The Rise of Women in Motorsport

The Rise of Women in Motorsport

It seems there is a trend emerging; creating female champions in the world of motorsport.

Women have a skinny history in motorsport, and even though it's one of the only sports sanctioning men and women to compete as equals, only 1.5% of the world's total lincensees are female. However, the history of women in this vast industry is quite fascinating. Going all the way back to the late 1950s as racing was staring out, Maria Teresa de Filippis competed in no less than five Formula 1 Grand Prixs.

In more recent times, there are a few more high-profile women in motorsport, including the all too famous, Danica Patrick. For the best part of her career, Patrick went wheel to wheel with her rivals in the IndyCar and NASCAR Series, making history by becoming the first female race car driver to claim an IndyCar victory.

Over the past two years, we have witnessed ground-breaking moments for women in motorsport both on and off track. Womens' partcipation in motorsport has tremendously increased, with series such as Extreme E and W Series promoting female drivers.

Nonetheless, if you search the top athletes of the most popular motorsports, you'll find them missing. Why are women hidden on the grid? You could argue, from not having the right professional and financial backing to being the wrong fit for an originally male-dominent sport.

Leadership believes, the limitations for women lie in accessibility. There is a desperate need to eliminate blockade to entry, to bring more women into the world of motorsport - such as - lowering cost of entry and showcasing the other opportunities available within motorsport. Young girls need to see more women in strategic positions within the industry to believe in equality - "Seeing is Believing."

W Series

In 2019, we experienced the W Series Championship, a sector in motorsport solely for female drivers. W Series provides 18 full-time seats to professional female race car drivers. 

Having a women's series is a huge step for motorsport, and with no doubt sparked the surfacing of the first Extreme E season in 2021, of which involves a team of one male and one female driver.

However, rumors were emerging on behalf of financial troubles as the series prepared to head to COTA. The rumors were soon declared to be true and W Series was forced to cancel the final two races of the season, appointing Jamie Chadwick a three-time world champion.

Extreme E

Extreme E's unique sporting format has a 50/50 gender split between men and women. While it remains a relatively low capacity of women, current influential and male drivers, such as Lewis Hamilton, are also promoting the cause of change.

Hamilton, the owner of the X44 Extreme E team has put gender diversity in motorsport high on the pyramid. Extreme E is one of the only race series in which you have one male driver and one female driver on the same team. 

Extreme E driver, Catie Munnings, knows all to well what it is like to address the challenges women face in the motorsport industry. Munnings has been active in motivating young girls to take the wheel - literally. 

Hannah Schmitz: a Strategy High-Flyer

Hannah Schmitz has become something of a household name in the paddock. F1 team strategy was at the front line of the conversation and Schmitz became the hero in the most high-pressure situations. 

Julia Pallè: a True Powerhouse

A leading expert on sustainability in motorsport and the international elite sport industry. 

Through this position, Pallè stands as a role model for girls, while fiercly advocating diversity in the motorsport industry.

State of the Art; Formula Academy

By the end of 2022, Formula One decided to get involved in women in motorsport by introducing the Formula Academy. The series varies in many ways, in which the most significant difference is that drivers will have to cover a portion of their costs.

There are concerns, however, just as there were with W Series. One definate concern is that segregating genders reinforce the idea that women are not capable enough to compete with men. There is also the risk that if women are still having to dodge the obsticles put in front of them to gain access to racing opportunities, then the highest levels of racing will still be out of reach.

Girls on Track

FIA Girls on Track is a 360º project that helps girls to explore the various career opportunities available within the motorsport industry. Offering girls unique hands-on experience. 

Schoolgirls ages 8 - 18 are able to participate in "Girls on Track" events without charge, that allows them to get involved in the fandom of motorsport. 

Beyond that, there are a variety of organisations dedicated to encouraging female participation in motorsport - Race Chix runs their own race school for females. Girls Torque motivates young female motorsport fans to chase their dreams, while providing talks, workshops and track days.

As a motorsport fan, this level of growth, coverage and participation by women in other international sports gives reason to consider ways to grow auto sports in a similiar way.

The world has seen more opportunities open for women to drive competitevly at a professional level or compete from the paddock. Increasing the number of initiatives that enables women to compete at the highest level will improve the quality of female competitors.