DATTO Ramadan likes life in the fast lane.

A woman in a man’s world, the Sunshine resident is used to turning heads wherever she goes.

The 30-year-old runs Exclusive Cars, a mechanics workshop in Wright Road, Sunshine.

Although she has more than 16 years experience as a mechanic, Datto says many first-time customers are shocked to see her under the bonnet, rather than answering phones.

“A lot of them do a double take when they see me,” she said.

“They think I’m too much of a girly girl to be working on cars, but once they hear me talk they realise I know what I’m on about.”

As a young woman, Datto was fascinated by cars, a passion she has retained.

In her spare time, she restores and revamps cars, including her own pimped up ute, which now runs on a Japanese engine.

But it’s not only in her professional life that Datto is intent on breaking the stereotypes.

She is a regular fixture at Calder Park Raceway’s fortnightly street drag races, which is attracting a growing number of women.

The raceway is running free drag racing classes for women, to encourage them to learn about the sport in a safe environment.

Datto has been drag racing at Calder Park for more than a decade, after becoming hooked to the adrenalin rush as a 17-year-old.

She has fond memories of her first circuit.

“I went with my dad in an old Datsun 200B,” she said.

“I reckon the car pulled about 20 seconds, but I had an absolute ball.”

These days, Datto’s ute can make it around the track in around 12 seconds - but nobody is counting.

Datto eventually hopes to score sponsorship and turn professional.

For more information about Calder Park Drag School, call 9091 0800.