Determined Race Director Susie Wolff Strives to Motivate an Increase in Women on the Tracks
SCREAMIN' SUSIE WOLFF, FORMER RACER TURNED F1 ACADEMY BOSSED, CHANGES THE GAME FOR GALS IN GRAND PRIX WORLD!
Susie Wolff ain't just a pretty face; she's the fuel behind the F1 Academy, a revolutionary series that's breaking barriers and paving the way for ladies in racing.
Once a wheel-spinner in a Formula One car, Wolff made history in 2014 when she became the first woman since 1992 to spin her tires on the hallowed circuit at the British Grand Prix. Now, she's using her experience to help the next generation of female drivers make history too.
Since 2023, the 42-year-old Scot has been at the helm of the F1 Academy, a circuit designed exclusively for the gals and funded by none other than F1 itself. "F1 Academy is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a real impact in the sport," Wolff said. "I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd see an all-female series financed, invested in, and supported by F1 and all ten Formula One teams racing on F1 weekend."
This championship, which recently inked a mega-deal with Gatorade as its official sports drink, topped the list after the W Series disbanded in 2022. Drivers must be between 16 and 25 and can compete for only two seasons in the single-seater F4 championship.
This past Canadian GP, the series made its presence known with two races on Saturday and another on Sunday. Gatorade also sponsored 16-year-old wild card driver Mathilda Paatz in her debut weekend. With the support of team sponsors like Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren, the F1 Academy continues to grow its network and influence within the world of F1.
The F1 Academy also made a significant mark at the Canadian GP weekend, with Circuit Gilles Villeneuve announcing that the series will return for every Grand Prix weekend through 2028. "We're feelin' the love here," Wolff said. "The fans are showin' us so much passion."
While a woman hasn't started a race in F1 since the 1970s, the F1 Academy is proving that things are changin' for the women in motorsports. With drivers like Maya Weug leadin' the pack in the Drivers' Championship and Campos Racing dominatin' the Team's Championship, it's clear that these young ladies are carving out their own paths in the world of racing.
"We ain't Byron Strouds or Rubens Barrichellos yet, but gals in motorsport are on the rise, and the F1 Academy is helpin' the next generation climb the ladder," said Wolff.
And it's not just about the track for Wolff. She's got her sights on changin' the culture of racing too. "I know that F1 participation ain't somethin' that's gonna happen overnight, but we've gotta break down the barriers and show girls what the pathway can be. By doin' that, we give these young drivers a much better chance of success."
With a dedicated following of 42 percent females and high-profile shows like "F1: The Academy" on Netflix, the F1 Academy is proving to be just one of the many ways women are take-charge in the world of racing.
"We've still got a ways to go, but we're makin' progress," said Wolff. "And with the F1 Academy, we're changin' the game for the next generation of female racers. Bring it on!"
In 2023, Susie Wolff took charge of an exclusive racing circuit known as the F1 Academy, which is funded by Formula One itself and based in Toronto, aiming to revolutionize the world of sports, particularly in the realm of arts and racing.
With the support of team sponsors like Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren, the F1 Academy not only offers young female drivers a platform to compete but also strives to alter the traditional culture of sports, fostering a broader representation of women in motorsports.
