Susie Wolff, managing director of the F1 Academy, is committed to promoting female drivers in Formula 1 nearly 50 years after the last female competitor. The Academy focuses on breaking barriers, nurturing young talent, and ensuring progress in motorsport, exemplified by champions like Abbi Pulling. Despite challenges, Wolff advocates for continued opportunities for women in racing and emphasizes the importance of support from F1 teams and industry partnerships.
Susie Wolff, managing director of the F1 Academy, is dedicated to increasing female representation in Formula 1, nearly 50 years after the last female competitor, Lella Lombardi, raced in 1976. She aims to provide opportunities for young women in motorsport through the Academy, now in its third season. Wolff recently showcased a documentary about the F1 Academy to top management at F1, highlighting its successes and increased engagement with all ten F1 teams.
Wolff has previously stated it could take eight to ten years for a woman to break into F1, a comment she now regrets as it may imply a lack of faith in current female drivers. Nonetheless, she sees potential in many talented young women. The Academy’s mission includes breaking barriers and ensuring young drivers progress through the ranks, as demonstrated by recent champions like Abbi Pulling, who has moved to the GB3 Championship.
The Academy has implemented a talent development strategy, tracking young female drivers and helping them access opportunities in karting and single-seater racing. The goal is to maintain a competitive grid while nurturing new talent. Wolff stresses the importance of creating a clear pathway for aspiring female drivers and emphasises the significance of partnerships with karting academies to identify talent from a young age.
Under Wolff’s leadership, the Academy has encouraged female participation in karting, attributed to the so-called ‘F1 Academy effect’. She believes success isn’t solely aspiring for F1, but also developing female drivers for various professional racing careers. Wolff dismisses the idea of quotas in F1, contending that opportunities should be merit-based.
Wolff acknowledges that physical aspects of racing, such as the absence of power steering in junior categories like F2 and F3, pose challenges for female drivers. Although she advocates for power steering to level the field, discussions with F2 and F3 executives remain unresolved. Her commitment to ensuring female racers compete successfully against men drives her advocacy in the sport.
Susie Wolff’s commitment to promoting female drivers in Formula 1 through the F1 Academy is unwavering, despite historical barriers. The Academy focuses on nurturing talent and providing opportunities for young women in motorsport. While Wolff acknowledges challenges within the sport, particularly physical demands, she remains optimistic about the potential for women to excel in racing. Her efforts aim not only for representation in F1 but a broader success for women in motorsport.
Original Source: www.autosport.com