How best to promote women in motorsport?

There is divergence on how to increase female participation in motorsport, but agreement for it to be done…

The discussion of female participation in motorsport and increasing it, is different than other sports that exist in the public consciousness. Separate women divisions exist in everything from the Olympics to most professional sports. However, motorsport is in the unique position of being the only sporting discipline in which men and women compete together. The world of performance automobiles and bikes, let alone motorsport, is driven largely by the male desire for power and the ability to leave a rival in the dust. Outside of the rules that govern races and rallies, little is considered off-limits. And if the opponent is a female, then there is a greater will to achieve victory at all costs. This is the view of Nawaz Sandhu, one of India’s most celebrated rally drivers who won rallies at the national level in her heyday and was particularly adept on tarmac rallies. She is also India’s delegate on the Commission for Women in Motorsport for the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

It is for this reason why Sandhu feels that the women who choose to compete in motorsport need more encouragement than the already committed males as well as the maximum possible encouragement to compete against them. Even in the case of single-seat racing series where it is believed the physical nature of competition favours men. This discussion is likely to become all the more heated depending on how 16-year-old Mira Erda fares as she becomes the first female driver in the JK Tyre backed Euro JK series, which is based on the old Formula BMW Pacific car, but has been given serious upgrades as of last year.

Erda has previously scored podiums in karting and is preparing for the upcoming JK Tyre National Racing Championship season by getting seat time in a single seat car at Sepang. Her karting record makes her deserving of giving a higher level of formula racing a try but drivers like her are currently the exception.

Her example is expected to increase awareness of motorsport among women and increase the intent to participate. However, the president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) Akbar Ebrahim feels that young girls and women need a platform of their own to first feel like they belong. Whether this is in a kart, car or a bike and to also increase the pool of talent from which to select those that can be promoted further up the ladder.

With TVS already committing to a one-make motorcycle racing series for women, the FMSCI plans further initiatives such as a women only karting championship. Four-stroke engines as opposed to the two-stroke Rotax kart in the national championships are expected to keep costs down and also help ease first timers into racing.

The subject of women-only categories even for Formula 1 has been floated before and come up for discussion at the FIA. Sandhu is wary of such a move as she feels it will only make people watch for the glamour and novelty of watching women compete. She encourages them to push themselves and for others to encourage them to as high as level as possible to join the ranks of Michelle Mouton, Danica Patrick, Jutta Kleindschmidt and Laia Sanz.

And as for those who blow their own horn with little to back it up? Well, social media gives them an outlet whether they are women or men. Ultimately it comes down to the results on track or a rally stage. The stopwatch doesn’t care about gender after all, only about who wants it the most.