Formula E opens new career pathways for Women complimenting F1 Academy and the previous DNF WSeries. In the first ever Formula E Women’s test at Cicuito del Jarama in Madrid, 18 women gained the opportunity to test drive the new season’s GEN Evo race car – fulfilling requirements that each of the 11 Teams currently racing field at least one woman driver for a half-day test.
The significance of the test not only breaks down barriers for women to gain all important track time in cars with the latest technology and full Team support, but also re-shapes long-term career prospects for women racing FIA World Championships. As Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds states: ”we have 18 of the world’s best women driver’s together in one place, in exactly the same cars that the guys are racing, on exactly the same circuit, with exactly the same infrastructure behind them is a real moment in time”. Ref: The Race.
And, the overall plan has greater implications for women seeking to pursue sustainable career pathways which compliment established race schedules – which offer limited number of Rounds – and change from one season to the next. As facts state, women racing F1 Academy have in no uncertain terms gained massive boost to their development as a driver – yet the 7 Round Series with participation limited to one – two seasons prompts women to make calculated decisions on long-term career goals.
Taking a look at results in Formula E Women’s test and times remain within benchmark of male counterparts with British driver Abbi Pulling posting best lap time of 1:30.889 compared to 2023-2024 Formula E runner-up Mitch Evens posting best lap time of 1:27.461. Given Pulling joins the majority of the female grid with no previous experience racing Formula E cars, the performance and following times in the top 10 confirms the potential inclusion of women racing Formula E World Championship is more fact than fiction.
Formula E Jeff Dodds explains: ”There are changes in the car which we have learnt could make racing more equal – like power steering – and if women can demonstrate that they can close the gap, some of the Teams would start to employ them as development driver’s followed by rookie testing, and the ultimate – driving in the main Championship”. Ref: The Race.
Not withstanding the significance of F1 Academy – providing incredible opportunities for 18 women to advance their single-seater skills under the spotlight of Formula One Rounds – the next step up the Motorsport career ladder remains challenging. F1 Academy 2023 winner Marta Garcia transitioned to racing Formula Regional European Championship and currently stands P28 from 20 races and WSeries Champion 3x – Jamie Chadwick made the definitive decision to race in America’s INDY NXT Series following the demise of WSeries in 2022.
Certainly, Formula E Women’s test created an additional opportunity for Chadwick to team up with Jaguar TCS Racing clocking second best lap time of 1:31.209 with Marta Garcia teaming with TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, posting best time of 1:32.624 in P8 overall. Equally a nice mix of driver’s who have forged a pathway from Karts to single-seater racing in Europe, the America’s, and Asia provided competitive racing including current driver’s of F1 Academy – Bianca Bustamante, Lena Buhler, wild-card entry in Round 5 – Ella Lloyd, Carrie Schreiner, Jessica Edgar, Nerea Marti, and Chloe Chambers.
The inclusion of driver’s from the former WSeries has to be commended with 2022 and 2023 runner-up Beitske Visser completing the 3 hour testing session in P6 along with Toyota Gazoo Development driver – Miki Koyama – claiming P4 overall, a mere 0.00016 off P3. Taken in context, these women have the capabilities to compete on a level playing field as their counterparts – only limited by race opportunities at World Championship level.
Most certainly, staging the first Formula E Women’s test along-side current driver’s – who are all male – opens plethora of information, data, and analysis on how to turn real-time track results into a tangible racing Series. Let’s hope Jeff Dodds and Formula E personal have the necessary scruples to do so.
Header photo: Formula E Women test driver’s Image: Formula E.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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