Females in Current Motorsport

[coppice]

Peacockantony said:

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.

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.

Sneer as much as you like - but I'll tell you one thing . If someone chucked me the metaphorical keys to an F1 car I'd jump at the chance. (obviously I wouldn't even fit in, and if I did my pace would be pedestrian). But if I was given the keys to a Pro Mod, let alone a Top Fueller , I'd run a mile.

The late Danny Ongais was one of the few drivers to start in drag racing (and win lots ) and then race - winning Daytona 24 hrs and some Champ car races , if not the few F1 races he competed in uncompetitive cars .

And do you know what? It's possible to enjoy and respect drag racing's spectacle as well as other motor sport.

BTW - do you remember a few years ago when Vettel moaned that Bottas had jumped the start because his reaction time was 0,22 seconds ? Not remarkable at the strip....

Edited by coppice on Monday 10th June 06:35

[Truckosaurus]

Peacockantony said:

...The regulations didn't stop Stroll, Mazepin, Chadhok & Maldonado despite evidently not being good enough for F1....

Which suggests that financial backing is more important than skills or gender.

I'm never convinced than getting to the grid in F1 makes you any sort of superhuman driver, plenty of mid-pack drivers end up in sportscars, GTs, touring cars, and rarely dominate the field.

As for drag racing, I'm sure it has its own requirements for success, I've seen it suggested that female drivers are more likely to have good reaction times and consistency to achieve good results.

[Valiante09]

Charlie Martin is racing in Super Trofeo at Le Mans this year. I race, or crash, in Clubmans Sports Prototypes and there are three other women too, regularly winning races and getting class wins. GT’s attract women drivers seemingly more than other classes but there is still a way too low entry. At the 1-2/06/24 GT Cup meeting at Snetterton there were 3 female drivers out of 53, 6%.

[CKY]

Valiante09 said:

At the 1-2/06/24 GT Cup meeting at Snetterton there were 3 female drivers out of 53, 6%.

Thing is though, is that a fair comparison? I'm not competing in GT Cup, not because I don't want to but because (probably like a large number of people) I can't afford to - unfortunately this doesn't just affect one gender or another. There are far cheaper, more financially-accessible ways of competing - going club racing for example, however female competitors seem to be a sadly non-existent sight. There might be 1 female racing driver per club meeting in historic motorsport, and maybe 1 or 2 more in more contemporary machinery. There are quite a few females competing in sprinting or hillclimbing which is good to see - granted it won't lead to a Formula 1 seat, but's it's cost-effective, accessible and above all fun; just a shame there aren't more female competitors supporting club-level racing grids given the number of clubs around.

[Sandpit Steve]

Look out for the Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracan at Le Mans this weekend.

Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting, and Rahel Frey will be the drivers.

[Castellet]

I do believe that the current initiatives, and the level of interest to encourage more women to be involved in motorsport, will see those figures steadily improve in the coming years.

The F1 question is a tall order for anyone, but certainly in other formulae, sports/GT cars, etc, we should start to see more female drivers, engineers, and supporting roles.

It will be interesting trying to identify the future stars.

[Ken_Code]

Peacockantony said:

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.

Which was my point. The rules aren't discriminating against women.

[ribiero]

2 pages and no mention of Katherine Legge, who's made a very nice career out of motor racing for 20+ years

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Legge

[Mammasaid]

ribiero said:

2 pages and no mention of Katherine Legge, who's made a very nice career out of motor racing for 20+ years

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Legge

And also Pippa Mann

[Castellet]

Yes, Pippa, Katherine and now Jamie - all British.
Even Danica came to Britain to learn her craft.

And, F1 Academy returns this weekend, at Barcelona.

[coppice]

This is curious - I saw Danica in a junior Renault single seater race at Croft- ELF Campus series - in about 1998 . A few minutes googling reveal nothing and nothing on her wiki page. I definitely remember seeing her ...as you would , wouldn't you ?

[Sandpit Steve]

Abbi Pulling with two pole positions for the F1 Academy races this weekend.

[shirt]

Valiante09 said:

Charlie Martin is racing in Super Trofeo at Le Mans this year.

Ummm….

[Upatdawn]

Peacockantony said:

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.

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.

the F1 drivers would poo thier pants, i love it when folk say drag racing is simple and only in a straight line......

Guy Martin told the drag bike team he visited they were "nuts" (this from a TT racer!)

[Koln-RS]

Nasty crash for the Iron Dames at Barcelona yesterday

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M2-s9VgsGFA&pp=0...

……but amazing to see them recover to win the EMLS GT3 Class today

[Truckosaurus]

Koln-RS said:

Nasty crash for the Iron Dames at Barcelona yesterday

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M2-s9VgsGFA&pp=0...

……but amazing to see them recover to win the ELMS GT3 Class today

Indeed. They were leading the Michelin Cup before being punted off as well.

Also, Jamie Chadwick was on the crew of the LMP2 class winning car in the ELMS race (2nd overall as a 'pro-AM' car won the race).

[bockaaarck]

Koln-RS said:

Nasty crash for the Iron Dames at Barcelona yesterday

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M2-s9VgsGFA&pp=0...

……but amazing to see them recover to win the EMLS GT3 Class today

Yes that was a massive impact, really nasty. Good to see they got to the car quickly and got Garcia out. Marta indicated the car was filling with fumes and flames from the fire, respect as ever to the marshals for doing their job. Looks like a couple of days hospital care and a bit of recovery and she’ll be on track again soon.

A great win for the Iron Dames crew yesterday, certainly makes up for the frustration of last year. Celia Martin looks to be settling in very well, drove a fantastic first stint. And a great drive by Jamie Chadwick in her first ELMS race, fantastic class win and almost an outright

Edited by bockaaarck on Monday 7th April 08:27

[Sandpit Steve]

Update from Iron Dames on Marta Garcia.

Thankfully no major injuries, but they did keep her in the hospital overnight for observation.

https://x.com/irondames_/status/190877461561203124...

F1 Academy driver Nina Gademan also had a big off during their testing in Jeddah, ending up with a trip to the local hospital but she’s okay. (The less said about that circuit the better!).

https://x.com/f1academy/status/1908770839442452483

Overall a good weekend for the ladies, many trophies collected and lots of champagne sprayed!

[Ranger 6]

Title says 'current motorsport' and no mention of Aoife Raftery?

Rallying is always forgotten in conversations such as this and there's many more like Aoife looking for funding and opportunities to take their rallying career further.

[bockaaarck]

Ranger 6 said:

Title says 'current motorsport' and no mention of Aoife Raftery?

Rallying is always forgotten in conversations such as this and there's many more like Aoife looking for funding and opportunities to take their rallying career further.

I’m not such a big follower of rally, although in terms of women drivers I keep an eye open for Jade Paveley, Queen Kalimpinya, Kubra Denizci Keskin, Julie Amblard and Sarah Rumeau.

Now you’ve mentioned Aoife I shall keep my eyes open for her. Certainly looks like she has the right stuff, based on what I’ve been reading, looks bloomin quick that’s for sure. Notice Aoife has just been signed by Dirtfish to their rally programme too, so she’s clearly marking herself out, good luck to her!