How to nail the art of negotiation – heading into 2024 season? Women in Motorsport face the daunting challenge over and over again, making lists of what they need to race, followed by what they want to race, coupled with – what they get in return. The thought provoking task can either be viewed as terrifying or broken down into manageable steps to achieve satisfactory outcomes.
Before the negotiation stage can be reached, a broader outline on long-term objectives of career pathway needs to be defined, which in turn clarifies which options would enable goals to be realized and results produced from one season to the next.
Having spent more than a decade covering Women competing in both FIA and FIM Motorsport disciplines, analysis on how female driver’s, rider’s, and racer’s have managed their respective careers rests on key elements of planning, adaptability, focus, and being able to pivot when push comes to shove.
Within this context, analyzing the negotiating strategies of high profile women racing 2023 season, it is possible to formulate a base-line on what these women have placed top of the list to negotiate on, what has been left out, and what has been compromised to be able to achieve desired results on and off the track.
Starting with British driver, Jamie Chadwick – WSeries Champion 3x in 2019, 2021, and 2022, and who has recently completed 2023 Indy NXT Series in 12th position overall. The enormous decision to make the switch from competing in Europe’s Formula Series, and the all-electric Extreme E Championship to race in America’s Circuit/Oval Rounds 1 – 14 commands further investigation on how the decision was reached.
Taken on face value, Jamie knew WSeries would not run in 2023, and that an opening for a seat in 2023 F1 Academy held the potential for opening the door for a seat in F3/F2 in the future. On the other side of the negotiating table, was an opportunity to race with Andretti Autosport in Indy NXT Series, a fore-runner for America’s Indy Car Championship.
Deliberation aside, Jamie chose to put professional and personal growth above known comfort zone, brave and courageous move, any way one slices it. Sure, opening races were a struggle, but man, does Jamie dig deep when needed, and produced top 10 finishes in Mid-Ohio, Iowa, Nashville, Indianapolis along with P6 at Portland. An outstanding deliverance of results from strategic decision making against all-male field far away from home.
Next up, as mentor for knowing when to pivot to advance racing career, is Laia Sanz. The Spanish rider/driver who has claimed 14 Women World Trial Championships, Legend Status in The Dakar Rally, numerous Enduro Titles, and currently tops leader board in 2023 Extreme E Series with Mattias Ekstrom, has perfected the art of negotiation on what to race, when, and with who.
For over 2 decades of racing, winning her first Women World Trial Championship in 2000, to gaining first female to finish Dakar Rally in top 10 position in Bike category, to taking the Team’s first win in Desert Prix in March, 2023, Laia epitomizes the nuance of learning to trust her own counsel on what will be the next step on racing career ladder.
Key pivots for Laia have been: making the calculated decision to switch from racing in Bike category to Car in The Dakar Rally in 2022, having built up incredible experience and knowledge completing 10 Dakar’s on 2 wheels, to racing the world’s most grueling event on 4. Add in, negotiating confirmation of driver seat in the all-electric Extreme E Series in 2021 to present day, and Laia has consolidated her career status within the sustainable realms of racing for the future.
To round out top 3 women who have exercised excellence in negotiating racing career pathway is Italian Women Motocross World Champion 6x, Kiara Fontanesi. Notwithstanding the sheer magnitude of winning 6 WMX Titles over the course of her career, Kiara emulates strength of mind when it comes to balancing her professional career with her personal life.
From winning her first WMX Title in 2012, to taking her sixth in 2018, Kiara – surrounded by family – balanced her own set of values, ethics, and worth to secure financial resources to race for over 14 years on the world stage. Calculated decisions were made as Kiara deliberated on which Brands, sponsors, industry provider’s, and Team crew had her best interests at heart, which included principles of morality, humility, and respect.
Such a fine line exists between negotiating financial support to race within the context of meeting ethical principles which not only define the person, as in the case of Kiara, but can also affect progress. Put simply, Kiara’s bottom line has remained true to her convictions, those negotiations which do not meet her ethical code are pushed to the side, those remaining are open for further discussion, and those who meet goals set, are signed, sealed and delivered.
If the negotiation process for Women in Motorsport holds the most challenging aspects of pursing a racing career, then take a leaf from the Legends of the Sport, no better to watch and learn from those who have nailed it over time.
Header photo: Kiara Fontanesi competing in 2023 FIM E-Xplorer Series. Image: E-Xplorer.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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