Milestone for female racing drivers in Madrid
Eighteen elite female racing drivers showcased their skills in brand-new GEN3 Evo cars in a dedicated Formula E test session at Circuito del Jarama in Madrid this weekend.
This first of its kind all-women test has been considered a milestone in FIA Championship history, paving the way for future generations of female drivers.
Eighteen female drivers took part in the pre-season test in Madrid.
Abbi Pulling, driving for Nissan, topped the timing sheet after the three-hour session. The 21-year-old Brit is currently leading the F1 Academy championship.
Jamie Chadwick, who was representing Jaguar TCS Racing, came in second with McLaren development driver and F1 Academy racer Bianca Bustamante rounding out the top three.
"It was an amazing feeling to put what I've learned in the simulator into real life," Pulling said after the session. "I think there was more time to extract at the peak of the tire, but overall I'm happy with the performance."
Abbi Pulling, driving for Nissan, topped the timing sheet.
Pulling said the Nissan Formula E team has been very supportive and helpful, explaining every detail answering any questions she raised.
Second-placed Chadwick was impressed by the GEN3 car's launch.
"I did a couple of that and it's incredible how quickly that car can go from 0-100km/h - that was my highlight," she said.
The brand-new GEN3 Evo cars will be put into use in Formula E's Season 11.
The all-female test is part of Formula E's long-term strategy to remove barriers and expand opportunities for women within the all-electric championship.
The drivers played an integral role in team preparation ahead of the new Formula E season by participating in engineering debriefs and meetings as well as taking part in media opportunities on behalf of their respective teams.
"It was a proud moment seeing 18 of the world's best women drivers out on track," said Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds.
The all-women test intends to remove barriers and expand opportunities for women drivers.
"We've not only seen impressive consistency, but also rapid improvement, with lap times falling quickly as the drivers got to grips with the complexities of the cars," he said.
"With more opportunity for track time, and in equal machinery as male drivers, I'm sure we will see these women drivers becoming more confident in pushing the car and themselves to the limit, setting a more accurate benchmark for where their true potential lies."
Formula E's Season 11 is a month away. The opening race will be held in San Paulo, Brazil, on December 7. The Shanghai E-Prix is scheduled for May 31 to June 1, 2025.
Despite motorsport being one of the few sports industries where men and women can compete together, the sport remains predominantly male currently.
