Speedway driver Olivia Adams sitting pretty

GIRL RACER: Hairdresser Olivia Adams says clients are often surprised to hear she's also a speedway driver. INSET: Olivia Adams, in her pink number 34 car, at Western Springs Speedway. PHOTOS/STEPHEN PARKER 230114SP6, SUPPLIED

Perfect make-up and manicured nails aren't what you'd normally associate with speedway drivers but Olivia Adams makes it work.

The 21-year-old Rotorua hairdresser is the only woman driver in the F2 Midget class at Auckland's Western Springs Speedway and one of just two women racing across all classes.

Now in her second season, Miss Adams recently had her best result - a fourth - and is sitting 7th out of 16 drivers.

Despite the bright pink car, this is no gimmick - she's seriously committed to the sport.

On race days, the Salon St Bruno stylist works until 1pm then drives herself to Auckland, races, packs up, sleeps for three hours then drives back to Rotorua to work the next day.

"Over Christmas week I went up and back four times."

It all began in 2012 when family friend and speedway enthusiast Gavin Stone was looking for a woman to race in and raise the profile of the new F2 Midget class.

One night, while the two families were enjoying a few drinks, he asked Miss Adams if she was keen.

"I said okay. I really, really didn't know what I was getting myself into. I didn't have a clue what a midget was."

The next day Mr Stone ordered and paid for the car and that was that. Miss Adams had just two days on the practice track to learn how to drive it.

"We did hundreds of laps trying to get me race-ready."

Years of motocross experience helped her pick it up quickly, but she was still terrified when she found herself on the grid for the first time.

However, she survived and has improved with each meeting - eventually earning the respect of her male competitors.

She has plenty of fans among the thousands who regularly pack out Western Springs, including a young girl who approached her in the pits on Boxing Day.

"She had got a jacket made up with my number on the back ... that's what makes me think yes, I have done my bit," she said.

"That's what it was all about ... proving a point that chicks can do it too."

She laughingly admits she signs autographs with a special pink pen and has to wear extra long racing gloves because of her manicured fingernails - but don't be fooled, she's competitive.

"I am quite girly but when it comes to this I really don't care [what I look like]."

With plans for an OE next year, the pink car will be left in the hands of one of her "awesome" team.

But with motorsport now firmly in her blood, she reckons she'll be back.

"I don't think it [the desire to race] will ever leave me... I will go back to some form of racing."