Charlie Martin

British transgender racing driver and LGBTQ+ advocate who became the first openly transgender driver to compete in the W Series and Nürburgring 24 Hours

Charlie Christina Martin was born in Leicester, England, in 1981, and graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2004 before beginning her motorsport career in 2006 in the Hillclimb Leaders Championship, driving a Peugeot 205, and later competing in the European Hill Climb Championship. Martin came out publicly as transgender in 2018, having begun her transition in 2012, and became the first openly transgender person to compete in professional international motorsport, racing in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge, Britcar, and the Michelin Le Mans Cup. Martin set her sights on becoming the first transgender driver to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in 2020 became the first out transgender person to race in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, finishing fourth in class driving a BMW M240i — a landmark achievement in the sport's history. Martin has continued competing in endurance racing, including the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series, while working as a prominent transgender rights activist and ambassador for organisations including Stonewall, Racing Pride, and Athlete Ally, using her platform to advocate for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion within motorsport.

Endurance racing specialist with strong technical ability

Pioneering LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion in motorsport

• Britcar Championship winner
• Nürburgring 24 Hours competitor
• Pioneer of LGBTQ+ visibility in motorsport