The motorsport industry is statistically male dominant. Women have long been subject to an intimidatingly low representation within karting, motocross, F1 and more.
Although in recent years women have begun to emerge into some of the most iconic series in the motorsport world; WEC, NASCAR, WMX, to name a few.
In this blog we will discuss the most iconic women in motorsport, as well as the importance of having women in sport working beyond the cockpit.
Women In The Motorsport Industry
Firstly, statistics show that the number of female drivers has stayed relatively stagnant over time, never rising above the 5% census of racers, workers, and participants. But in recent years, it has risen substantially – almost doubling in the last four years. Many women are taking part in races in mixed and women’s-only competitions.
For example:
Janet Guthrie
The first ever female to qualify in the Indianapolis 500, or the Daytona 500 – both in 1977. In the World 600 (1976) she finished 15th place. This made her the first ever woman to ever compete in a NASCAR Winston Cup Superspeedway race. She even won twice in the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance racing championship.
Gracie Trotter
She is the first woman in history to win an ARCA-sanctioned race. She competed in the ARCA Menards Series West, representing Bill McAnally Racing in 2020.
Due to more women becoming interested and involved with motorsports, a previous male win streak is broken. With her accomplishments women have progressed.
Lella Lombardi
Best known for being the only woman to score points in a Formula 1 World Championship race, Lella Lombardi was an iconic female figure in motorsport history.
Also, she competed in the 1970s and made history by finishing sixth in the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, earning half a point due to the race being shortened.
So, Why Is Having Female Representation Important?
It is important to keep motorsport a diverse and welcoming community. Bringing more women into the sport opens up more opportunities, more race series, and a healthier environment all round.
Inclusivity is a key value in the industry, and breaking age-old barriers to keep the ever-growing sport new and exciting is something we should all be proud of.
Beyond The Driver’s Seat
To conclude, more and more women are not only choosing driving positions, but also engineering, mechanics, principals and more.
Women are getting involved and increasing their presence in a statistically male-dominated industry- both behind the scenes and live in-action,
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