Image copyright @Corgentech ‘One million for women’s Motorsport in 2018’ Image caption Calderon now works for Corgentech, a new company that works with racecar drivers to advance Formula 1 technology
Expert Motorsports runs nine women’s racing teams in three countries and wants to give sport an unprecedented boost by creating all-female racing teams.
British racer Tatiana Calderon says the double standard towards female drivers is “ridiculous” and is “hurting women in sport as well as the men”.
She’s one of the driving forces behind Expert Motorsports, which hopes to accelerate the progression of women towards competitive motorsport.
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Although female race drivers have increased by a staggering 19 times since the 1970s, which she says is due to the way the sport is run, there are still only three women in Formula 1. And Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has predicted women “will never get in”.
Image copyright Tatiana Calderon
Ms Calderon says the reason there is still only one female in F1 is because Formula 1 doesn’t do enough to make it appear as equal as possible.
“The questions they ask in interviews, they expect you to answer gender; as if racing cars isn’t about merit. Women in motorsport have been discriminated against their whole life, at every point from starting out as a driver.
“There is one major difference between men and women drivers and it is the boys’ club. Women always have to prove that they are as good as the men.”
A huge number of leading female motorsport fans and competitors say they feel more empowered by racing against each other, compared to comparing to male drivers.
Image copyright @Corgentech ‘Boys and girls racing together can be nothing but positive’ Image caption The 32-year-old says gender should not come into the equation as a racing driver
Ms Calderon says she wants to share her experience of competition with women, to help them feel they have the same potential as their male colleagues to challenge for top positions.
“The nice thing is that we want to see them come into the sport, work with the companies that are recruiting women and be able to see what they can do as a group, because everyone is after the same goal. That is our job to work with them and show them the paths to progress.”
The chief executive of Expert Motorsports, is Ralf Metz. He says things are changing and believes young women racing a racing car is nothing like what it used to be.
Image copyright @Corgentech’A female identity has not yet been shown in Formula 1
“This is a bright new era of female motorsport and we have only just scratched the surface of its potential. My optimism is not fuelled by wishful thinking – the professional sport scene has responded enthusiastically to our proposal, to the point where we intend to adopt it full-time at the start of 2019.”
Mr Metz believes the new model would not be limited to women only, but could offer a total career view of female motorsport for everyone.
“With 27 years of knowledge and experience behind me, I have seen first-hand that not only are women good, they are better than men and should be paid the same. This will happen in one of the most exciting areas of our sport – the environment where they live.
“I have looked at all fields of technology and in particular cars, and I am convinced that female sport can be the best in the world. I strongly believe that in some areas we will be able to catch men. That’s why my drive is simple: Together we will be the best.”
Source: WSW, BBC