Motor racing driver makes pit stop in Stirling for graduation

Scottish racing driver Logan Hannah made a quick pit stop at the University of Stirling today to collect her degree. 

The 22-year-old, who was the first female driver to ever compete in the Formula 4 United Arab Emirates Championship, is celebrating after successfully juggling a hectic racing career with a BA (Hons) Psychology and Sports Studies. 

Inspired by her motorsport enthusiast father, Logan first got behind the wheel age 10, beginning her career in karting in Dubai, where her family had relocated. Named ‘Female Driver of the Year’ by Karting Magazine in 2017, she made history in the F4 UAE and later continued her success back in the UK in the Scottish Formula Ford Championship, winning the David Leslie Trophy at Knockhill.  

Logan went on to compete in the 2022 GB4 series with Graham Brunton Racing, making the podium twice and becoming only the second woman to win in the series. Previously on route to Formula 1, she made the jump to compete in GT, driving a Le Mans Prototype and racing in the 2024 Ligier European Series. 

Racing star Logan Hannah celebrates on the University of Stirling campus. 

Logan, who is now based in East Kilbride, said: “I am excited to be on the path to where I want to be – a professional factory driver. My ambition is to race and win at Le Monde 24 – one of the biggest 24-hour races in GT racing. 

“Balancing racing with studying was not easy! I had to manage work, social life, uni, racing – looking back, I’m not sure how I did it! My uni friends couldn’t believe how crazy my life was. Three weeks out from my dissertation deadline, I was called to go to France and from the initial phone call to getting on a flight was about eight hours – I just had to drop everything and go! But that’s how motorsport works – it’s twenty-four-seven, 365 days a year.  

“You might only have six or seven weekends in a year of actual racing, but the work involved in getting to the track is immense. I do a lot of brand ambassador work – which often involves travelling – I’m finding sponsors, emailing, networking, testing, training. It’s full-on.”  

Female participation in sport

Often asked about her experiences as a female in a male-dominated sport, Logan wrote her dissertation on the social barriers affecting female participation in motorsport. 

“The difference from when I started, 12 to 15 years ago, to today, is night and day,” said Logan. “When I began racing, especially in Dubai, there were no female racing drivers out there – and across the world it was only those women who were really at the very top of their sport that were visible. You couldn’t see any girls below them, on the ladder on the way up.  

“That’s changed now and I think in part that’s thanks to social media, which has given everyone an opportunity to create a platform and promote themselves. There has been a genuine increase in female drivers across the sport, which is nice to see. There’s more work to be done, of course, but it’s going in the right direction.” 

Celebrations

Following the summer break, Hannah will continue racing with Nielsen Racing alongside teammate Ben Caisley at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.  She’ll make a whistle-stop visit to Stirling for graduation – flying in from Belgium before returning soon after the celebrations – but is looking forward to marking the occasion with family. 

“My parents are proud,” she said. “Racing wise, my dad lives vicariously though me, he loves it, while my mom is more apprehensive – the racing is scary for her to watch, which I understand. They have both been very supportive of me wanting to finish my degree and do the racing at the same time and it wouldn’t have been possible without them – they do so much for me.” 

University Chancellor The Rt Hon Lord Jack McConnell celebrates his nephew James Brown, who graduated from Stirling this week.

Logan joined 2,271 students who celebrated their graduation at the University’s summer ceremonies this week. 

Degrees were conferred by University Chancellor, The Rt Hon Lord Jack McConnell - who awarded a degree to his own nephew, James Brown. James has just completed a BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology at Stirling - and his uncle was the first to congratulate him as he crossed the stage.