Rotary Royalty: Maisie Place on Grit, Gears & Going Full Throttle

In this episode of Famous Last Words, we sit down with one of the most exciting names in Australian motorsport: Maisie Place. At just 24, Maisie is already a qualified mechanic, competitive RX-8 Cup driver, and race team owner—making waves on and off the track in a scene still largely dominated by men.

Maisie shares her journey from apprentice under rotary legend Jon Waterhouse to leading her own team at events like the Bathurst 6 Hour and the Nürburgring 24 Hour. She opens up about the late nights in the workshop (sometimes sleeping there to get the job done), the power of mentorship, and what it’s like navigating motorsport as a woman.

💬 “I got to meet Leanne Tander and thought—oh, girls can do this.”
💬 “When you’re in the race car, the rest of the world stops—and I love that.”
💬 “If you read my messages, you’d be mortified.”

This is a raw, inspiring look into what it takes to build a career in motorsport from the ground up—with nothing but grit, talent, and a love for rotary engines.

🔧 Listen now and get under the hood with one of the industry’s rising stars.