BIRMINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – Former Williams test driver Susie Wolff expects to see a woman racing with the men in Formula One eventually but her main focus now is to encourage and highlight female involvement in motorsport as a whole.
Unveiling a ‘Dare to be Different’ initiative at the Autosport show yesterday, the 33-year-old Scot told Reuters that she wanted to see more women chasing their dreams on and off the track.
“We are creating role models from the successful women who are in the sport already,” she said. “My fundamental aim is to drive female talent — it’s not just to find the next female Formula One superstar.
“If they come from our search, then great. But ‘Dare to be Different’ is something in the long term that just aims to inspire, connect and showcase women in motorsport.”
The scheme, run in conjunction with Britain’s MSA motorsport authority, will create an online community and organise special events, including karting, for eight to 14-year-old girls to meet female high achievers in the sport.
Only two women have taken part in a Formula 1 race since the world championship began in 1950.
Italian Maria Teresa de Filippis, who died on Saturday at the age of 89, was the first, starting three grands prix in 1958 at the wheel of a Maserati.
The last to do so was Italian Lella Lombardi in 1976. She died in 1992.
Wolff, who has now definitively retired from all forms of racing, said she was sure there would be another F1 woman racer in her lifetime but it was all about nurturing talent and taking a long term view.
“You’ve just got to get a girl that’s good enough to perform on track and she will have the opportunity,” she said. “For me, it’s about giving back, it’s about passing on the lessons I learned and helping in what way I can.
