Formula E has announced that the first-ever all-women test session in an FIA Championship will take place on Thursday, 7th November, at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. This event is part of the pre-season testing schedule for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
This pioneering test gives elite women drivers the opportunity to drive the GEN3 Evo race car, set to debut in Season 11 (2024/25). The car can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 1.82 seconds, which is 30% faster than a current F1 car. The test will be held alongside the sessions in which the 11 Formula E race teams and 22 competing drivers will also be testing their cars.
Each team is required to field at least one woman driver for the half-day test, with the option to field two. All the women will drive the current-season cars together, providing a unique platform for drivers who may not have access to this level of competition. The aim is to help these drivers progress their careers and enhance their skills with cutting-edge technology.
Whilst at the circuit, the women drivers will participate in various media activities, including press conferences, interviews, and content creation for broadcast and social media, all designed to raise their profiles within motorsport and the broader sports industry. The full line-up of women drivers will be announced in the coming weeks by the individual Formula E teams.
Despite motorsport being one of the few sports where men and women can compete directly, only 3% of top-tier racing licences globally are held by women (FIA). Formula E’s initiative is part of a long-term strategy to break down barriers and increase opportunities for women in the sport. This is not just a one-off event; it’s a commitment to tackling the systemic inequalities that limit women’s involvement and progression in motorsport.
Alongside the test, Formula E is taking further steps to promote gender equality, including:
- Expanding the FIA Girls on Track programme to include up to 400 local young women at the Valencia test, offering them opportunities to meet the women drivers and take part in workshops covering a range of motorsport careers.
- Working with teams and partners to create more opportunities for women drivers, such as engineering support, simulator time, future test sessions, and holistic coaching as part of a modern driver pathway.
- Consulting with leading women in sport to learn from their experiences and accelerate diversity and inclusion within motorsport.
- Integrating new technologies, such as power steering in the GEN4 cars from Season 13 (2026), to enhance performance for all drivers.
- Promoting the FIA Girls on Track programme throughout Season 11 to encourage more young women to participate and build on the programme’s past successes.
- Engaging with diverse and women-led organisations to identify key barriers and opportunities for women and girls to enter motorsport at every level.
Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, said:
“We know that increasing diversity in motorsport is not a straightforward task. But if we are truly going to give women equal opportunities, visibility, and a chance to develop in our series, we must ensure they compete on the same terms as those already on the grid.
“Unlike other series where women are often restricted to outdated machinery, in Formula E they will use the state-of-the-art GEN3 Evo car, which accelerates 30% faster than a Formula 1 car, just like our Championship drivers.
“We recognise that one test won’t solve the long-standing issue, but we have to start somewhere. We are committed to taking proactive, consistent steps towards progress. As a sport with an almost equal split of male and female fans, and with diverse leadership across Formula E, we believe it’s essential that our drivers and broader ecosystem represent those who follow and support us.”
