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A track for her: why women need their own paths in Motorsport

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Have you ever looked at a racing track and felt like something was missing… or rather, someone? Although motorsport has thrilled millions of fans for decades and delivers emotions on the level of Olympic finals, it still remains an almost exclusively male space. And not because women lack courage, passion, or talent. It’s simply that no one has yet built a track for them — neither physically nor symbolically.

But why would women need a separate path? After all, motorsport is one of the most “egalitarian” sports — it’s not about gender, it’s about the time on the finish line, right?

Well… not exactly.


It’s not a lack of ambition, it’s a lack of space

History is full of brave women behind the wheel — just think of Maria Teresa de Filippis, the first woman in Formula 1, or Michèle Mouton, who dominated rallying in the ’80s. But these figures are exceptions, not the rule. Their successes happened not because of the system, but despite it.

Recent studies and conversations with young female racers show clearly: women in motorsport often don’t lack determination but access, role models, and support. These are not barriers you can overcome by sheer willpower alone. They are rooted in structures — funding, technical education, organizational culture.

That’s why separate programs, paths, and development spaces for women are so important — ones that don’t just copy male solutions but create new ones tailored to women’s experiences, learning styles, and confidence-building.


Their own path is not a privilege — it’s leveling the playing field

It’s not about “separating” women from men. It’s about building bridges that help them enter a world that hasn’t been open to them so far. It’s like a new racing track — first you need to design it, test it, and create conditions for a safe start. Only then can you integrate it into the main race calendar.

This is exactly the goal of initiatives like Racing Women, F1 Academy, Girls on Track, or Iron Dames. They create spaces where young girls can develop without pressure to compare themselves, without facing stereotypes, and with a stronger sense of agency. Because only when they truly have a place can they fully show their potential.



A woman on the track is more than just a driver

Importantly — a track for her is not just a place behind the wheel. It’s also a space for engineers, race strategists, data analysts, aerodynamics specialists, sports psychologists. Motorsport today is a highly advanced technological industry where diversity of minds and perspectives is a real competitive advantage.

And what if we add female intuition, stress management skills, and empathy-based communication? A whole new dimension of teamwork and innovation opens up. That’s why we need more women in the paddock — not only for equality but for the quality of the entire industry.


It’s not about a separate track — it’s about a shared pace

“A track for her” is not an alternative concept. It’s a transitional stage that lets women gain speed before joining the main race. It’s not about women racing alongside men — it’s about being able to race with them, in their own rhythm, without having to prove anything other than their talent.

Because motorsport needs women. Not just to “look good in photos,” but to be whole. A track that doesn’t have room for everyone is a track heading the wrong way.

It’s time to correct it. And to give women not only a place but also a voice, momentum, and a starting line. The rest they will do themselves — fast, precise, and with passion.


What is the biggest barrier to more women entering motorsport?

  • Lack of visibility

  • Cost of entry

  • Lack of grassroots opportunities

  • Stereotypes/gender bias


 
 
 

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