Pole Position (BFS Documentary)

Aim: A documentary deep-diving into the career of a young female racing driver, capturing her journey and the thrill of motorsport.

Less than 10% of motorsport racers are female!

Providing a deep dive into the life of a junior British motor racer, Pole Position is a documentary that takes viewers into the exhilarating world of motorsport, following the journey of a young driver as she steps into the intense world of car racing. After a successful karting career, she’s ready to take on new challenges, aiming for victory in an elite racing environment. Through her story and insights from women both on the track and behind the scenes, Pole Position captures the thrill, dedication, and unique perspectives within the sport. Highlighting the excitement of the season’s first race, this film showcases the resilience and passion driving the next generation of racers.

Our Racer: Maggie Webster

Maggie is a seventeen-year-old saloon car racer based in Kent. She's a great racer to be following in our film as she already has a fantastic array of achievements. 

• First female driver to secure pole position in the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship at Silverstone
• Two top-10 finishes overall in the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship at Silverstone
• IK Junior Saloon Champion 2023
• Crowned Invicta Kent Junior Saloon Champion in 2023

A statement from Maggie: "As a current BRSCC Fiesta Junior racing driver moving up to seniors next year, I am so excited to be a part of Pole Position! This documentary shares such an amazing message, and I hope it inspires young females who love racing to take that leap and begin their own motorsport journeys. As well as providing a start toward normalising the growing presence of females in the sport."

As a motorsport fan who found my initial passion through Drive to Survive, I’m excited to bring Pole Position to life—a documentary that celebrates the thrill of racing and the energy that brings fans together, regardless of gender. For me, racing became a bond between my mum and me, filled with strategic debates and shared team loyalty. Yet despite the large number of female fans (a rise of 40% of female fans have become supporters within the last five years), I couldn’t ignore the lack of representation on the track. This film tells the story of a young girl competing with all her heart, showcasing that the joy and intensity of motorsport are for everyone. By supporting Pole Position, you’re helping us capture this energy and share a story that redefines who belongs on the track. Join us in fueling this exciting journey toward a more inclusive future in motorsport!

Pole Position blends the high-intensity world of motorsport with the personal struggles and triumphs of young women fighting for their place in an industry dominated by men. Through raw, immersive camerawork and naturalistic lighting, the documentary will capture the pulse of the racetrack and the unspoken challenges of gender imbalance in racing. Our aim is to evoke both the visceral energy of motorsport and the quiet resilience of our subject, creating a space where her determination becomes palpable with every lap. 

Visually, Pole Position draws on the stark, often isolating environments of the track to underscore the barriers faced by women in motorsport. As the camera follows our junior driver through intense race scenes and inmate interviews, each frame will reveal the weight of her journey and the thrill of her pursuit. We invite you to look behind the helmet to experience the world of racing, one where every turn brings you closer to breaking down the walls of an age-old sport. 

Supporters should donate to this film and join the team behind Pole Position because our documentary offers a chance to bring a fresh, inspiring story to life that celebrates the excitement of motorsport while shining a light on the untold stories of female racers. 

Unlike traditional racing documentaries, this film focuses not only on the thrill of competition but also on the journey of a young female driver aiming to make her mark on the sport. This film gives voice to a fresh perspective, creating an inspiring story that resonates with both motorsport fans and those passionate about change, all while delivering the high-speed excitement that fans crave! 

(And as a bonus, we've got some pretty fun rewards on offer too!)

HOW WILL YOUR DONATION HELP?

Your donation will directly support the practical needs of bringing Pole Position to life. From transporting the cast and crew to race events to ensuring they have the necessary meals and accommodations throughout filming, your support will help cover these essential logistics. Additionally, funds will be used to rent the high-quality camera equipment needed to capture the intensity and excitement of each race, ensuring we deliver the full adrenaline rush of motorsport. Every contribution helps make this film a reality, allowing us to tell a powerful story with the professionalism and impact it deserves.

THE SPLIT

66% Cast & Crew Living- Due to the race we’re covering being away from our film school, your contribution will allow us to be fed and watered so we can focus on the racing all weekend.

9% Travel and Transport- As well as accommodation we will need to transport our crew and equipment to the racing event. We would also need to transport to the production to our racers local track which would further increase the transport budget.

9% Contingency- Making up 9% of our budget, the contingency is in place if there is an insurance payout necessary or an oversight on certain costs. Ideally, it won’t need to be spent and can be used after production to take the film to festivals to promote it further.

8% Miscellaneous- This includes fulfilment of our crowdfunder rewards, cleaning equipment to stay tidy on location and an 8% fee towards crowdfunder for hosting our donations.

3% Post Production & Soundtrack- We’ve budgeted this section to license archive footage to build foundational footage from poignant moments in racing.

2% Camera, lighting & Sound- To deliver the most visually stunning race moments, we are anticipating hiring specialist equipment such as high quality lenses.

>1% Locations- This is reserved for parking at our location as well as paying out if any damage is done while shooting at the tracks.

>1% Promotion, Marketing & Distribution- In the event our contingency is spent we have reserved a small sum for taking the film to festivals in this section as well.

>1% Art Department- While we don’t technically have an art department on this film due to it being non-fiction a small amount has been reserved here in case we need to jazz up any talking head interviews.


Pole Position is a project created by the talented graduating class of Arts University Bournemouth and Bournemouth Film Schools' third-year Film Production students. As a BFI-screened film, we are committed to producing a high-quality, impactful documentary that will reach a wide audience. Our distribution plan includes a strategic festival circuit, with submissions to major film festivals to build buzz and recognition. Additionally, we plan to collaborate with motorsport organizations, events, and media outlets to ensure the film resonates with fans and newcomers alike, while also highlighting the importance of representation in the sport. This project is a film, but also an opportunity to share a powerful story with a wider audience, from film lovers to motorsport enthusiasts.

On behalf of the entire Pole Position crew, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous support. Your contribution is making this inspiring project possible, and we’re incredibly grateful to have you on this journey with us—together, we’re bringing this powerful story to life!