Kay Petre was a motorsport star at Brooklands, and the achievements of this 4’ 10” lady racing driver became a sensation in the media at the time. The huge 10.5-litre V12 Delage. was the car in which she competed with Gwenda Stewart for the Women’ s Outer Circuit Record at Brooklands in 1934-35. Petre gained the upper hand on 26th October, setting a 129.58mph lap, but in August 1935, Stewart set her own faster lap. A resolute Petre then took her record back the same day with a speed of 134.75mph. Stewart however, set a new record three days later at 135.95mph, driving the Derby-Miller.

Between 1934 and 1936, Petre was a regular at the Brooklands 500 Miles and Double Twelve Hours, plus sports car races at Donington Park and Crystal Palace. She also competed in rallies and hill climbs, claiming the Ladies’ Record at Shelsley Walsh twice.

In 1937 Petre travelled to South Africa for the Grand Prix motor racing season with her Riley. She drove in three Grand Prix races, scoring a sixth place in the Grosvenor GP at Cape Town.

Later that year, while driving for the works Austin team at Brooklands, her career was ended by an accident. During practice for the 500 Kilometre race, her Austin Seven was hit from behind. She crashed and was seriously injured, never racing competitively again.

Her Delage lives on and is still seen at selected UK motorsport events.

Photography is copyright of Brooklands Museum