Formula E has just announced a significant step towards gender equality in motorsports by confirming an all-female pre-season test session in Spain.
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This first-of-its-kind initiative will give top women racing drivers the opportunity to test the cutting-edge GEN3 Evo race car at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia between 4-7 November.
The test will take place alongside the regular pre-season sessions for the 11 teams and 22 drivers competing in the championship.
Each team must field at least one woman driver during the half-day test, with the option to field two. Formula E will reveal the full lineup of participating drivers in the coming weeks, promising a showcase of female talent in motorsports.
Paving the Way for Women in Formula E
The aim of this initiative is to provide women drivers with both a platform and a pathway to advance their careers. Formula E hopes this opportunity will allow these drivers to develop their skills using the latest technology and showcase their abilities to teams, sponsors, and fans.
While this all-women test is a first for the series, Formula E has a history of promoting women in motorsport. The championship held a similar female-only test in 2018 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, with notable drivers like Jamie Chadwick, Simona de Silvestro, and Carmen Jorda participating.
Motorsport is one of the few sports where men and women can compete together, but women have largely been absent from top-tier racing. Formula E is notably aiming to change this.
Are Testing Sessions Enough to Drive Change?
The FIA reports that women hold only a staggering 3% of current top-tier racing licences. Formula E’s latest initiative is part of a broader strategy to remove barriers and create more opportunities for female drivers.
Over the past decade, only three women have competed in Formula E races, all during the Gen1 era. The last female driver to participate was Simona de Silvestro, who made 12 starts for Andretti in 2016, during the second season of the championship. Katherine Legge and Michela Cerruti also briefly raced in the championship during its inaugural season.
Marta Garcia, the inaugural F1 Academy champion who participated in a rookie test in Berlin earlier this year, is optimistic about the impact of this initiative.
“It’s a great idea to get more women like me into the Formula E paddock. It gives us a chance to show what we can do in a Formula E test. Who knows, maybe this could lead to something like the F1 Academy but for electric racing.”
However, not everyone believes that a single test is enough to create lasting change. Beth Paretta, Vice President of Sporting Affairs at Formula E, expressed concerns that testing alone won’t provide the long-term opportunities women need.
“Creating opportunities is not just about a single day of testing; it’s about signing a woman full-time for several years,” she explained. “You need time in the car to really prove yourself.”
Formula E’s Commitment to Gender Equality
Formula E’s leadership actively fosters diversity within the sport. Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, stated: “We know there isn’t a simple solution for greater diversity in motorsport. If we’re serious about providing women with equal opportunities in our series, we need to ensure that they have access to the same conditions as those already on the starting grid.”
Dodds acknowledged that while one test won’t solve the problem, it’s an important step in the right direction.
“Our goal is to make sure we’re making proactive, consistent progress in gender equality. With an almost equal split of male and female fans, we believe it’s only right that our drivers and teams represent those who follow and support the sport.”
As part of this commitment, Formula E is expanding its FIA Girls on Track programme at the Valencia test, offering up to 400 young women the chance to watch the test and participate in workshops designed to accelerate their motorsport careers.
The series is also working with teams to provide future opportunities for women drivers, including engineering support, simulator time, and additional testing days.
A Step Closer to a More Inclusive Future
This all-female test session is an exciting step towards greater diversity in motorsport, but as many experts have pointed out, it’s only the beginning.
While testing gives women a valuable platform to showcase their talent, long-term contracts and regular race opportunities are what will truly make a difference.
As Formula E continues to break new ground in gender equality, the hope is that initiatives like this will lead to more women drivers not just testing, but competing full-time in the championship in the near future.
As Formula E develops the GEN4 car and prepares to introduce power steering in 2026, it is setting the stage for a more inclusive future.
Featured Image Credit: Formula E Holdings
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