Racing ahead — meet Bea Vear

Bea Vear is the kind of person who doesn’t just ride in the slipstream — she codes the telemetry. From a racer-in-waiting with grease on her hands to a programming and data engineer for Supercars, Bea’s journey is proof that motorsport is built on more than horsepower alone — it takes individuals with a generous helping of determination, adaptability and smarts.

We caught up with Bea fresh off her return to Aotearoa for the Taupō Supercars round to talk parity, pressure and the path that brought her from sim racing to a leadership role in one of Australasia’s most high-stakes motorsport environments.

LT: Tell us a bit about your background and how you found your way into motorsport engineering?

BEA: I started out as a racer — sim racing first, then real-life racing in the SsangYong Racing Series. I almost had a go at Formula Ford, too, but the car was wrecked and I never got to race it. Around that time, I got offered a job with Supercars, so I moved to Australia and I’ve now been working there for a bit over two years.

I’m a programming and data engineer for the Supercars organisation, not a specific team, and my job sits in the technical department. We look at live and post-session data from all the cars to ensure safety, rule compliance, and most critically, parity. Our goal is to make sure there’s no advantage between makes. Whether you’re driving a Ford or a GM, it needs to be a level playing field.

LT: Do you still have the racing bug?

BEA: Oh, absolutely. I’d love to be racing professionally, but it’s hard to find the time — or the funding — with a job like mine. I work long hours, and when I do get downtime, my brain’s usually pretty cooked. But the passion’s still there.

LT: What does a typical Supercars race week look like for you?

BEA: It starts well before the green flag. For the Taupō round, I came home early to see whānau and catch up with friends. I actually lived in Taupō for a while, so it’s familiar turf.

I usually arrive at the track on the Wednesday before a race. That day’s about setup when we build the scales patch, check scrutineering gear and set up the data stand. I’ve streamlined a lot of our systems to make that process faster and more reliable.

Thursday is all about installing and calibrating sensors — secondary loggers for parity testing, ride height lasers, torque sensors, gyros, you name it. Friday’s when things go live. I’ve helped develop a system that lets us remotely download data from all 24 ECUs — something that used to take two and a half hours now takes just 30 minutes.

LT: So, you’ve done more than just maintain systems, you’ve helped shape them?

BEA: I’ve built and optimised quite a few of the reports we rely on. Some were phased out, others reworked and a few I developed from scratch to give us what we need after each session. It’s all about getting good data, fast.

LT: Where does your love of motorsport come from?

BEA: It’s in the blood. My mum used to race and actually had a pretty major accident before I was born. My dad raced too, built his own car. I grew up around it. Dad once got a speeding ticket racing home to catch a race on TV.

I didn’t thrive at high school, it wasn’t the right environment, so I left and studied automotive engineering. I learned welding, suspension, engine builds. Then I shifted to digital technologies, majoring in software and web dev. Most of what I knew already came from gaming — hosting servers, writing scripts, that kind of thing.

Eventually, I started a Masters in Data Analytics and got noticed at the final Pukekohe event. Supercars brought me over to the Bathurst 1000 for a trial — I loved it, they liked me and I got a full-time contract.

LT: Do you think your blend of mechanical know-how and software smarts gives you an edge?

BEA: I think it’s pretty rare. A lot of software people don’t want to get their hands dirty. I enjoy both, crawling under a car, then running the data. I think that perspective helps. I can see how things work, not just how they compute.

LT: What’s something fans might not realise about what goes on behind the scenes at Supercars?

BEA: There’s a lot more than just race day. Supercars has about 80 full-time staff across events, partnerships, hospitality, finance, marketing, motorsport ops — you name it. It’s a travelling circus, but it’s tight-knit too.

Our technical department is just eight people looking after 24 cars. We don’t just work weekends, it’s full-on all the time. People think it’s just engineers, but we’ve got lawyers, accountants and event managers. There are so many ways to work in motorsport.

LT: What’s it been like navigating a male-dominated space?

BEA: It was tough at first. I had a six-week trial — something I haven’t seen happen for new male hires. But I proved myself. It was a cultural shift for the team, but I’ve found my place. There are a few more women in the paddock now, maybe three or four of us on the engineering side. It’s cool to see it shifting, slowly.

LT: Biggest challenge so far?

BEA: Imposter syndrome. No matter how capable you are, that question of “Do I belong here?” lingers. It’s a mental game — constantly learning, improving and justifying to yourself that you’ve earned your seat at the table.

LT: Most rewarding moment?

BEA: Definitely going to the U.S. in 2023 for the wind tunnel parity tests. We shipped both the Mustang and the Camaro over —the first time Supercars had ever done anything like that. Only 20 people got to witness it. Seeing our cars in the tunnel, gathering that data… it was surreal. A once-in-a-lifetime thing.

LT: Have you noticed any changes in how young women are entering the sport?

BEA: Definitely. There’s a bit more visibility now, especially with social media and the way events promote Women in Motorsport. More girls are seeing that they can be on the tools, not just on the sidelines. I think there’s still a way to go, but the momentum is building. People are starting to value skill over stereotype.

LT: What keeps you motivated?

BEA: I like solving problems. Whether it’s building a system, improving a process, or figuring out a better way to do something, that’s what drives me. That and knowing I’m helping shape the fairness of the sport. Parity matters, and I’m proud to play a part in that.

LT: Coming back to Taupō, what was that like after being away?

BEA: Magic. We stayed right on the lakefront. I’d be ready 20 minutes early just to stand outside and soak it in. That lake is stunning. Taupō is one of those places that feels like home, even if you’re just visiting.

LT: Favourite local spots or rituals when you're in town?

BEA: I didn’t get much downtime, but I always try to get to Huka Falls. One great find was a dinner at Roquette in town — amazing food. I also love The Jolly Good Fellows pub, I go there every time.

LT: What advice would you give to young Kiwis, especially girls, who are curious about engineering or motorsport but unsure where to start?

BEA: Be a f***ing dragon. That’s my mantra — it’s even tattooed on my leg. If you want something, go after it. Don’t wait for permission. Just start.

There are some great online resources too—like motorsportengineer.com or HPA (High Performance Academy) in NZ. You don’t need to know everything. You just need to start learning and put yourself in the room where it happens.

Bea's story certainly showcases the fire of the dragon — a fierce blend of ambition and skill. In celebrating Bea, we also celebrate the success of the event itself and the kind of visitor who brings mana to our place.