ABB FIA Formula E Miami E-Prix Empowers Young Women In Motorsport

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Women in motorsport have traditionally faced significant barriers to entry, according to a 2023 study by non-profit organization More Than Equal. Their research determined that motorsport culture is often unwelcoming to women. That translates into too few women and girls participating and a lack of female role models within the sport. With a dearth of dedicated training and development, difficulty accessing funding, inferior track time, and outdated perceptions and stereotypes within motorsport, women face formidable barriers to entry and success in motorsport.

A majority of survey respondents also noted that equity in women’s sports still has a long way to go. Half or more in each country believe that brands are not investing enough in women’s sports compared with men’s sports.

At the ABB FIA Formula E Miami e-Prix, however, a young woman with the Electrathon program had lots of accolades to share about the increasing inclusivity in motorsport. “I like seeing women in the paddock,” Sophia Kastanias said, explaining that “it’s good to know there is a place for me.” Interested in a career in motorsport engineering, Kastanias has interned in Sebring, FL, with Gradient Racing. “I went up to the female driver and said to myself, ‘I can do that.”

Kastanias and other Electrathon students were showcasing their three-wheeled small electric race cars that use both a standard design and parts provided by Florida Power and Light. The students are free to create their own bodywork. This program provides hands-on opportunities for high school students to learn about STEM principles as they design, build, and race electric vehicles. Electrathon teams battle it out on the track ahead of the 2025 Miami E-Prix on Saturday, April 12. The winner is the EV last standing — the ability to protect battery life is the key to winning rather than showing the fastest speed on the track.

The current generation of talented young female drivers, however, are not getting opportunities to compete across different series, in different equipment, and in different conditions consistently enough. Female drivers are also dropping out of motorsport early because they participate in fewer races, which leads to less track experience. The result is often poor performance, reduced financial support, and ultimately, early retirement.

Female careers in motorsport are on average between one to five years, where male careers are more likely to last for 12 years or more.

Rather than being a racing series, team, or competition, More than Equal is fully independent and focused on research, data, talent identification, and driver development. The More than Equal initiative was co-founded by former Formula One driver David Coulthard. Its goals are to find “the first female F1 world champion” and to offer high potential female drivers the opportunity to maximize their potential “in a way that has never been done before.”

Steps toward Providing Access for Women in Motorsport

How can change occur in the culture so women in motorsport have equal access to males?

ABB FIA Formula E says motorsport is a sport where men and women can compete as equals. FIA Girls on Track is their project to empower young women, break barriers, and promote gender equality in motorsport. Drawing upon innovative, engaging, and positive approaches to inclusion, the program offers participants the tools, experience, and opportunities to explore career prospects in this traditionally male-dominated field.

As of today, only 1.5% of total licensees recorded in the world are women. FIA Girls On Track aims to increase that percentage by inviting young women from 12 to 18 years old to discover, for free, the different aspects of motorsport and its industry through a set of activities, workshops, and behind the scenes access.

The FIA Girls on Track initiative is quite important, as during the April 11 press day at the ABB FIA Miami e-Prix, the majority of technical and racing staff were male. Females held roles in customer service and marketing. That observation parallels data which says female drivers do not receive the same backing, especially financially, as their male counterparts — there is a far lower risk appetite among corporate funders to support women in motorsport.

Other work is being done within Formula E to attract women in motorsport. Jaguar TCS Racing hosted over 100 young women to celebrate International Women’s Day in March. The special event took place at their technical headquarters in Kidlington, UK. The ages of participants ranged from local schoolchildren to attendees from Formula E’s FIA Girls on Track Program.

With a tour of its ABB FIA Formula E World Championship winning technical facilities, interactive workshops, and immersive technical experiences, the participants had the opportunity to see Motorsports commercial and technical functions, led by women in Jaguar TCS Racing. Meaningful hands‑on experiences were augmented by panel discussions that showcased the range of roles available across a motorsport team, as well as dedicated career advice to inspire and support the next generation into the industry.

The activity is part of Jaguar TCS Racing’s wider Race to Inspire mission, which aims to motivate the future generation of women and to create a positive impact on our planet and the communities in which the team races. The program encourages young women to consider motorsport and STEM careers through education initiatives, school visits, and events it sponsors

Sara Morrow of JLR Motorsport notes that collaborating with Jaguar TCS Racing is a positive step toward inspiring female talent in engineering and motorsport. Participants were able to see firsthand how motorsport opportunities exist from “from technical engineering roles to fostering partnerships across the sector and planning global events.” Morrow continued that the collaboration with the Jaguar TCS Racing team could “empower our female learners and encourage them to become the future leaders and innovators of the industry.”

Final Thoughts

The landscape of motorsport has seen some shifts in recent years, particularly with the increasing involvement of women in major competitions such as the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). These motorsport series showcase female drivers and engineers, contributing to a more balanced representation in an industry traditionally dominated by males.

The hope is that these entries are indicative of a broader change in the perceptions and opportunities available to female drivers. Through collaborations, motorsport actors contribute to inclusivity but also reinvigorate their workforce. Certainly, outreach to women strengthens motorsport’s image at a time of increasing percentage of female fandom. In the US, more than half  of women’s sports fans in a survey said they’ve been watching women’s sports for three years or less. The appeal is universal.

Ultimately, a more inclusive motorsport environment not only benefits women and girls but also invites a wider audience to embrace and appreciate the excitement and community of motorsport, especially a series that is electrified. That is a win-win equation.