LONDON, UK. Thurs 21st November. 2024 – Formula E has today unveiled enhanced plans for its Season 11 grassroots gender diversity initiative – FIA Girls on Track – that will allow 50 young women the chance to experience new race-day activations at all 2024/25 races, including the Jeddah E-Prix on February 14-15, as well as more exclusive behind-the-scenes access available to those looking to build a career in motorsport and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Reaffirming its commitment to education and gender inclusivity in motorsport, Formula E has further extended its support to the grassroots initiative, allowing even more young women to access and learn from the all-electric sport. Additional e-karting opportunities and activations at both schools and universities will build upon the 120 young women already engaged in the programme at each race, including representatives of the initiative having a role on the victory podium in each market, including Saudi Arabia.
This extended initiative is part of a broader long-term strategy to advance gender equality and support women’s pathways into the sport.
Most recently Formula E completed a world first within an FIA Championship – an all-Women’s Test event – to give a unique opportunity to elite women drivers, like NEOM McLaren’s Bianca Bustamante and Ella Lloyd, to develop their skills in current Formula E cars; the new GEN3 Evo, capable of 0-60mph in just 1.82s, 30% faster than a current F1 car.
Abi Pulling, who is currently leading the F1 Academy championship, secured the quickest time in the three-hour session for Nissan Formula E Team amid a field of 17 drivers representing the top tier of women’s driver talent. Bianca Bustamante finished third fastest with the NEOM McLaren car, producing an impressive time of 1m31.715s. The women’s test is part of Formula E’s broader long-term strategy along with the FIA Girls on Track programme to remove barriers and expand opportunities for women within the all-electric championship.
Last season, Formula E expanded its FIA Girls on Track experiences to local young women aged 12-18 at all race locations, delivering 27 events across 11 race weekends both at track and in communities, supporting more than 4,500 young women globally since its partnership with the FIA on this programme.
ABB Renews Principal Partnership Commitment
Formula E is pleased to announce that ABB has renewed its commitment as Principal Partner for the Season 11 FIA Girls on Track program, reinforcing its dedication to advancing gender equality and innovation within the all-electric racing series, as part of its Sustainability Strategy 2030 to drive social progress, through a grassroots program to inspire the next generation of women.
Season 11 FIA Girls on Track Experience
For Season 11, the program is aiming to reach even more young women in Saudi Arabia and every race market, supporting the growing demand of young women who are seeking opportunities and support to pursue careers in motorsport. Events will be held in collaboration with local communities, leveraging local expertise and relationships. This aligns with Formula E’s wider social impact approach of involving and engaging local communities in each race location.
In addition to the 120 young women participating in behind-the-scenes tours and workshops the day before each race, 50 young women will have exclusive access to the FIA Girls on Track space within the Fan Village on race days, along with the option to attend inspirational career talks lead by women from within the Formula E eco-system, helping provide guidance and advice for varied roles across engineering, technology, driving, team management, sustainability, media and marketing.
Other activities on offer in the programme include:
- A new FIA Girls on Track community newsletter to keep attendees engaged in the programme across the globe all year long.
- A centralised resource hub to connect participants with in-market groups and stakeholders, such as ASNs, community groups and STEM learning opportunities.
The FIA Girls on Track programme is proudly supported by Hankook (Presenting Partner), ABB (Principal Partner) and FortescueZero (Official Partner).
Julia Palle, Vice President Sustainability, at Formula E, said: “We’re committed to continuing to provide as much opportunity to young women as possible who want to come and work in the industry. We’re all too aware of the imbalance between male and female roles, so with an ever-growing programme of events and opportunities where women can learn and grow in confidence the industry will begin to balance itself and benefit everyone involved. Our commitment to women though is not just at the grassroots, but at the pinnacle of the sport too. In Madrid, hosting an all-women’s test session provides a crucial opportunity for them to test themselves using current technology that we hope will not only develop their own skill sets but be inspirational to many of the young women involved in our FIA Girls on Track programme too.”
Burcu Çetinkaya, FIA Women in Motorsport Commission Chair, said: “The FIA is committed to building better and more accessible pathways into motor sport, and initiatives like FIA Girls on Track allow us to speak directly to the future of our sport. Not only are we looking to advance female participation on and off the track, but we are raising awareness of the diversity within our industry and championing accessibility. We believe that equal talent deserves equal opportunity, and I’m delighted to see this programme continue to grow.”
Karin Lepasoon, Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, ABB, said: “We are thrilled to announce our continued support for the FIA Girls on Track initiative. This program is a great way to showcase the many exciting and varied applications of STEM to the next generation of women, in addition to the myriad of careers available to them even in the most male-dominated industries.
“At ABB, we see diversity and inclusion as a core strength for a successful and sustainable business. Ultimately, they are essential factors to enable industries to outperform and outrun, which is why we have our own commitment to increase the proportion of women in senior management roles to 25 percent by 2030.”
2025 Jeddah E-Prix
After six successful seasons in Diriyah, Formula E announced earlier this year Jeddah would become the Kingdom’s new race location, with the anticipated event taking to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit – the world’s fastest street circuit – on February 14-15, 2025.
The move marks an exciting new chapter in Formula E’s history since its inaugural race in Saudi Arabia in 2018 and reflects its commitment to innovation and sustainability, closely aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision for the future of sports in the Kingdom.
