, but every driver works really hard to get to where they are, whether that's finding the budget or working on their fitness.

"Football, for instance, has a really clear pathway, whereas motorsport doesn't. There are so many moving goalposts that can affect your journey and where your career goes.

"People don't always realise how much effort goes into what happens off the track, because that's often more important than what happens on it."

What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken off the track, and did it pay off?

"Probably when I was offered my first stunt job. I had to decide whether to keep racing or take the job, and I didn't have the money to continue racing. So I took a massive gamble and quit racing for three or four years because I was really struggling to find the budget.

"I was struggling to even finish the championship I was leading at the time, let alone fund the following year. Had I won the championship and moved up to the next level, I'd have needed double, triple or quadruple the budget.

"So I took a massive gamble with stunt driving, despite the advice of a lot of people around me, and it turned out to be one of the most amazing things I've ever done. I'm really happy I did it.

"It's a skill I never knew I had. I didn't even know that world existed or that you could do it. I was being paid to do what I love doing, and it paid off because I still occasionally get to work on set, which is a real privilege, whether it's a movie or a TV series.

"I'm very lucky that I'm now back racing and still get to drive on the occasional set."

That's so cool, what projects have you worked on as a stunt driver?

I've done James Bond, Fast and Furious, Jurassic World. There's been a couple of TV series. I really love it, and I would love to do more, but with the calendar and the races as it is, it's kind of tough now to fit many in. Yeah, but I really love it.

What do you like to do away from all the racing?

"I really love being at home with my home comforts. I enjoy going out, seeing my friends and going to the gym, but there's nothing I love more than spending a Sunday at home cooking.

"I really enjoy cooking, and I'd like to think I'm quite a good cook."

F1’s female fanbase is booming. We're here in Austin, Texas ahead of the US GP, what’s the biggest change you’ve noticed?

"I think the amount of young girls that are getting interested in racing is so much more than what it was, and I think that's down to the visibility that it's getting at the moment.

"It's also down to the work we're doing here at Aston Martin Formula One, giving young girls a platform to see themselves involved in the sport. A lot of our activations this week have focused on women in motorsport, bringing different communities together, getting to know the local community and creating spaces for women.

"Of course, driving is what I'm passionate about, but I also want to help women feel comfortable wherever they want to be in motorsport, not just behind the wheel."