Wainman was brought up in the small town of Silsden, West Yorkshire.

In the UK 'off season' between January and March, Wainman travels to New Zealand to take part in their equivalent formula, Superstocks.

In 2007 Frankie had an almost career ending accident at Hednesford Hills Raceway.

[9] Wainman and rival driver Andy Smith were the subject of a BBC documentary Gears and Tears which aired in 2010, being the stock car version of War of the Roses with Wainman from Silsden and Smith being from Rochdale.

Wainman has two children, Phoebe and Frankie, both of whom have taken up racing in BriSCA F1, while in V8 Hotstox Phoebe became the first female stock car driver to win a major championship.