{{short description|British racing driver and broadcaster}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}} {{Use British English|date=May 2015}} {{infobox person |image=File:Amanda_Stretton_2018_Silverstone_Classic_(40064512683).jpg |caption=Stretton in 2018 |birth_name=Amanda Birgitte Cohn |birth_date={{birth date and age|1973|7|24|df=y}} |birth_place=London, United Kingdom |occupation=Racing driver, broadcaster, motoring journalist |module={{infobox racing driver |embed=yes |championships=ASCAR Mintex Cup<br/>British GT Championships |wins=Spa-Francorchamps}}}} '''Amanda Birgitte Stretton''' (née '''Cohn'''; born 24 July 1973, in London) is an English racing driver, broadcaster and motoring journalist.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}
==Early life and education== The daughter of British automobile collector and historic racer Terry Cohn, she grew up in London and was educated at New Hall School in Essex.<ref>{{cite web|title=Amanda Stretton| url=https://alumni.newhallschool.co.uk/news/notable-alumni/16/Amanda-Stretton| publisher=The New Hall Association| date= 21 September 2015 }}</ref> At age 13, she raced Motocross bikes.<ref name=WM>Woman Motorist – [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928114113/http://www.womanmotorist.com/index.php/news/main/2892/event%3Dview Amanda Stretton's Tall Racing Mountains]</ref>
==Career== ===Motor racing=== In 2001 she became the first ever female driver to compete in the ASCAR Mintex Cup where she finished in 6th place.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} In 2003, she entered the first ever female team in the British GT Championships, and was the first British female to race in the FIA Championships.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} In September 2004 she became the first British woman to win an international long distance event at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, beating her husband, a competitor.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} In 2006, she competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.<ref>[http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22750-1731178,00.html Super mum driven to show she has Le Mans credentials]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''Times Online'']</ref>
===Media career=== Stretton was invited on to a television show to debate the proposal that "Women can't drive or race", and in light of her feisty and intellectual defence of women as drivers and her actual track record, was offered a position with Channel 4 to co-present their motorsports coverage under the title ''"Motorsport on 4"'' which included the British Formula 3, GT, MGF and Rally Championships, as well as the Anglo-American Stock Car Racing series and UK Supercross.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} She has also presented Channel 4’s Driven.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}
After Channel 4 lost the television rights to the majority of their motorsports events, Stretton presented most of the events for the new rights holders including Sky Sports, EuroSport, and Silverstone TV; and is one of the radio commentators for the American and European Le Mans Series.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} She also picked up presentation on non-motorsports events for the Travel Channel and NOW.com.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}
Stretton presented Channel 5's ''Dream Machine'' series, in which classic cars are restored or kit cars which replicate them are built; as well as ''UK Horror Homes''.<ref>[http://www.womenspeakers.co.uk/speakerdetail.asp?speakerid=89 Women Speakers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051109065504/http://www.womenspeakers.co.uk/speakerdetail.asp?speakerid=89 |date=9 November 2005 }}, womenspeakers.co.uk]</ref> With Murray Walker she co-presented ITV1's coverage of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Goodwood Revival and The Goodwood Members Meeting for many years.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} Away from the track, she has presented ''"Wrecks to Riches"'' for Discovery Home & Leisure, is a freelance journalist and writes for a range of newspaper columns and specialist motoring titles.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} Stretton has been a brand spokesperson and presenter for Mercedes-Benz, Michelin and now the Panasonic Jaguar Racing Formula E Team.
Stretton is the motoring editor at Confused.com.
She is Patron of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Welfare Trust.
In March 2024, Stretton became an ambassador<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= 5 March 2024|title=Welcoming Amanda Stretton as our newest ambassador |url=https://hopefortomorrow.org.uk/charity-news/new-charity-ambassador-amanda-stretton/ |access-date= |website=Hope For Tomorrow |language=en-GB}}</ref> for the cancer care charity [https://hopefortomorrow.org.uk/ Hope for Tomorrow], which operates a fleet of mobile cancer care units across the UK to bring treatment closer to patients. Her role involves raising awareness of the charity's mission to increase access to cancer care services.
==Personal life== Stretton has a daughter and a son..<ref name=WM />
==24 Hours of Le Mans results== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" |- ! Year ! Team ! Co-Drivers ! Car ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class<br>Pos.|Class Position}} |- ! {{24hLM|2008}} |align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|GBR}} Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport |align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|GBR}} Bob Berridge<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} Gareth Evans |align="left" nowrap| Lola B06/10-AER | LMP1 | 87 | DNF | DNF |- !colspan="8"|{{center|{{small|Sources:<ref>{{cite web|title=Amanda Stretton|url=https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/track-record/driver/amanda-stretton-719|publisher=Automobile Club de l'Ouest|access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Amanda Stretton Results|url=https://motorsportstats.com/driver/amanda-stretton/results|publisher=Motorsport Stats|access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref>}}}} |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.amandastretton.co.uk/ Personal website] *[https://archive.today/20070615212642/http://www.historicracing.com/search_female.cfm?start=21&page_no=2&otd=5440&orderType=name Bio at HistoricRacing.com] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20061231013031/http://www.racerchicks.com/racers/stretton.html Bio at RacerChicks.com]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stretton, Amanda}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Racing drivers from London Category:English Jews Category:English racing drivers Category:Motorsport announcers Category:English television presenters Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers Category:American Le Mans Series drivers Category:European Le Mans Series drivers Category:People educated at New Hall School Category:English female racing drivers Category:British GT Championship drivers Category:Team West-Tec drivers Category:FIA Sportscar Championship drivers Category:12 Hours of Sebring drivers