2 weeks ago
Formula E targets female drivers in two to three years
Formula E is a racing championship where the cars run on electricity.
Jeff Dodds is the boss of Formula E. He said the series wants women to race at the top level.
He hopes this can happen within the next two or three years.
Dodds believes men and women can race just as well as each other.
But he says the chances for women are not fair right now.
Formula E has only had three women race since it started in 2014.
The most recent was a Swiss driver named Simona de Silvestro in 2016.
Formula E is planning a bigger programme to help more women drive the cars.
The racing teams like the idea and want to help make it happen.
Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds said the all-electric series aims to have women competing at championship level within two to three years.
A major expansion of the women's programme will be announced shortly, moving beyond recent women's tests to create more driving opportunities.
Formula E has featured three female competitors since 2014, most recently Switzerland's Simona de Silvestro in 2016.
Dodds said most teams already have a female driver in their development programmes and are responding favourably to taking a bigger step next season.
The season-ending races in London mark the end of an era before the introduction of a quicker, lighter Gen 4 car.
- Who
- Jeff Dodds, chief executive of Formula E, along with the series' racing teams and drivers.
- What
- Formula E aims to have female drivers competing at championship level within two to three years and plans a major expansion of its women's programme.
- Where
- London's ExCel convention centre, where the season-ending races are being held.
- When
- Announced on Friday, ahead of Formula E's season-ending weekend at London's ExCel convention centre.
- Why
- To create more equal conditions and opportunities so women can close the gap and compete alongside elite male drivers.
Key facts
- Series
- Formula E (all-electric racing championship)
- Chief Executive
- Jeff Dodds
- Target Timeline
- Female drivers at championship level within two to three years
- Female Competitors Since 2014
- Three
- Most Recent Female Competitor
- Simona de Silvestro (Switzerland, 2016)
- Women's Test Programme
- Held for the past two years
- Season-Ending Venue
- London's ExCel convention centre
- Next Car Generation
- Gen 4, described as quicker and lighter
Quotes
Jeff Dodds
Chief executive of Formula E
“We have a hypothesis which is that men and women can compete equally in motorsport but the conditions definitely are not equal for both to compete alongside each other. It is within the next two to three years that we see women competing at the championship level alongside the elite male racing drivers on the grid.”
CNBC TV 18
Sources
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