When Audi claimed a one-two finish at the latest round of motor racing's World Endurance Championship in Houston, Texas last weekend, the person running the operation from the pit-wall was Leena Gade.

A rarity in a male world, she decides the team strategy, making decisions such as when to bring the cars in for new tyres or more fuel, without losing places to rival teams. With three wins at Le Mans as a race engineer for Audi, Gade is building an impressive record.

Her fascination with motor sport was born watching thrilling battles between Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell in the early 1990s.

But her success came only after a bumper crop of rejection letters from Formula One teams as she sought work experience.

She's been talking to Sportshour's Shari Vahl

(Photo: Audi)