From 4 to 7 November, at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, Formula E will carry out its typical pre-season tests. This year, however, there is important news: a session dedicated entirely to women has been scheduled.
The electric category has always demonstrated its concrete commitment to inclusiveness and gender equality through various initiatives, first and foremost “Girls on track”. The project, which at each stage of the championship selects a group of girls to live a special experience discovering the “behind the scenes” of Formula E, aims to offer young women the opportunity to discover the career possibilities that they hide in a sector dominated by male presence.
On November 7, another step will be added to the ladder that aims to bring more and more women into motorsport to compete alongside men. Eleven drivers will be at the wheel of the GEN3 Evo cars, those of Season 11 (2024-25), which go from 0 to 100 in 1.88 seconds: 30% faster than a Formula 1.
In fact, each Formula E team will have to field at least one driver for the half-day of testing, but they have been encouraged to field two, to offer as many women as possible the opportunity to drive single-seaters at such a high level and in which technology is at its maximum potential.
Marta Garcia is one of the pilots who could take part in the test as an ERT tester
Among the possible names that will take part in the test are:
- Jamie Chadwick, winner of the W Series and currently involved in Indy NXT
- Alice Powell, already on track during the rookie tests in Berlin and who we could see again with the Envision team
- Marta Garcia, 2023 champion of the F1 Academy, who could return to the wheel of the ERT team car, as happened in the 2024 Berlin rookie tests
- Given the recent “alliance” between Renault and Nissan, we could see Abbi Pulling (currently leading the F1 Academy championship) and Sophia Floersch on track with the Japanese brand, both part of the Alpine programme.
CHow come this choice represents a significant step forward for the world of motors?
Because although motorsport is one of the sports in which the two genders can compete with each other, only 3% of high-level licenses are held by women. A very low number which, also through initiatives like this, Formula E is committed to increasing.
Jeff Dodds, CEO of the electric category, highlighted the complexity of implementing diversity in the world of motorsports, but added that “if we really want to give women equality, opportunities and visibility in our series, the conditions must be equal for everyone , in order to encourage their development and test themselves with those who are already on the starting grid.”
Alice Powell took part in Formula E rookie testing in Berlin this year
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
“Unlike other series where female drivers are forced to use old or limited cars, the women will use the state-of-the-art GEN3 Evo car which accelerates 30% faster than an F1 car, just like our championship drivers do.”
Dodds said he is aware of the fact that this test will not solve the problem in the long term, but this step can be the first brick to build something more significant.
November 7th will represent an important day for motorsport, because another piece will be added to the puzzle which, for decades, has aimed to complete a picture where there is not only equality, but also – and above all – fairness.
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