Which is why she wants to race with Taylor: not to make a point about female potential, but because they get on. “Rallying is great for family bonding,” she says. “But you can also fall out. I only ever raced with my son once, we were arguing within the first 10 minutes. He was telling me what to do. I don’t want someone who will sit in the car with me and criticise me, I want someone who is going to be a bit of fun. Jemma’s that, we have a proper laugh.”
It is the enjoyment of the process, she feels, that should act as the biggest spur to draw more women to the sport. That, and the adrenalin rush of driving at ludicrous speed along narrow, tree-lined roads.
“The buzz is amazing,” she says. “From either side of the car, driving or navigating, you are flying. Going into work on a Monday, you do have a post-rally hangover. But that’s good also. I have a pretty stressful job and it is the best release I know. And I know most women get into it through their partner or family, but you don’t have to. Just come along to your local car club and try it out. They’d be more than willing to help.”
So it is that Petrie and Taylor are on the start line at Telford, ready to fly off round the 10-stage course. In the event, because of a nagging mechanical issue, they finish 56th out of 80 cars, a disappointment. But there is one good thing about it: they still beat 24 male teams.
“You do get the odd patronising comment, ‘Oh, women should be making the teas’ sort of thing,” says Taylor. “But we don’t listen to that, we just drive. Faster than them.”
“Yes,” Petrie adds. “I don’t sit on the start line thinking I’ve got to beat so-and-so. For me, it’s about having a giggle with the person sitting next door to you.”
She pauses for a moment, before adding with a broad grin: “With the added bonus that if you beat any of the boys, it feels really, really good.”
