While there is plenty of on-track action at CARCO.com.au Raceway during the year, it is the community of officials off the track that the WA Sporting Car Club Inc (WASCC) administrators continue to be proud of.
 
The recent fourth meeting of the WASCC calendar saw the highest percentage of female officials the club has seen to date, with 15 of the 60 official positions filled by women – led by Chief and Deputy Chief Stewards, Jenn Ellison and Terri Woolhouse.  
 
Epitomising that group of up-and-coming women, Paige Playford made her debut as Chief Flag Marshall at the two-day meet – impressing her peers to serve in the top position at only 20 years old. 
 
“I was supposed to be Deputy Chief Flags and then my friend was like, ‘Congratulations, you’ve been promoted to Chief’,” Playford said.
 
“I just figured out what corners I needed people on and then I branched off from there. I put new people with experienced seniors, or experience generals – mostly seniors. 
 
“Then I made sure throughout the day to check on everyone, make sure everyone had everything and looked after everyone.”

 
It’s been a rapid rise through the ranks for Playford, who came to the club through friend and fellow official Rachael Fenn and was immediately captivated by the sport.
 
Before she knew it, Playford was trackside at Repco Supercars Championship events, showcasing her new-found skill and love for the role.
 
“I first got involved through my friend, Rachael. She was doing her bronze assessment for flags and I was over at her place, and she said, ‘I’ve got to train someone new. Would you like to come along?’,” she said. 
 
“I thought I’d give it a go, that was the month before Supercars. I absolutely love it; it was a weekend race meet and I went back the second day.
 
“Next thing you know, my friends said I should apply for Supercars, and ever since then I’ve just been doing it.”
 
Testament to her passion for the role, Playford was formally recognised for her exceptional skill and accuracy as the Supercheap Auto Official Superstar for June after her work across the 2024 Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint.
 
Lauded for her confident call-making and accuracy in recording in of incidents in her sector, Playford was also highlighted for her ability to teach and empower new volunteers while expertly executing her own role.
 
“There were people who were very much deserving of it. I was very shocked, to say the least,” she said. 
 
“But to get that recognition, it helped me get the confidence I needed for that kind of weekend. 
 
“It just shows girls that are wanting to get into it that they can actually do it, they can get into motorsport. 
 
“That was the biggest thing I’ve learned from this experience – it’s not just a guy’s sport and it’s not just the guys officiating.”
 
Supported by a strong cohort of officials at the WASCC, Playford is grateful for the women at the club who have inspired and invested in her growth.
 
Crediting Fenn for her start in the sport, Playford also highlighted WASCC Track Operations Staff and Deputy Event Secretary Telea Plummer and fellow official Danielle Kneafsey for her success to date.
 
“The club has been great, they’ve definitely been pushing for more women to get out there and helped myself and others obtain their bronze and silver licenses – which is fantastic,” she said.
 
“Telea is one of the people I look up to in that regard, Rachael is also someone I look up to as a female official – because she was the one who got me into it, and I haven’t told her thank you enough for that.”
 
Nominate an official for Supercheap Auto Official Superstar.