Divina Galica competed for Great Britain in the downhill and slalom categories at the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Winter Olympics. In 1974 she accepted an invitation to drive in a celebrity auto race at the Brands Hatch circuit…and only two years later at the same track was competing to qualify for the British Grand Prix in privately entered Surtees Ford. Limited by substandard machinery, she failed to qualify for two more World Championship races in 1978, but in the meantime found some success in Formula 2, the British Formula Libre and Formula 1 series, achieving podiums and fastest race laps. In the 1980s Galica competed in SportsCars, and then returned to the Olympic Games in 1992. At the age of 47, Divina represented her country again, this time in speed skiing, which was included as a demonstration sport. She later became involved with the Skip Barber Racing School in the United States as an instructor, and eventually became Senior Vice President. From there, Galica went to join the on-line race simulator service I Racing, as Director of Partner Relations. Now semi-retired, Galica maintains her relationship with the Barber School and travels the world. During the week leading to the first race of the new season, which she spent in Sebring for the 12-Hours race, she agreed to the following internet conversation with Aleš Norský.
A.N. You have stumbled into auto racing almost by accident at the age 29, while already being a successful athlete. What were your initial expectations…were you just having fun driving the small saloons around, or were you already determined to take it all the way to Formula 1?
D.G. I was invited to a Sports Celebrity Race in April 1974 and finished 2nd to more experienced drivers. John Webb (Chief Executive at Brands Hatch and several other race tracks) then encouraged me to take-up motor racing and his plan was to get me into the British National Series as quickly as possible. So I joined the All Star Equipe to drive a fast heavy saloon in 1975, and also drove some Formula Ford races to get used to open wheel.
In the beginning, did you feel like a pioneer following in the footsteps of ladies like Camille du Gast, Eliška Junková, Kay Petre, Sara Christian, and Maria Theresa de Filippis…or were you just doing your thing and the fact that you were a woman did not really cross your mind all that much?
I never felt like a pioneer as I knew nothing about the previous women drivers. Racing became a fun challenge, which I found I was quite good at.
Did you have any sort of connection or relationship with your contemporaries Janet Guthrie, Lella Lombardi, Desiré Wilson, Lyn St.James, Michele Mouton?
Eventually I did race against Desiré Wilson on three occasions, and whilst we were adversaries back then, we have since become good friends. I’m also very friendly with Lyn St.James who I met when I came to live in the US.
Desiré Wilson made it known that some of the men in Formula 1 made it quite clear to her that she does not belong…did you have similar experience?
My attempts to qualify the Hesketh 308E in 1978 were met with a lot of help from many of the drivers. I did not find any driver adverse to having me on the track.
You have achieved podiums in skiing World Cup as well as in the ShellSport and Aurora racing series. Are they of equal value to you, or are any more special than others? Or does being a four-time Olympian beat all that?
There is one World Cup race that was special to me, which was the first time I finished 3rd in a downhill race at Bad Gastein, Austria in 1968 just before the Grenoble Olympic Games. Unfortunately, a badly waxed ski put paid to my chances of a medal at the Olympics, but I was 3rd again at the event just after the Games, so a bittersweet time. Of equal value was my second place at Donington Park in the British Formula One Series in 1977 (this was the ShellSport International, technically a Formula Libre series dominated by Formula 1 machinery) when I had equal fastest lap with Tony Trimmer, who beat me at the line by a couple of feet.
200 km/h on skis or 300 km/h in a car…which is the bigger thrill?
Two hundred on skis is the biggest thrill anyone could have! Racing a car even at 300 kph does not feel fast to me in comparison.
You also spent some time racing S2000 class SportsCars, but I have to admit I am not really familiar with that category. How satisfying was that part of your career?
Racing the Sports 2000 was a lot of fun, plus I won nine races, which was great for the Team and my ego!
Back to open-wheel. I believe that Charlie Whiting was your mechanic for a while?
Yes. Charlie was my mechanic when I raced the Surtees in 1976 and 1977 (for Team ShellSport owned by John Webb and managed by Whiting’s brother Nick). The photo of the Surtees TS16 has Nick on the left kneeling down and Charlie in yellow overalls on the right. The venue was Brands Hatch in 1976 when I tried to qualify for the British GP. Then when I joined the Hesketh Team in 1978 World Championship, I persuaded Charlie to come with me and he did. So you could say the FIA owe me a great deal of thanks for him!
Do you still keep in touch with him or any other friends from the ‘good old days’?
Yes, I see Charlie from time to time when I visit a Grand Prix. Usually at Silverstone, which is also a good place to see many of the other drivers I raced against in the good old days.
Whether on skis or behind the wheel, fatal accidents occurred during both of you careers. How much was this affecting you personally and professionally?
In all sports fatal accidents sometimes happen and it is not something that has ever effected my concentration or desire to compete.
Was the number 13 your idea and did you encounter any obstacles in order to have it painted on the car?
I was born on August 13, so the number 13 has always been lucky for me. But it was John Webb who decided it should go on my race car. However, when I drove the Hesketh in 1978 I was allocated their traditional number 24. I think the picture is likely from Argentina.
Do you follow Formula 1 still today?
I enjoy watching Formula 1 and I am a Lewis Hamilton fan, as I admire the way he races.
Are you worried (as some apparently are) that his celebrity lifestyle and musical ambitions will inevitably cause him to lose his edge behind the wheel?
As Lewis is young I am not worried about his lifestyle causing him to lose his edge when driving.
You’ve worked as driving instructor at Skip Barber’s school for several years. In your opinion, why are Formula 1 drivers today apparently unable to respect the track limits and why does the FIA have such hard time to decisively deal with this issue? It seems that it should not be too much to ask…after all, they are all seasoned professionals.
I believe that we have to remember that Formula 1 is designed to entertain the fans, so although the runoff areas are there for safety, if drivers use them in the race the FIA may be reluctant to break up a good battle and call the offender in to take a penalty. What is your take on the notion that much of what is problematic with Formula 1 today could be cured by louder engine sound? I do not think there is a problem with Formula 1 today that has not happened before. One Team becoming dominant for a time may mean that the winner and second place is inevitable, but if you look back there have been other Teams dominant for a few years. I certainly do not think the engine noise is the problem. More likely it is the ticket prices and the fact that it is more comfortable and cheaper to watch the races at home on the television.
One more gender question. Over the past 20 years, IndyCar had introduced a number of female drivers, but nothing like that has happened in Formula 1. Why do you think that is, and does it matter at all?
I believe the women drivers find it easier to succeed and find sponsorship in the US. I think Formula 1 would benefit by having a female driver competing, and hope one day that will happen.
Prost or Senna?
I’ve always been a Senna fan.
And finally, did I forget to ask anything?
I would love to do a few laps in a modern Formula 1 car.
