Best known in the role of ‘pits reporter’ for ITV’s Grand Prix programmes, Louise Goodman is an accomplished journalist and presenter who has spent most of her working life in the fast lane.
One of three sisters, Louise grew up in Alresford, Hampshire and fell in love with driving at the tender age of four when she sat behind the wheel of her father’s Morris Traveller for the first time.
There was no strong motor sport tradition in the Goodman household, but the family did follow the fortunes of F1 star, and fellow Alresford resident, Derek Warwick.
Although her interests were stirred, Louise had no plans to follow a career in motor sport.
Instead she went to London and worked briefly as a secretary for a firm of architects. Quickly tiring of driving a desk Louise left the UK and went travelling in the United States. Whilst visiting Florida she was introduced to the Editor of ‘Powerboat & Waterskiing’ magazine and, on returning home, Louise was offered a job.
She started out selling classified advertising but the editorial side of the magazine held much more appeal. Louise began reporting on local events, and before long was travelling around the world to cover offshore and circuit powerboat races.
She soon developed a taste for foreign climes and decided to take time out from working for a really good look around!
For the next 18 months she travelled the world, waitressing in New York, working on a parasail boat in the Caribbean and cooking for divers on the Great Barrier Reef to fund her adventures. She returned to the UK in 1988 lured back by an offer of work – the job of Press Officer for the Leyton House Formula One team as too good to resist.
Louise has worked exclusively in the motor industry ever since, providing editorial and PR services to motor manufacturers, GP drivers and F1 teams. Over the years she has worked with some of the best in the business including Mika Hakkinen, Jean Alesi and Johnny Herbert. Eddie Irvine, Rubens Barrichello, Ralf Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella all benefited from her PR skills when she was their Press Officer at Jordan GP, as did ITV commentator Martin Brundle. She even looked after media relations for her childhood champion, Derek Warwick.
Then in 1997 Louise was approached by ITV and invited to join Murray Walker and Martin Brundle presenting the new ITV ‘Grand Prix’ programme. Though her television experience was limited, Louise did have ten years of invaluable F1 experience. She had the trust and respect of the drivers and knew who to talk to in the Grand Prix pit lane.
Her work now takes her right to the heart of one of the most exciting sports in the world, scouring the pits and paddock for all the latest news and views.
Not content with just talking about motor sport, Louise is a keen competitor too. An enthusiastic kartist for several years she made her rally driving debut in 1997 behind the wheel of a works-supported entry in the Ford Rally Ka Championship. In 1999 she finished a credible 3rd in class on the Network Q Rally of Great Britain. She has also completed several circuit races, although rally remains her first love.
Louise is a patron of WOMAC (Women On the Move Against Cancer) a fund-rasing charity group compromising women from the motor sport industry. WOMAC supports a variety of products working to research the disease and to alleviate suffering amongst patients.
She is also a patron of The Butterfly Appeal which is aiming to raise £250,000 to provide a new surgical practice suite and research facility for About Face, a charity committed to helping people with cancer of the head or neck.
