Katherine's Blog: I'm Back!

By Katherine Legge

Monday, January 16, 2012

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To all of my wonderful friends, fans and followers:

I can finally tell you all that I am now a VERY proud member of the new TrueCar Racing "Women Empowered" initiative, and I will be driving a Lotus powered rocket ship for....drum roll please....Dragon Racing.  This is the most thrilling news I have had in a long time, and I can hardly contain my excitement!

First and foremost, TrueCar will be my INDYCAR partner at Dragon for 2012 and beyond. This programme (yes, I am British and we spell things differently--bear with me) is a BIG deal for all of us involved, and I wanted all of you to share in my fantastic news as I take to the track in 2012 for a full season of IZOD IndyCar Racing.
 
Let me tell you about my fantastic new sponsor TrueCar...
TrueCar Racing is sponsoring me and five other female drivers to spearhead a campaign literally empowering women. Not only does this fulfill my primary passion for racing, but also my desire to help young girls achieve their dreams. My five compatriots will be Shea Holbrook (Pirelli World Challenge), Ashley Freiberg (Star Mazda), Shannon McIntosh (USF2000), Verena Mei (Rally America) and Emilee Tominovich (MX-5 Cup).

TrueCar support also will be present at a grassroots level with a young-driver development program aimed at exposing young women to racing at a karting level. Top prospects will receive support from TrueCar throughout their careers in what might eventually turn into backing for top series such as American Le Mans, Grand-Am, IndyCar, Global RallyCross and X Games Rally.

I was at the headquarters for TrueCar in Santa Monica in December, and I have to say that the other girls are all phenomenal individuals. All of us combined with the brains of the operation at TrueCar make us a force to be reckoned with in 2012!

I have been "True-ly" inspired by everything we learned about TrueCar's strategy, goals and objectives and what they are hoping to achieve with this groundbreaking initiative. I must congratulate and thank them for the opportunity they have given us. It is a one-of-a-kind idea that is born out of a passion to help change the car buying industry.

To explain what they do is simple... Buying a car is a minefield. We all know it and dread it, right!?... TrueCar has come up with the very bright idea that buying a car really shouldn't be that difficult! If you are looking at buying a new car, in my opinion, TrueCar offers the most stress-free and transparent way to do it! Of course you all think I have to say this because of the sponsorship--but I believe it... The folks at TrueCar are genuine about helping people, and THAT my friends, is a refreshing concept in the auto business!
 
Now a little about my new team – Dragon Racing.

It is going to be an amazing year for everyone at Dragon Racing. My team owner, Jay Penske, has moved some of the operations to California and is re-building (if that’s even a word!) the team. It will be a force to be reckoned with. You can tell that Jay is ultra serious about having a winning team because he has signed one of the best drivers available in IndyCar... Sebastien Bourdais! To have Seb as a teammate will be amazing, and I intend to learn everything I possibly can from him. He is such a talent and has a wealth of experience. I think it will prove invaluable as we develop the new car.

Dragon has some of the best Engineering, Mechanics and Operations people in the business lined up. I am confident that Jay will do whatever it takes to be successful, and I am now a proud new member of the team!
 
Dragon Racing will be a Lotus-powered team, and I am very happy to be associated with such a marque. Being British, Lotus is somewhat of a tradition. When I called my father to tell him all the details, he said 'I brought you home from the hospital in a Lotus!’ It’s quite funny that the first car I was ever in was my Daddy's Lotus! He is sending me pictures!
Lotus is becoming a major player in racing (not to mention their road cars are beautiful)! I can't wait to get started with the development!

I can also share with you that I will be working with renowned driver coach Michael Zimicki, and I know this will add strength and depth to our programme. I left my ego behind a long time ago, and I am looking forward to prying all the information out of him I possibly can in the process!!

A lot of you are familiar with my background and how I have been laser focused on getting back into INDYCAR for the past year. My dream has come "TRUE" (oh this is getting fun!), but this is only the beginning. Now is the time for continued hard work, sweat, and tears to make this programme the best it can be and win races!! I am very proud of my friends, my family and my support network for the collective effort to get me back on track. We have now stepped onto the ladder, but there are many rungs left to climb in order to be a successful INDYCAR driver... I have shown potential and now is the time to translate that potential into consistent results. I promise you all that I will continue to give 110% commitment and now I am being given the tools I need to succeed so its "put up or shut up" time as they say!

I cannot wait to get back in the car and get started. I have sleepless nights thinking about it!!
 
Buckle up its going to be a "True-ly" Amazing Ride!