Balancing everything on a race weekend can be hectic – so much to remember with car prep, maximising a qualifying run, fuel strategy, racing lines, learning a new circuit – there is a lot to do for most people. Some love the extra challenges. Caterham Drift Instructor and Roadsport driver Sam Parker is one of those who will say yes to almost anything put her way!

“My journey with Caterham, it winds back to quite a long time ago actually – it’s been 22 years since I first started to work for Caterham. I started as a promotion girl and ended up working on the Caterham stand at a car show in 2003 – then they asked me to look after hospitality and guests on experience days they ran. I really enjoyed it and got on well with the team, I then became one of their drift instructors before too long and that’s something I love doing to this day.”

It didn’t stop there for Sam, with the demand of online coverage and the live streaming presence growing on the BARC channels a vacancy opened for a presenter and Caterham knew where to go knocking.

“Four years ago I was asked if I wanted to do some presenting for the live stream shows – which I had never done before. I guess I was a familiar face in the paddock and someone approachable and someone who knew the competitors and about the cars. I love doing it. Things just kept snowballing as not long ago they wanted to add to my weekend. Caterham asked me whether I would race in the Caterham Academy – I couldn’t turn that down either! What an awesome opportunity. But I was having such a great time presenting, I didn’t want to give that up, as I loved it too much – so I thought, I am just going to have to manage both parts. It gets interesting, not going to lie!”

But how does she do it? It’s hard to keep up with a busy BARC weekend at the best of times, let alone race and then jump out the car having to know what’s coming next or who finished where. How does she keep up with everything?

“Because I am so familiar with it all now I like to think it comes quite easy but it is a lot to balance. I started in 2022 with the presenting, and got to know all the familiar faces as people have stayed around the paddock for a good number of years and move up the ladder so I got to know who’s, who – where people are in the championship and I do refresh myself before a race weekend. It’s good to know in your back pocket who’s leading, what’s the difference in points, especially now in the latter part of the season. Being at Snetterton last weekend we had the Academy – I try and get involved in the Academy as much as possible as well – as I am a mentor for them as I did it not long ago. If they need any advice or contacts to help make their first steps in motorsport a little easier I want to help. I can’t sit still, I like to be busy!”

So let’s play out a scenario… how do you find racing and then jumping in front of the camera within seconds?

“When I finish my race, after the chequered flag on the cool down lap, I am looking ahead depending on what circuit we are at so I know when I come into Parc Ferme or into the Pit Lane I switch into presenter mode and completely forget about my race, even if I have had a bad one! You just have to. If I don’t finish, and touch wood that doesn’t happen as I have finished every race so far, there is another presenter from BARC there just in case but I am already thinking on that last lap about what to say and who to go and speak to. I suppose that’s my prep time.”

What do you love about the role so much? Most people want to shy away from the camera?

“I love interviewing my lot [Roadsport drivers] as I know them so well. I race against them – know all the backstories. They even turn it around and ask how my race went! You never know what you are going to get and there is so much to talk about after a race as well – it’s good to hear it raw and straight away from your competitors. It’s such a great atmosphere, the buzz of doing both is really special. It’s a challenge, but I am exhausted by Monday morning!”

The Caterham ladder are back in action this weekend for a one day, action-packed meeting at Oulton Park. Join Sam and the rest of the team for full coverage from the Cheshire venue.