- Renee Gracie faces licensing hurdles after successful return
- Received a silver ranking when she reapplied for a license
- Gracie would prefer a bronze ranking, just like last season
Motorsport star Renee Gracie has made a successful return to racing, but now faces an unusual dilemma ahead of the new season.
The 28-year-old, who has reportedly earned $10 million from her work in adult entertainment, recently returned to racing after a seven-year break from the sport.
Gracie won the Trophy Series in GT World Challenge Australia this year as part of the SpeedSeries, a class within the luxury sports car series for older, early GT3 cars.
The two-time Bathurst 1000 starter is looking to build on her career but now faces an unusual licensing hurdle.
Gracie has been awarded a silver ranking by the FIA after applying for her 2024 license.
Renee Gracie faces licensing drama as she looks to build on her highly successful return to racing after a seven-year break from the sport
Gracie has been given a Silver ranking for 2024, which is a promotion but could even be a problem for her
In 2023, Gracie could have dropped her ranking to Bronze, but her success has led to her being re-ranked as Silver.
If Gracie cannot be moved to Bronze, she will need to be paired with a Bronze driver for the 2024 season, as Platinum, Gold and Silver drivers cannot drive independently or be paired with another driver from any of these levels. .
Gracie also believes that it would be difficult to find a suitable partner given her association with a well-known adult platform.
“It's arranged strangely in my opinion,” she told the KTM Summer Grill.
'When I applied again [my Motorsport Australia licence], I got Silver right away. I thought, 'Wow, why am I Silver? That's creepy'.
'We applied for a dispensation and I got bronze because there was six years between the races.
'I won bronze in the Trophy this year [class], so it all made sense for my return. But I had a pretty successful year, and age is a big thing, because I'm under 30, so they made me silver [for 2024].
'We're in a bit of a bind at the moment because if you're Bronze you can combine with a Silver or Gold and do a Pro-Am entry, or run on your own as an amateur. And if you are gold, platinum or silver, you must be paired with a bronze.
'Some bronze drivers are very good and in theory should be gold. Being silver is just difficult because I have to be paired with a bronze driver. I'm covered by OnlyFans sponsorship, so who's going to join little old Renee in the OnlyFans Audi and race with me this year?
Gracie hopes she can race as a Bronze driver for the 2024 season after winning the Trophy Series in GT World Challenge Australia
“That's the pickle I have right now.”
Gracie says that because her times are slower than those of the top Bronze drivers, the ranking system needs some leniency.
'It's okay [the FIA] “I see potential in my history, but there is no leniency,” she said.
“I feel like there needs to be some flexibility. With some Bronze drivers I was still one and a half seconds slower than them in Adelaide. And I have to be Silver and they can be Bronze.
'Ultimately I'm down to one and a half seconds in terms of time [slower]. It's flattering to me, they clearly think I must be good enough. But at the same time, I'm actually not, because there are Bronze drivers who are extremely fast.
“And I shouldn't be Silver until I'm faster than them.”