Team & Driver Features
Short Q&A with Liz Halliday
By Source: William Tatgenhorst
Sep 7, 2006, 11:44

Liz Halliday is a 27-year old native Californian, who dedicates her life to the pursuit of two international sporting careers; one the one hand she is an international motor racing driver who competes in the ALMS LMP2 class in a Lola BO5/40-AER with teammate Clint Field: while on the other, she is an international equestrian in Three-Day Eventing.

WT: How did you get involved in racing?

LH: My father, Don Halliday, was a Sports Car of America instructor and a vintage race car driver. I didn’t begin racing until I was 17 when I started sharing the driving time behind the wheel with him at vintage racing events. I drove at club level in Britain and then moved to FIA GT. Last year I moved to ALMS with the Intersport team.

WT: What are some of your career highlights?

LH: In 2005, I finished 4th in class in the driver’s final standings and claimed three class victories in the LMP2 category. Also, I was awarded the Dailysportscar.com Rookie of the Year Award. This year, I was the only female to compete in the 24 hours of Le Mans. To date, I have had three wins, a second place and two thirds and Clint and I are in a tight points battle with the Porches.

WT: You’ve also won several awards, what are they?

LH: The Intersport team was awarded the prestigeous Lyn St James Award for providing an opportunity for women in racing. Also, I have the most wins for a female in ALMS history, with six.

WT: Describe your scariest moment.

LH: Actually, I have had two, one in each sport. At Road America my car burst into flames and I was forced to pull over. I was able to exit the car, but the car started to roll back, so I pushed it forward to keep it from going back on the track. In the Eventing trials leading up to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, my horse was unable to make a jump and fell back on me, but luckily we were both unhurt.

WT: Are you superstitious?

LH: I really don’t have any superstitions in racing, but since I find the cross-county phase of Eventing scarier than racing, if I had a fall in a particular shirt or was using a certain whip, I won’t compete with them for awhile. Similarly, if I do well, I will use them forever!

WT: Describe your workout routine.

LH: I work with my personal trainer three days a week for about two hours. The balance of the week, I will ride my three horses and run, skull or kick-box to improve my cardiovascular conditioning. I feel that the more physically fit I am determines how mentally prepared I will be for either racing or Eventing.

WT: Does one sport compliment the other?

LH: In some ways, yes. Both are high adrenalin, high reaction speed, technical sports, and dangerous! Although the racing requires more endurance and is intense for longer, they both demand complete commitment with the job at hand, and there is very little room for error. I also think that the years of riding have helped me to develop the “feel” of the race car. What you must feel through the saddle is similar to what you have to feel through the seat of the car. Biggest difference…the horse has a brain!

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