"Where are the promises?" Sophia Flörsch points out certain programs reserved for girls in motorsport
The German driver reacted to an announcement by Marta Garcia indicating that the FRECA race in Monza could be her last single-seater race. The former Formula 3 driver spoke out against the lack of respect for certain promises.
She does not have her tongue in her pocket. When she speaks, it's usually for a good reason. Her public or media appearances have not always pleased everyone. But she knows how to give her opinion. Without beating around the bush.
We know, Sophia Flörsch is not a fan of all-female racing competitions. According to her, the creation of the W Series, the predecessor of the F1 Academy, was a sporting step back and not a way to help women in this field.
Short-term marketing
In recent days, the German has once again made headlines on this subject. The 23-year-old woman responded to a post by Marta Garcia, a FRECA driver. The Spaniard indicated that the final of the 2024 season could be her last single-seater race. At just 24 years old.
« I'm really sorry for you, Marta. It seems like they used you in 2023 for short-term marketing with female drivers," Sophia Flörsch said. With this sentence, it's hard to say who she is pointing fingers at. Iron Dames? Even though the main goal is to promote women in this sport. Alpine? While the French team supports Doriane Pin's teammate. But the German is also linked to the arrowed A brand and is part of the Rac(H)er program. So, it's obviously a group of actors that the three-time participant in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is targeting.
Where are all the female programs announced in 2021/2022?
« Visibility helps F1, but not female drivers. Have you found a sponsor, Marta? They then push you aside. What happened in 2024 is so serious. They blame you even though they know exactly what needs to be done. »
« Where are all the women's programs announced in 2021/2022? Why don't the media ask the right questions? It's really sad. Let's make a list of female drivers since 2021 and ask them what's going on in the race. »
By analyzing the situation, indeed, several female programs have been created: Rac(H)er by Alpine, Girls on track by the FIA, the W Series... If these initiatives have indeed been launched and have pushed women into motorsport, the benefits are not great.
Another program, Formula Woman, also made a comeback during that time, but struggled greatly to gain traction. While the selections did take place, the media coverage was less significant. Certainly, the winners were able to take the wheel of a McLaren GT4 in the British championship in 2022. However, the creators of this detection program had the intention of creating a Nation Cup. While the fifty or so drivers are indeed there, the dates of the event are still unclear. Only the qualifications are certain to take place in December.
James Chadwick, the exception to the rule?
In the major championships, there are no female drivers: no one in F2, no one in F1, no one in the Hypercar category in the World Endurance Championship. Only the Iron Dames in GT3 serve as the female presence in the WEC.
Jamie Chadwick, triple champion of W Series, is now in Indy NXT, the gateway to IndyCar, seems to be one of the few exceptions. The British driver won her first race in the series this year and is currently in seventh place in the discipline.
