Jodie: From Formula E Fan to Motorsport Writer
What happens when being a fan of Formula E becomes something much bigger? For Jodie, discovering electric motorsport eventually led her to something she hadn't originally set out to do: becoming a motorsport writer.
Jodie started writing about Formula E in 2024 and has since built a growing presence within the world of electric motorsport, with her work even being featured on the official Formula E website. But behind those opportunities is a story that will probably feel familiar to anyone who has ever wondered whether their passion could become something more.
In the latest episode of Belinda Automotive: The Road is Ours, I spoke to Jodie about how she discovered Formula E, why she decided to move beyond simply being a fan and what it is really like trying to build a career in motorsport media alongside a day job.
Discovering Formula E
Every motorsport journey has to start somewhere, and for Jodie, that starting point was Formula E. What began with following the championship as a fan gradually became something she wanted to understand more deeply, and eventually something she wanted to write about.
There is a big difference between watching a sport you love and deciding that you want to contribute to the conversation around it. Writing means researching the stories, developing your own perspective and then putting your words out into the world for other people to read. For Jodie, that transition from fan to writer became the beginning of a completely different relationship with Formula E.
We talked about what first drew her towards the championship and what made her want to explore it beyond simply watching the races. It is an interesting reminder that sometimes a passion can develop into something much bigger simply because you are curious enough to keep following it.
From fan to motorsport journalist
Starting to write about a sport you love can sound straightforward until you actually have to put your own work out there. Suddenly, being a fan isn't quite the same thing as being the person analysing the race, researching a story or deciding what is worth writing about.
For Jodie, becoming a motorsport writer has involved finding her own voice while continuing to learn. We talked about the self-doubt that can come with trying something new, particularly when you are entering an industry where there are already established journalists and publications.
That process has also given Jodie the opportunity to grow personally. Writing has not simply been about producing articles about Formula E. It has helped her develop confidence, learn more about herself and realise that her perspective has value.
When your work gets noticed
One of the biggest milestones in Jodie's journey so far has been having her work featured on the official Formula E website.
For someone who began as a fan of the championship, seeing her own writing published by Formula E is a significant moment. It also demonstrates how opportunities can develop from simply deciding to start.
We talked about what that recognition meant to Jodie and how opportunities like this can change the way you see your own potential. It is one thing to hope that your work might be good enough to be noticed, but experiencing that recognition can give you a completely different level of confidence in what you are capable of.
Her journey is still developing, too. She has attended three E-Prix weekends in person so far and is looking forward to heading to Spain for Formula E pre-season testing later this year, giving her another opportunity to experience the championship from a different perspective.
Experiencing Formula E at the track
There is something very different about experiencing motorsport in person compared with watching it from home. The atmosphere, the people, the cars and everything happening around the racing can give you a completely different understanding of a championship.
For Jodie, attending E-Prix weekends has allowed her to experience Formula E beyond the screen and understand more about what happens around the racing itself. We talked about what she has taken from those experiences and how being at the track has influenced her relationship with the sport and her work as a writer.
Her upcoming trip to Spain for pre-season testing is another exciting step. Testing offers a different perspective again, with teams preparing for the season and gathering information before the racing begins. For someone who is fascinated by electric motorsport, it is an opportunity to see another side of the championship.
Finding your community in motorsport
One of the things that stood out during our conversation was the importance of community and networking when you are trying to build a place for yourself within motorsport.
From the outside, motorsport can sometimes feel like an industry that is difficult to enter. There are established journalists, teams, drivers, publications and media organisations, so it can be easy to wonder where you fit into all of it. Building relationships with people who share your interests can help make that industry feel much more accessible.
For Jodie, connecting with other people in Formula E and motorsport has become part of her journey. It is also something I think is worth talking about more when we discuss careers in the industry, because the path into motorsport is not always about finding one perfect opportunity. Sometimes it is about starting conversations, meeting people and gradually creating your own network.
Women in motorsport
We also talked about women in motorsport and some of the stereotypes that can still shape people's perceptions of who belongs in the industry.
That is an important part of The Road is Ours because women are already working across every part of automotive and motorsport. They are racing, engineering, writing, creating content, managing teams, running businesses and helping to shape the future of the industry.
For me, visibility matters because seeing someone else doing something can make it easier to imagine yourself doing it too. Jodie's story is another example of a woman finding her own place within motorsport media and showing that there are different ways to contribute to the sport.
Why electric motorsport matters
Jodie's interest does not stop with Formula E. She is particularly interested in electric motorsport as a whole, which led us into a much wider conversation about the future of electric racing.
Electric motorsport still comes with plenty of misconceptions, particularly around what the racing sounds and feels like, whether it can provide the same excitement as traditional motorsport and what role it should play within the wider industry.
But electric racing does not necessarily have to be viewed as a replacement for traditional motorsport. Formula E has developed its own identity, its own technical challenges and its own approach to racing, while other electric championships are exploring different forms of competition and technology.
We also discussed the relationship between electric and traditional motorsport and whether the two can continue to exist alongside one another. As automotive technology changes, that conversation is likely to become increasingly relevant to both the racing industry and its fans.
Building a motorsport career around a day job
There is another part of Jodie's story that I think is particularly relatable. While she is building her career in motorsport media, she is also working four days a week in a day job.
That means writing about Formula E, following the championship, attending races and developing her career all have to fit around the rest of her life. When the Formula E season is underway, there is plenty to keep up with, and much of that work happens outside the hours of a normal working day.
We often see the finished version of someone's career without seeing everything that happened before they got there. Not everyone can immediately leave their day job and pursue their passion full-time, and Jodie's experience is a good reminder that you can build something alongside the work that currently pays the bills.
What's next for Jodie?
Jodie's journey in Formula E is still developing, with more races to cover, more stories to write and new opportunities ahead. Her upcoming trip to Spain for pre-season testing is another exciting milestone, but the bigger story is what happens when a fan decides to take their passion one step further.
Jodie started writing about Formula E because she was interested in the championship. Since then, she has had her work featured on the official Formula E website, attended E-Prix weekends in person and continued to build her place within motorsport media, all while balancing that ambition with a day job.
There is no single route into motorsport media, just as there is no single way to build a career around something you love. Sometimes you start by following a championship, then you start asking questions, then you start writing, and eventually you find yourself doing something you might never have imagined when you were simply watching from home.
And sometimes all it takes is seeing someone do it first.
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