Tipperary’s Nicole Drought Wins UK TDC Opener at Snetterton

2024 TDC Champion Nicole Drought started her title defence in the best possible way at Snetterton at the weekend by qualifying on pole position, taking fastest lap and winning the opening race of the season.

Having worked with four times BTCC Champion Colin Turkington during Fri

day testing, Nicole had made some setup changes to her Motion Motorsport Honda Civic and, after a tight qualifying session, claimed the vital pole position meaning she would lead the 27 strong field away.

When the lights changed, Nicole was narrowly beaten off the line by the rear wheel drive BMW of Matt Swaffer but a good run out of the final corner meant she pulled out of the tow and sliced down the inside of turn one to take the lead as they started the second lap. From then on, the pair eased away from the pack, Nicole comfortable at the head of the field but keeping one eye on the mirrors.  When the pitstop window opened, the BMW dived for the pits while Nicole stayed out as long as possible before stopping. As she re-joined the track for her second stint, the BMW got a run at the Civic and the pair headed towards turn one side by side. Nicole held the inside line though and emerged still in the lead. From then on, the Tipperary driver got the head down and gradually eased away for an impressive victory, taking the chequered flag almost four seconds ahead of the BMW, with the third place finisher another forty seconds back.

The following day, Nicole competed in the 12 Hour EnduroKA race, a prize drive for winning the 2024 TDC Championship. Teamed up with some other MSV Champions, Nicole was fifth in her qualifying session but the car dropped down to 16th before the end of the session. A great first stint, which lasted two hours, saw Nicole climb all the way to fifth before pitting to hand over. The others did a great job too and at 9pm on Sunday night, the MSV car crossed the line in third place, giving the Irish lady her twelfth consecutive podium finish.

Nicole Drought “Pretty much the perfect start to the season. Everyone has worked so hard over the winter to ensure we hit the ground running. We struggled a little at Snetterton last year but a recent test at Oulton showed we had improved the car since then. It was great to work with Colin (Turkington) on Friday. He knows the track so well and the changes he made to the setup were great.
Big thanks, as ever, to Siltex Safety, Gem Oils, Mondello Park, Joe Mallon Motors and ITM Digital for their support.”

Images from Gary Hawkins Photography

Nicole takes the chequered flag to claim victory at the first race of the 2025 TDC season at Snetterton on Saturday.

Nicole poses for the media having just taken victory in the opening TDC race of the 2025 season in the EBC Brakes Honda Civic.

To the winner, the spoils! Nicole sprays the bubbly on the Snetterton Podium having won the opening round of the 2025 MSV TDC on Saturday.

Nicole was on the Snetterton podium again on Sunday, when she and her team mates took the MSVT EnduroKA to third place in the 12 Hour race!

About Nicole Drought:
Nicole Drought, from Roscrea in Tipperary, is Ireland’s top female racing driver. She has won in Circuit Racing, Endurance Racing, Rallycross, Stage Rallying, Endurance Trials and Autotesting.
In 2024, Nicole won the UK MSVR Trackday Trophy Championship winning races in the UK and Spain on her way to the title. In doing so, she made history as the first woman ever to win the championship.
She is also double, and reigning, Open Clubman Rallycross Champion, a former double Endurance Trial Champion and has won races in a variety of different cars. She was the first woman to win in Irish Touring Cars, the UK Citroen C1 Challenge and the UK EnduroKA series. She has also won in Clubsport Enduro, Trackday Trophy and scored a class win in the UK Race of Remembrance.
She has also driven two F1 cars, three Group C Endurance cars and a variety of Historic race cars such as a Lola T70, Lancia LC1, Spice SE86 and March 83G
Nicole is an Ambassador for Joe Mallon Motors, Gem Oils, ITM and Siltex Safety Solutions. She is an Accountant by trade and currently works as the Finance Manager at Mondello Park Racing Circuit.
Image from Michael Chester