Formula E has announced the first-ever all-women test session for an FIA Championship, scheduled for November 7th at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. This initiative is part of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s pre-season testing and represents a significant step toward increasing diversity and gender equality within motorsport.
The test will feature up to 22 elite women drivers, who will have the opportunity to drive the new GEN3 Evo race car, introduced for Season 11. The car, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph (ca. 97 km/h) in 1.82 seconds, is 30% faster than a current Formula 1 car. These women drivers will join the 11 race teams and 22 regular championship drivers who will also be testing during the week.
Each team in the championship is required to field at least one woman driver for this half-day session, using the same high-performance cars as their male counterparts. This opportunity allows women drivers to showcase their skills at the highest level of electric racing, offering them a rare platform to compete and develop their careers.
This initiative goes beyond a one-time event, reflecting Formula E’s long-term commitment to addressing the barriers that have historically limited women’s participation in motorsport. It also aims to raise the profile of women in elite motorsport through media engagements and other opportunities during the test.
Formula E is implementing additional measures to foster inclusion, including expanding its FIA Girls on Track programme, which will engage young women with motorsport and provide a platform for career development. The championship is also collaborating with teams to offer women drivers further opportunities, such as simulator time and holistic coaching, while working with leading figures in sport to understand and address the challenges women face in motorsport.
Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating, “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.”
