Self-proclaimed tomboy Natasha Chang reveals that she has always been more interested in learning about cars than about dolls or make-up. The bubbly beauty — currently ATL Motors’ Marketing and Promotions Coordinator — made her debut on the local car racing circuit in 2006, and since then has gone on to win many competitions. Absent from the rally scene for over two years, she is planning a big comeback next year. As Chang gears up for her return, we caught up with the adrenaline junkie at the Spanish Court Hotel.

What are you sipping today?

A glass of chardonnay.

Flats or stilettos?

Both…I love flats, but it’s nice to dress up once in a while and wear a really nice pair of stilettos.

Jeans or LBD?

I am more of a jeans and polo shirt kind of girl. I don’t even know what an LBD is (laughs).

In a sentence, how would you describe Natasha Chang?

Wow! That’s a hard question for me to just narrow down to one sentence. I’m ambitious and very proud that no matter what has come my way I have managed to stand up, keep moving forward and find happiness.

What’s in your handbag?

My iPod, vehicle documents, wallet and my sunglasses. No make-up (laughs), but you may find some lipgloss in there.

What’s your idea of the ideal man?

I like a man who’s challenging, forward-thinking and ambitious. He can’t be a pushover. He has to like to argue, but not in an aggressive way.

What would be a perfect date?

I am very simple. Perhaps a nice dinner to get to know him is good enough for me. Nothing fancy, really.

When did your interest in race car driving first develop?

Well, I have always been interested in cars. My family was into classic cars and then I started go-carting in 2006. I bought my first race car shortly after that and I have just been moving further into the field.

Were you scared when you first started?

Yes. I remember my first rally… I had never felt speed like that before. You get to a point when you kind of feel like you’re floating. Once you get over that fear and learn to trust your car and your navigator you will do fine. What most people don’t understand is that rally cars and how they are engineered is a lot different from the average car. Everyone has seen what can happen when you crash — I mean many people do and you still walk out just a little shaken up, but unharmed really.

What’s it like competing in a male-dominated industry?

It is very competitive and very thrilling at the same time, because it’s nice to show people that women can do just as well if not better than men. Personally, my size — because I am petite — has been something that men often use to determine that I am not cut out for this sport. Some men assume that it wasn’t my love or my drive that helped me acquire my race car, but it was somebody pushing me along. It was hard for them to imagine that women can actually have a genuine interest and love for the sport from the beginning.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

I am not sure if you would call this advice, but my dad used to tell me when I was younger that ‘you will fall, and it will hurt, but as long as you have people to help you back up and you in turn learn to pick yourself back up, you will be a better person’.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

My proudest achievement is perhaps my ambition and drive. I have a small detailing company that I started (called Dolly’s Detailing) two-and-a-half years ago — that has been my little hobby. I started it because I am a big car person and I didn’t really find anyone I could trust with my car, in terms of cleaning and worrying about them damaging the paint. I just couldn’t find anybody who could give me a finished product I was proud of. So I started the company. My nickname is Chiney Dolly so I used this name to start my company.

Why have you been absent from the racing scene?

I took a break for about two years to focus on business, work and other issues. I just purchased a Honda Civic that I will be racing next year for Dover. When you really love something you can’t stay away from it for too long. I am very excited about starting back next year. I think that we women need a presence in the racing world and that is what I plan to bring. You can look out for me in the number one spot.

When you are not working, where is the best place to find you?

I am really a homebody, but if I am not home I am here at the Spanish Court Hotel.

Who or what inspires you?

Hmm… that sounds like a Miss Jamaica question (smiles). I would say my dad. Something he has taught me is to find happiness in the simplest of forms. He needs little or nothing to be happy and that aspect of him is very humbling. He inspires me to be a bit more like him.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

My family owns a business and I enjoy all kinds of businesses, really. I want to go back to that but I decided to take a break and do my own thing. I wanted to learn from experience out there. But I want to go back and improve on that company. Hopefully, I will have a family in 10 years — I would really love to have a family.