Formula E set to host an all-female pre-season test at Valencia
Formula E has announced that the first-ever all-women test session of an FIA Championship will take place on Thursday 7th November at Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, as part of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s pre-season testing schedule.
The first-of-its-kind test in the all-electric championship provides women racing drivers the opportunity to drive the new for Season 11 (2024/25) GEN3 Evo race car, which is capable of 0-60 mph in just 1.82 seconds – 30% faster than a current F1 car. The car will also be tested during the same week by the 11 race teams and 22 drivers currently competing in the series.
Each of the race teams in the championship will be required to field at least one woman driver for the half-day test, but encouraged to field two, who will all drive in current-season cars.
Formula E notd that "with all the women on track at the same time, the session creates a tangible platform for a wide pool of elite drivers who wouldn’t otherwise get an opportunity to drive machinery at this level. The test aims to provide the women not only with a destination but also a pathway to develop their careers and skills using current technology at its full potential."
While at the Valencia race track, the drivers will take part in multiple media opportunities, including press conferences, briefings, interviews and capturing content for broadcast and social media on behalf of Formula E and their respective teams.
Despite motorsport being one of the few sports industries where men and women can compete together, the sport remains predominantly male, with only 3% of current top-tier racing licences worldwide held by women (FIA).
"Formula E is proactively launching this initiative as part of a broader long-term strategy to remove barriers and expand opportunities for women within the all-electric championship. This isn’t just about creating a one-off opportunity, it’s about analysing and actively dismantling the structural inequalities that have limited women’s participation and progress."
Moreover, Formula E will deliver an extended FIA Girls on Track programme for up to 400 local young women at the Valencia test who will have the chance to watch and engage with the women racing drivers while participating in workshops aimed at accelerating careers across the whole motorsport spectrum.
Speaking of the all-female test day, Formula E's CEO Jeff Dodds said: “We know there isn’t a simple solution for greater diversity in motorsport. If we’re going to truly give women equality, opportunity and visibility in our series, however, conditions for all need to be the same to aid their development and test themselves against those already on the starting grid."
“Unlike other series where women drivers have to use old or restricted machinery, they’ll be using the state-of-the-art GEN3 Evo car that accelerates 30% faster than an F1 car, just as our Championship drivers do.
“We also recognise that one test will not solve the longstanding issue, but we have to start somewhere, knowing there is a long way to go and making sure we’re making proactive, consistent steps that continue to make forward progress.
"As a motorsport with an almost-equal split of male and female fans, as well within Formula E including my Exec and Director teams, we believe it’s only right that our drivers and wider ecosystem is representative of those that follow and support the sport.”
