The FIA has created a Women & Motor Sport Commission (WMC) with the goal being to facilitate the full participation of women in all aspects of motor sport. To set in place strategies and policies that will promote the education and training of women in motor sport. To implement actions and events to allow the sharing of experiences and reflection on how to strengthen the participation of women (as athletes, officials and managers) in motor sport and to collaborate with international organisations on joint sports projects.
Former World Rally star driver Michèle Mouton has been appointed as President of the WMC. The Commission will be made up of a further 10 members: 1 FIA Commission Manager, 1 FIA Manufacturers’ representative, 3 Representatives of National Sporting Authorities, 1 Team Managers’ representative, 1 Drivers’ representative, 1 Representative of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, 1 Project manager and 1 FIA Communications’ representative.
Who do you guys think would be good on such a committee?
Overdue, but appreciated.
Besides Ashley Force here are some (sorry NASCAR haters)
name/years/starts/top-5′s/top-10′s
Janet Guthrie 1976-80 33 5
Louise Smith 1949-52 11
Shawna Robinson 2001-02 8
Sara Christian 1949-50 7 1 2
Patty Moise 1987-89 5
Robin McCall 1982 2
FiFi Scott 1955 2
Ethel Mobley 1949 2
Ann Chester 1950 2
Marian Pagan 1954 1
Lella Lombardi 1977 1
Goldie Parsons 1965 1
Christine Beckers 1977 1
Ann Slaasted 1950 1
Ann Bunselmeyer 1950 1
Tammy Jo Kirk 2003 15
Tina Gordon 2001-04 14 1
Diane Teel 1982-86 11 2
Kim Crosby 2004-06 10
Erin Crocker 2005-06 10
Jennifer Jo Cobb 2004-08 3
Mara Reyes 2005 1
Lisa Jackson 1982 1
Kat Teasdale 1998 1
Debbie Lunsford 1989 1
Kelly Sutton 2003-07 54
Deborah Renshaw 2004-05 38
Tammy Jo Kirk 1997-98 32
Erin Crocker 2005-08 29
Tina Gordon 2003-04 16
Teri MacDonald 2002-04 7
Chrissy Wallace 2008-09 7
Michelle Theriault 2008-09 4
Jennifer Jo Cobb 2008-09 4
Angie Wilson 2002 4
Shawna Robinson 2003 3
Gabi DiCarlo 2009 3
Caitlin Shaw 2009 1
Jonathan Ross?
How about Lyn St James?
I don’t believe Indy was still a championship event in the Janet Guthrie years. I know she never attempted nor started a GP.
Lella Lombardi is the only woman who earned a mention among the points finishers.
What BS
Ask Katherine Legge for a present-day view. She is a female driver who deliberately tries to market herself in exactly the same way as the men. Although results have not gone her way in the past couple of seasons, this is unfortunate as she showed genuine promise in 2007 for the PKV Champ Car team. She also seems a very grounded and focused individual. I tried to interview her last season, but at the time was let down by my (then) lack of Skype and the fact that my request co-incided with the “flyaway” part of the DTM season.
The FIA really should go and visit motor clubs too. Let’s see Todt and co using a spare weekend next year to go and see the North West 750 Motor Club at Anglesey Circuit. There are a good number of very competitive young female drivers, as well as a female technician when I was there, who was a student on the Glyndwr University motorsport engineering course. The question for me would be why there are not more female drivers moving up the racing ladder to the higher (national and international) levels, from roots in club racing. The FIA initiative is good news, but it will be better news if it increases the participation of female drivers and engineers at the higher levels of motorsport. I have my suspicions, but I could write a whole essay in this comment box!
I believe there was a meeting in the UK to set up some sort of backing for women in motorsport, there is, of course the BWRDC, but I would suggest that you either go and get involved if your family/boy friend is racing, and then only if you have enough money to do a ‘turn up and drive’ type series. Subsidising women may get them started but there is always a moment when they have to leave the relative safety of ‘Formula Woman’ and try and hack it in the real world. The cream will rise to the top but I would suggest that there are few who want to commit to more than having fun at the lower levels.
Ask Georgie, she is involved.
To me they need to look at why so many girls do karting then don’t convert to racing cars. That seems to be an obvious place to start.
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