Females in Current Motorsport
Discussion
I know there have been several previous threads, but thought it was time to freshen things up under a new heading.
Women represent 50% of the population (75% in my household - hence my interest), but only a tiny percent are represented in motorsport, with a few notable figures in the history books.
With new initiatives, new faces and, it seems, a will to see more women succeed in all levels and areas of motorsport (not just drivers), perhaps we will can enjoy some constructive discussion about future talent.
Women represent 50% of the population (75% in my household - hence my interest), but only a tiny percent are represented in motorsport, with a few notable figures in the history books.
With new initiatives, new faces and, it seems, a will to see more women succeed in all levels and areas of motorsport (not just drivers), perhaps we will can enjoy some constructive discussion about future talent.
There are quite a few up and coming talents I’ve noticed and keeping my eyes on. There’s the obvious drivers who are at the top of the pack in F1 Academy as well as Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting, Rahel Fry, Celia Martin, Karen Gaillard, Marta Garcia, Jem Hepworth etc, but I think there are others like Lisa Billard, Ella Steven’s, Ella Lloyd, Alisha Palmowski who I think have huge potential to take forward
Edited by bockaaarck on Saturday 4th May 21:18
bockaaarck said:
There’s the obvious drivers who are at the top of the pack in F1 Academy
The problem with the F1 Academy is that it's a PR stunt.Many excellent British drivers had applied for the 2024 season and spent (lots) of money with teams on pre-season testing, having worked very hard to achieve their sponsorship goals.
Teams were on the verge of signing these drivers after successful test sessions but were then told by Suzie Wolff: "You sign who I tell you."
Sebring440 said:
bockaaarck said:
There’s the obvious drivers who are at the top of the pack in F1 Academy
The problem with the F1 Academy is that it's a PR stunt.Many excellent British drivers had applied for the 2024 season and spent (lots) of money with teams on pre-season testing, having worked very hard to achieve their sponsorship goals.
Teams were on the verge of signing these drivers after successful test sessions but were then told by Suzie Wolff: "You sign who I tell you."
Which drivers do you know of that teams were intending to sign but were dissuaded from doing so?
Sebring440 said:
The problem with the F1 Academy is that it's a PR stunt.
I tend to agree but for different reasons. I think that putting the same resources into developing a female wec star would actually result in its aim within a few years. I can’t see the same happening with single seaters. Yet f1 is the crown and endurance racing not well publicized enough for such a result to be seen as a decent endeavor. shirt said:
I tend to agree but for different reasons. I think that putting the same resources into developing a female wec star would actually result in its aim within a few years. I can’t see the same happening with single seaters. Yet f1 is the crown and endurance racing not well publicized enough for such a result to be seen as a decent endeavor.
Have you not heard of the Iron Dames then? 
The Iron Dames seem to always be up at the Sharp End, but their cars are noticeably short of adverts, so someone is bank rolling it for a vast amount.
The F1 Academy will always have the disadvantage of being dismissed by some for being women only, but if it gives drivers some experience they otherwise wouldn't get the budget for then that's all good. And single seater experience will be valuable as there's plenty of paying seats in sportscar racing compared to the single seater pyramid.
The F1 Academy will always have the disadvantage of being dismissed by some for being women only, but if it gives drivers some experience they otherwise wouldn't get the budget for then that's all good. And single seater experience will be valuable as there's plenty of paying seats in sportscar racing compared to the single seater pyramid.
Away from the silly F1 bubble there are an increasing number of women in motorsport and in some disciplines , notably drag racing , they are very successful. I see lots of women and girls in British Grasstrack (a hugely spectacular sport off many people's radar) , and some in hillclimbing , historic racing and VSCC vintage trials .
Well there’s a pole position for the Iron Dames in the Spa 6h GT class today, local Belgian Sarah Bovy setting the pace in qualifying against an almost all-male field behind. Along with Jamie Chadwick on the podium in the INdy Lights race yesterday, two great adverts for women in motorsport.
Edited by Sandpit Steve on Saturday 11th May 10:34
Sandpit Steve said:
Well there’s a pole position for the Iron Dames in the Spa 6h GT class today, local Belgian Sarah Bovy setting the pace in qualifying against an almost all-male field behind. Along with Jamie Chadwick on the podium in the INdy Lights race yesterday, two great adverts for women in motorsport.
Abbi Pulling becoming the first woman to win a GB4 race today at Brands Edited by Sandpit Steve on Saturday 11th May 10:34
Women compete equally with men in Drag Racing (actual racing), and have done for many years here and in the USA frome Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney to John Force's daughters who have been NHRA champions and here in the UK where the current European Top Fuel champion is Ida Zetterström
Women drivers 0-100 in under a secondm imagine that.....
(1000ft now...)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX32IXmZqlE
Women drivers 0-100 in under a secondm imagine that.....
(1000ft now...)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX32IXmZqlE
Upatdawn said:
Women compete equally with men in Drag Racing (actual racing), and have done for many years here and in the USA frome Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney to John Force's daughters who have been NHRA champions and here in the UK where the current European Top Fuel champion is Ida Zetterström
Women drivers 0-100 in under a secondm imagine that.....
(1000ft now...)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX32IXmZqlE
They compete equally with men in F1 too.Women drivers 0-100 in under a secondm imagine that.....
(1000ft now...)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX32IXmZqlE
Upatdawn said:
Women compete equally with men in Drag Racing (actual racing), and have done for many years here and in the USA frome Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney to John Force's daughters who have been NHRA champions and here in the UK where the current European Top Fuel champion is Ida Zetterström
Women drivers 0-100 in under a secondm imagine that.....
(1000ft now...)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX32IXmZqlE
Are you seriously trying to claim 'smash the pedal and hold on' drag "racing" is equal to circuit racing consisting of more than seconds? All drag "racers" do is mash a pedal and hope not to crash. It required very little skill or talent. Put any of these drivers in even the easiest to drive junior formula cars against children and they would get embarrassed. They perhaps would be quick off of the start line but would run out of talent in the first corner.Women drivers 0-100 in under a secondm imagine that.....
(1000ft now...)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX32IXmZqlE
It's almost as if drag racing require very little racing talent, just quick reactions. I'd wager my salary for 10 years that an F1 driver would beat a top fuel drag racer in both drag cars and F1 cars.
Ken_Code said:
What do you mean? If any are fast enough they can compete, there’s nothing in the regulations stopping them.
Other than the requirement to hold a superlicence, which requires them to achieve adequate results in the juniors series to amass the minimum points. There is not a single female driver that satisfies the criteria let alone is good enough to compete for any thing other than who is lapped the most.Calderon in F2, Floersch in F3, Chadwick/Al Qubaisi/Garcia/Buhler in Formula Regional, Pulling/Chong/Lloyd in F4 are all examples of driver not being stopped by regulations yet failing to achieve results worthy of note. None of them have shown anything that proves they would come close to competing with any F1 driver.
The regulations didn't stop Stroll, Mazepin, Chadhok & Maldonado despite evidently not being good enough for F1.
Edited by Peacockantony on Monday 10th June 01:42
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