Like most younger siblings, Lyla Lovett is no stranger to receiving hand-me-downs.
But unlike her peers, the eight-year-old doesn’t just get second hand clothes and shoes – she recently acquired big sister Freya’s old stock car.
Now the unlikely pair are making a name for themselves in the male-dominated world of motorsport, thrashing their purple and white painted machines around a track that kick-started the career of British Formula One legend Jim Clark decades ago.
Their local stock car circuit is Crimond Raceway, near Peterhead, but they travel across Britain almost every weekend to race in the Brisca Micro F2 series.
Freya, 10, has already enjoyed a string of podium finishes, including more than 10 victories over the past two years and finished top girl in Scotland at the end of last season.
Lyla has also secured her first win in the short time she has been behind the wheel.
But while they love being rivals on the track – and beating all the boys – Freya, 10, still has time to play for Aberdeen Ladies Under 11s Football team, while Lyla does cheerleading and gymnastics.
Proud dad Paul, 39, from Aberdeen, said: “They’re like chalk and cheese. They both love racing but Lyla’s a bit more girly and Freya’s a bit of a Tom-boy.”
One thing the siblings agree on, however, is that “girls are faster than boys.”
Freya said: “When you beat all the boys who are on the track who have been racing for longer than you, it’s really overwhelming.
“It’s a lot of fun. Racing on the track is the best bit.”
And next season, despite still being in primary school, Freya will get behind the wheel of a classic Mini, racing at speeds of around 60mph.
Some of her main rivals will be 16-year-old boys but Freya, who turns 11 in September, is undaunted by the prospect.
“It will be good,” she said. I’ll get to go way faster.”
Mr Lovett admitted that with having two daughters he never expected he would be taking them stock car racing.
But after watching a family friend’s son compete, Freya was instantly hooked and, a year later, Lyla was keen to follow her sister’s path.
Mr Lovett said: “We revamped Feya’s old car for Lyla and I was under strict instructions what colour to make it.
“They’re both purple this year – one’s dark and one’s light – and I can’t see that changing any time soon.
“It’s amazing to see them, when you think they’re still learning to read and write at that age.”
The girls reach speeds of up to 40mph as they race 30-plus cars around an oval shale track and must time it perfectly as they pick their way through the traffic.
And while they have both had their fair share of crashes, sometimes landing off the track, Lyla said: “It’s amazing fun. The best thing about it is seeing all my friends and having fun on the track.”
Mr Lovett added: “They both love it, especially the oldest one.
“Freya was number one girl in Scotland last year. She’s just come to a stage where she’s ready to move up. It’s a big jump, but she’s really excited about it. She’s pretty competitive.
“It’s all for fun but when you put them in something like that, it never ends up being like that.
“At every meeting there are 30 cars on the track. They’re not friends on the track but when they’re off the track they’ll all playing and running around together. It’s a good community.
“There’s never a dull moment. Stock car racing is our life.”
Now behind the scenes, Mr Lovett and Freya, with the support of their sponsors, arenow preparing her Mini for next season when she will move up to the Mini Stock class.
Mr Lovett said: “It’s all she goes on about just now. She’s really excited. I’m quite excited too. I think she’s ready for it and it will really bring her on.
“I don’t think she’ll have any problem passing her driving test when she’s older.”