Events Aim to Inspire Women in Motorsport Careers

A professional female racing driver emphasized that “representation matters” for increasing the number of women pursuing careers in motorsport. Caitlin Wood served as a host for one of several events held at Silverstone Museum, which aimed to promote greater involvement. The Northamptonshire venue, known for hosting the British Grand Prix, has extended invitations to prominent women to engage with attendees. A 2023 study revealed that global female participation in motorsport stood at approximately 10%, and no woman has competed in Formula 1 since the 1970s. Ms. Wood, aged 27, began her racing career at seven years old and currently participates in the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB series. She stated that engaging with individuals “will hopefully give them the inspiration or the spark they need to make that next step in chasing a career.” As part of its #GirlsWill campaign, the museum is organizing a diversity and inclusion panel discussion and featuring a talk by sports broadcaster Lee McKenzie. Phil Lawrie, the chief executive, commented that the events were “inspirational to girls, women and anyone considering careers in motorsport.” A study conducted in 2023 by More Than Equal, an organization co-founded by former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard, identified difficulties in securing funding due to prejudice as a contributing factor to the low participation rates among women. Updates on Northamptonshire news are available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.