- International Women’s Day 2026
- Sun, 8 Mar 2026
- Interview with motoring journalist Maxine Ashford
- Advice for other aspiring female writers
“Follow your dreams, because the world of motoring is no longer the male-dominated industry it once was.”
That’s the advice from respected UK motoring journalist Maxine Ashford - one of Select’s acclaimed team of writers - ahead of International Women’s Day 2026.
Maxine, based near Cardiff, has been working in journalism since the late 1980s and has written for national and regional newspapers, websites and specialist magazines, as well as appearing on BBC radio.
She's a regular contributor to The Independent's motoring section. She was awarded the Guild of Motoring Writer's Feature Writer of the Year in 2024, and is one of just two UK judges for Women's Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY).
Here Maxine chats about life in the fast-paced world of automotive news and reviews - and why more and more women are working in the sector.
So, Maxine, the world of motoring journalism is still perceived as being fairly male-centric - has there ever been any nervousness being a female in such a world?
“Absolutely not. While the industry is still very male dominated, the number of female journalists has increased considerably in recent years, and that’s really great news. Obviously the industry has become more attractive to content creators, which adds a new dimension to the mix - in a really positive way. It’s always interesting to hear how other people have started out and how the whole social media aspect works. If you don’t move with the times, you simply get left behind.”
You’ve been in this game a long time - has there ever been any kick-back from other journalists, particularly in your earlier days?
“A long, long time, yes! I was quite wary back in the earlier days when there were just one or two really well-established female journalists covering the motoring launch scene. But, like anything new, you make friends and soon find your feet. That said; one older journalist (male) did ask me to get him a drink from the bar once - I think he thought I was a waitress! Needless to say, I didn’t fetch!”
How do you feel the landscape has shifted in recent years?
“As I mentioned, there are definitely more female journalists these days. Online presentations have become increasingly popular and that has seen an increase in well-researched, quality content from a number of highly-respected female presenters.”
Can you tell us a little bit about your work with WWCOTY – how much of an honour is it for you to be involved in that award, and what is it trying to achieve?
“My very good friend, the late Sue Baker, asked me to become a judge for Women's Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) when she became ill and took more of a back seat role. I was absolutely blown away to be asked and, generally, the manufacturers are very supportive. There are just two UK judges - myself and Maggie Barry, who is based in Scotland, so it is quite an honour to serve on the panel of 84 female judges from 54 countries. Throughout the year, we test drive as many new models as possible and this is followed by a voting process that narrows the list down to six finalists - this year they were the Nissan Leaf, Skoda Elroq, Mercedes CLA, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Toyota 4Runner and the Lamborghini Temerario. The winner is announced on March 8 to coincide with International Women’s Day.”
Finally, any words of wisdom for other women writers who might be hoping to cover cars?
“Follow your dreams. The world of motoring is no longer the male-dominated industry it once was. There are top female executives making high-powered board room decisions at many manufacturers these days and they realise how important women are to this industry. And that is true from a journalism aspect too.”
*Read Maxine’s latest news articles for Select Car Leasing and you can follow her at www.carjourno.com.
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