The rally community in Queensland is in one of the strongest positions it has been in recent years, courtesy to many hard working and passionate individuals.

One of those people is prominent Brisbane Sporting Car Club member Kim Acworth.

Not only is she a regular competitor in the Motorsport Australia Queensland Rally Championship (QRC), however Acworth has also thrown her support behind the QRC in 2022 with her company - Acworth Recruitment - now the name partner for the Championship. 

Despite now being the main sponsor for state rally championship, Acworth's back story is much different to others in the community - she isn’t the stereotypical rally driver, nor does she have the typical narrative of getting involved.

She doesn’t come from a family of motorsport fans and she never had much of a desire to compete in motorsport either, regardless of the enjoyment she had from watching rallying.  

In fact, competing in the sport was so far from her mind that when she did eventually start competing, it was as a 32-year-old single mother who was given an opportunity off the cuff – a move that changed her life forever.

Meeting a gentleman by the name of Stuart Titheradge in 2007, Acworth was invited to have her first taste as a competitor as his co-driver for some tarmac rallies, an experience she cherished and loved - but after just three events, she believed that she belonged in the driver’s seat.

Inspired by the new direction of her life, Acworth purchased a new Subaru Leone from Canberra and taught herself how to drive at rally sprint events in Hirstglen.

Since then, she has improved dramatically and experienced some success too over the years – her best result being an outright second place in the 2015 P3 Solutions Benarkin Rally alongside co-driver Ian Swinbourne.

As the years have gone by, Acworth has always loved competing and continues to run in the Motorsport Australia Queensland Rally Championship. Recently she teamed up with Nicola Hoey, who returns to the sport after a 10-year break, to make it an all-women crew.



Since being in the sport, Acworth has become an active regular and has enjoyed every minute after surprising many close to her about her newfound passion.

“I have played sport my whole life and so many different sports for that matter, but I found motorsport the most accepting community minded sport of the lot and that’s why I love it,” Acworth said.

“I wasn’t raised in motorsport at all. In fact, my family still scratch their heads at me starting this when I was a 32-year-old single mum with a two-year-old.

“I blame playing Colin McRae on the PlayStation in my early 20’s for sparking my interest in the sport. This led me to spectating at the International Rally of Queensland in the Imbil forests – but I never thought I would one day be competing in the sport.

“After my first event as a spectator I always liked watching motorsport, so I jumped at the opportunity to compete alongside Stuart in 2007 and I haven’t looked back ever since.

“For me, rally has more skill than circuit. It encompasses everything and is a huge challenge. Both you and your co-driver have each other’s lives in your hands, so it requires massive teamwork and resilience.


Photo: CH Images 

“Becoming a rally driver is one of the best things I have ever done, and it gives me that competitive and sports fix. The people are fantastic and I truly believe I will continue doing this for the rest of my life – well at least until I can’t walk.”

As far as being a woman in rally, Acworth believes that the Queensland community itself is one of acceptance and support.

“In Queensland, it’s always been very welcoming and accepting for women here, we have a high percentage of female navigators in the Queensland rally community so there is quite a good representation,” Acworth added.

“There are also a couple of young females out there and we are trying to keep them coming in the wings because there is potential that they have a future in the sport.

“Motorsport doesn’t have to be expensive, especially khanacrosses and all, so I think young women could enjoy the sport in that way, which is what my biggest advice would be – enjoy the grassroots of motorsport.”  

This feature is part of a series of stories celebrating International Women's Day, which took place on Tuesday 8 March.