Women in motorsport: an evolution on all levels
Automobile racing has long been seen as a male bastion. Although the history of the sport dates back to around 1900, women have taken a long time to establish themselves behind the wheel and in the paddocks. Today, the situation is evolving, but the road to true equality is still long. So, let's go!
For a long time, women were relegated to secondary roles in motorsports. Often confined to communication positions or reduced to grid girls (they disappeared in 2018 at the behest of Liberty Media) in scant outfits, they were rarely considered as full-fledged competitors. Prejudices about their lack of strength, speed, and aggressiveness hindered their rise, although some have managed to excel.
Despite the obstacles, exceptional women have managed to make their mark and leave a lasting impact on the history of motorsport. Michèle Mouton, a four-time winner of World Rally Championship events, proved that a woman could compete with the best male drivers. Lella Lombardi remains an iconic figure, being the only woman to score points in Formula 1. She achieved this feat at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, a race that was halted following an accident. As less than 75% of the planned distance had been covered, the points were halved, granting her 0.5 points in the standings!
Initiatives to encourage the emergence of new talent
Aware of the challenges of entering the field, Formula 1 and other organizations have implemented initiatives to encourage women’s participation. The F1 Academy, launched in 2023, with Susie Wolff as the general director, offers young female drivers a structured path to F1.
In parallel, 100% female teams like the Iron Dames participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, proving that women have their place in endurance racing. The future of women in motorsport seems promising. More and more young women are receiving scholarships and funding to pursue their careers, and programs like FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars are opening the doors to major competitions for them. In France, Doriane Pin is generating excitement by participating in the WEC championship and the F1 Academy.
Michèle Mouton during a television interview: « It was my freedom, my independence. Crucial values for me. »
In 2023, the French Federation of Motor Sports (FFSA) launched the “Women’s Auto Sport” program aimed at increasing women’s participation in all disciplines. This program revolves around several key points: highlighting female drivers in current competitions, creating exclusively women’s championships; targeted communication to introduce women to various automotive sports careers (management, volunteering, etc.); strong support for role models like Emma Chalvin, Alizée Pottier (in rallying, via the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup), and Lisa Billard (on track), to inspire new female participants with this passion. The ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, an international 100% electric competition, is presented as a training tool and a springboard for young talents. Additionally, two young women, Sarah Rumeau and Cindy Gudet, also became ambassadors for the FFSA in this electric competition.
The number of female license holders had increased by 7% in 2023. In the long term, the FFSA aims to increase the share of women in French motorsport. For 2024, the federation has continued its efforts to improve the presence of women in all aspects of motorsport in France.
There are also STEM and engineering programs.
Motor racing is not just about the driver, but also about the engineers, strategists, and data analysts who work behind the scenes in the garages. Programs like the FIA’s Girls on Track, Motorsport UK’s Engineering Academy, and F1 in Schools are opening doors for young women in the fields of aerodynamics, mechanical engineering, and race strategy.
Scholarships and Funding
The financial barrier is enormous, but new scholarships are making competition easier for women, particularly:
- The Ginetta Junior Scholarship offers a fully funded place in the Ginetta Junior Championship, helping young drivers take their first steps towards single-seaters.
- FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars is a global initiative that searches for young female talents and provides access to the Ferrari Driver Academy and Formula 4. Last October, the program had set up in Valencia, Spain.
- F1 Academy – Discover Your Drive offers a program supported by Formula 1, aimed at providing funding and career opportunities for young women in motorsport, from driving to engineering and media.
Some figures
Before 2020, only 7 to 13% of participants at all levels of racing were women. But the trend is changing. The female base in Formula 1 has experienced gradual growth, notably thanks to the Netflix series Drive to Survive.
In 2018, the gender distribution was 72% men and 28% women, and by 2022, this figure changed to 69% men and 31% women. It’s not just in auto racing, but more and more women are gaining positions as engineers, in aerodynamics, and in race strategy, with schools and universities becoming more diversified on this point, some even having quotas. Making a place in the world of motor sport costs millions, which makes it more challenging for women who may have the skills but not the money or funding.
Identification and adoration
For decades, boys have been able to admire Schumacher, Senna, Hamilton, and many others. But for young girls, there aren’t many female racing heroes to look up to. Without role models, dreams seem less achievable. But today, with more and more women proving themselves in motorsports, this dream seems closer and more accessible.
Motorsport was not originally designed for women. Teams have always thought that women were not strong, fast, or aggressive enough. Even today, women in this sport are more closely monitored than their male counterparts, to the point that more women have traveled to space than have raced in F1.
Promising developments for the future of women in motorsport, which will allow talents to grow and thrive.
Because, as Michèle Mouton stated in an interview: I was crazy about cars, for the love of the car. It was my freedom, my independence. Fundamental values for me.
The Women (Re)known
- Doriane Pin, who will participate in the WEC championship and the F1 Academy this year.
- Susie Wolff, former Williams F1 test driver, now head of the F1 Academy.
- Hannah Schmitz, head of race strategy at Oracle Red Bull Racing.
- Jessica Hawkins, Aston Martin development driver and the first woman to drive an F1 car in five years.
- Laura Muller, Esteban Ocon’s race engineer at Haas.
- Marta García, the first Formula 1 Academy champion, will be driving GTs this year.
- Abbi Pulling, former driver and champion with Alpine F1 Academy, will be in GB3 with Rodin Racing this year.
- Emilia Abel, director of road sport at FIA.
- Ruth Buscombe was a strategy engineer in F1, notably with Charles Leclerc at his beginnings. Today, she is a presenter on F1 TV and ambassador for the FIA’s Girls on Track program.
Anecdotes
The expression “En voiture Simone!” is attributed to the famous race car driver Simone Louise des Forest. It was popularized in 1961 by Guy Lux, who addressed Simone Garnier, another host, during the television show Intervilles.
Danica Patrick, a renowned driver in IndyCar and NASCAR, has a strong character. One day, a journalist asked her if she wore a pink helmet so people would know it was a woman driving. “No, it’s so the guys I pass know they just got overtaken by a girl,” she replied.
Jutta Kleinschmidt is the first and only woman to have won the Dakar Rally (in 2001). But the story behind her victory is amusing: a few years earlier, she worked for BMW and had proposed a rally project to the manufacturer, which they declined. Frustrated, she bought a used car and bet on herself. A few years later, she won the rally, and BMW greatly regretted their decision!
When Michèle Mouton became the runner-up in the World Rally Championship in 1982, many men found it hard to accept that a woman could defeat them. During a race, a journalist asked her what she thought of the drivers who claimed they were unlucky to be beaten by a woman. She replied: « It’s not a question of luck, it’s just a matter of talent. »
