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Formula E to run first all-women test session in Spain
By Shivani Dubey | 7 October 2024 | Cars & Yachts, Motoring, Sport
Formula E will conduct its first ever all-women test session in Spain of an FIA Championship in a bid to accelerate diversity in motorsport
Formula E has announced that it will conduct the first ever all-women test session of an FIA Championship on 7 November at Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia as part of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s pre-season testing schedule.
This first of its kind test in the all-electric championship provides elite women racing drivers the opportunity to drive the new for Season 11 (2024/25) GEN3 Evo race car, which is 30% faster than a current F1 car. The car will also be tested during the same week by the 11 world-class race teams and 22 drivers currently competing in the series.
Each of the race teams in the championship will be required to field at least one woman driver for the half-day test, but encouraged to field two, who will all drive in current-season cars.
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This new initiative has been designed as part of a long-term strategy to “remove barriers and expand opportunities for women within the championship”. This won’t be a one-off opportunity, says Formula E, as the aim is to “analyse and dismantle the structural inequalities that have limited women’s participation and progress” in the sport.
With all the women on track at the same time, the session will create a tangible platform for a wide pool of elite drivers who wouldn’t otherwise get an opportunity to drive machinery at this level. Formula E says the test aims to provide the women not only with a destination but also a “pathway to develop their careers and skills using current technology at its full potential”.
Acknowledging the call for greater diversity in motorsport — only 3% of the current top tier racing licences in the world are held by women — Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds said that while this one test won’t solve the issue of equality in the sport, this is a start.
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“We know there isn’t a simple solution for greater diversity in motorsport. If we’re going to truly give women equality, opportunity and visibility in our series, however, conditions for all need to be the same to aid their development and test themselves against those already on the starting grid,” said Jeff.
“We also recognise that one test will not solve the longstanding issue, but we have to start somewhere, knowing there is a long way to go and making sure we’re making proactive, consistent steps that continue to make forward progress.
“As a motorsport with an almost-equal split of male and female fans, we believe it’s only right that our drivers and wider ecosystem is representative of those that follow and support the sport,” he added.