PDSL becomes Title Sponsor for FW Nations Cup World Qualifiers in Dubai

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Formula Woman is delighted to announce PDSL as the title sponsor for the Formula Woman Nations Cup World Qualifiers, underscoring a groundbreaking partnership to champion women in motorsports. PDSL stands for Pragmatic Design Solutions Limited and is a trusted Microsoft partner, renowned for delivering cutting-edge engineering and digital technology solutions.

This collaboration highlights PDSL’s dedication to empowering aspiring female drivers and advancing gender representation in the racing industry. 

“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome PDSL to the FW Nations Cup World Qualifiers as our title sponsor. It’s such a perfect fit, especially with PDSL’s women’s empowerment and stem policies,” said Graeme Glew, Founder and CEO of Formula Woman. 

As title sponsor, PDSL will collaborate with the Formula Woman Nations Cup World Qualifiers to foster innovation, create opportunities for women in racing, and drive advancements in race-sector technologies, strategic planning, and research & development. PDSL has been supporting Maltina Jashari who is representing Kosovo  in The FW Nations Cup. Maltina will be flying the flag for PDSL at the world Qualifiers in Dubai on Dec 12th. This partnership is a pivotal milestone in PDSL’s mission to support emerging talent and make a lasting impact on the global motorsports landscape.

“Through this partnership, we aim to inspire and uplift young female drivers worldwide, leveraging our expertise to foster innovation and representation in motorsports,” said Ajay Hari, Technology Director at PDSL and founder of PDSL Technologies.

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Maltina Jashari driving a SR3 Radical on a testing day at Donington Park Circuit

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PDSL has developed unique products for the Formula 1 supply chain, showcasing leadership in enhancing efficiency and performance. Since 2010, PDSL has served Formula 1 teams and leading OEMs across the UK, USA, EU, and APAC regions. With ISO9001 and ISO14001 certifications, PDSL provides bespoke solutions across the automotive, railway, aerospace, and energy sectors.

Located at one of the UK’s premier technology parks and supported by an extensive global talent network, PDSL adapts swiftly to client needs, delivering advanced solutions with agility and precision.

“This partnership with the FW Nations Cup World Qualifiers not only showcases our dedication to motorsports innovation but also reinforces our belief in collaboration as a driver of positive change. It’s an exciting opportunity to inspire the next generation of female talent and push the boundaries of possibility in motorsports,” said Kranthi Puppala, Founder of PDSL.

The partnership aims to revolutionize the motorsport supply chain by enhancing visibility, efficiency, and innovation. PDSL will address key areas such as development, manufacturing, operations, and sustainability through advanced technology, strong supplier collaboration, and strategic logistics. This initiative promotes transparency, traceability, and streamlined operations to empower customers in optimizing performance.

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Maltina Jashari driving a SR3 Radical on a testing day at Donington Park Circuit - 2

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About Pragmatic Design Solutions Limited [PDSL]

Founded in 2010, PDSL specializes in engineering and digital technology solutions, serving clients in motorsports and beyond. As a Microsoft partner, PDSL combines technological expertise with industry-specific insights to deliver transformative solutions.

About the Formula Woman Nations Cup World Qualifiers

The FW Nations Cup World Qualifiers is a global initiative dedicated to promoting opportunities for women in motorsports, providing a platform for aspiring female drivers to represent their nations and compete on an international stage.

For more information about PDSL and its services, visit www.pdsl.com.

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The Track Day Experience

Motorsport is amazing to watch but must be one of the hardest sports to take part in.

It is expensive and for the most part exclusive and with-it being male dominated it can be even harder for women.

That is why it is so amazing that organisations like Formula Woman exist.

Formula Woman is a global community that aims to help drive women into motorsport and help them develop their skills.

I recently had the pleasure to attend a Formula Woman track day at Donnington Park, this day is one of the integral ways that the organisation is helping women realise their dreams.

A track day is when teams, organisations and people get the chance to use the track to learn about the twists and turns, the cars and the people driving.

Formula Woman has hosted many track days and have scheduled many more in order to train members of their Academy, allow people to try racing for the first time or get women with more experience back on the circuit.

When I first decided to attend, I was unsure on what to expect as this was going to be my first ever track day, the only thing I really knew is that it would be cold.

When I arrived, I was welcomed with open arms into garage 16 where two Formula Woman cars were waiting to be driven.

Graeme Glew, Formula Woman’s founder, was there to train and help the women and was able to give me a passenger lap around the track.

This wasn’t my first time being driven around a MSV track as I had the opportunity to do a fast lap around Brands Hatch but this was my first time with Formula Women and around Donnington.

It was interesting to learn and feel for myself the racing line and even as a passenger I felt the thrill of racing.

The day went on after with each woman who had travelled to Donnington getting their time behind the wheel with each getting a feel for the car as a passenger first.

One thing I noticed as I made my way up and down the pitlane to find a spot to watch the cars on track was that garage 16 was the only female representation there.

No other women were walking up and down in helmets.

No other women were getting in cars.

Motorsport has been a male-dominated sport since its creation and only recently has that started to fully change.

Trailblazers like Lella Lombardi, Maria Teresa de Filippis, Janet Guthrie and Sara Christian paved the way and trendsetters like Susie Wolff, Jaimie Chadwick and Marta Garcia continue the path.

Formula Woman help women around the world realise they can follow in the footsteps of these women.

Glew described motorsport as the “most expensive sport in the world”, “incredibly addictive” and the fact there can only be one winner means that it’s “98% disappointment.”

The organisation doesn’t just help with the racing side of motorsport, they also try and assist in every aspect including sponsorship.

“I try and encourage the girls to go and find personal sponsors,” Glew said, “We try and give guidance because it’s not only just about finding a sponsor it’s how you look after that sponsor.”

Glew explained that it’s “not been easy” to build and continue the organisation but the “only way” to enter the world of motorsport, especially as a driver, is to do it by gaining experience so attending a track day is an amazing way to start.

Honor Harley is a member of the Formula Woman Academy and was at the track day learning with Glew.

As a new member of the Academy this was her second time at a track day, but she is enjoying it. Harley said: “I’m ready to go and it’s really exciting.”

The 24-year-old explained that since joining Formula Woman she has been motivated more and in different ways. She also finds motivation from being the one of the only women on track.

“I’m not expecting to be one of the best drivers in the world,” Harley added, “I’d like to get to competitive level, “I like the idea of getting a platform for myself and being able to inspire other women.”

Inspiration is often a term used in motorsport as having and being a person that you can look up to is important and it all comes back to the saying, if you see it, you can be it.

With members in 68 different countries Formula Woman is trying to help a whole new generation of racers in any way they can with advice and experience.

To find out if there is a Formula Woman track day near you, please look on their social media.

- by Lizzy Oxendale

Formula Woman GT Cup Team Announce The Trade Centre Group as Title Sponsors

• Formula Woman announces title sponsors of their GT Cup Team

• The Trade Centre Group secure title sponsorship of DTO Motorsport run team

• Fastest growing car supermarket group expand their support of Formula Woman

• First GT Cup race for the team at Snetterton on 11th and 12th June

Formula Woman (Today) announced The Trade Centre Group as title sponsor of the Formula Woman GT Cup team and revealed their two DTO McLaren 570 GT4 race cars at Silverstone, stunningly liveried in Trade Centre Wales and Trade Centre UK colours.

The Trade Centre Group are the UK's largest and fastest-growing used car supermarket. Founded in 1999, The Trade Centre Group prides itself on providing the highest quality used cars at the very best value. They sell over 40,000 used cars every year, with the added convenience of being able to drive away in your perfect car in just one hour.

Their purpose is to provide the most convenient car shopping experience for value-driven customers, giving exceptional customer service along with conveniently located superstores in Wales and England. Buying a used car from Trade Centre Wales or Trade Centre UK is even easier!”

Since the selection of the six winners in March, the two DTO Motorsport McLaren’s have been prepared for this year’s GT Cup Championship. Meanwhile, the six Formula Woman drivers have been undertaking an intensive testing and preparation programme in the DTO Motorsport BMWs and McLaren race cars to prepare them for their first race at Snetterton on the 11th and 12thJune.

Formula Woman is a competition designed to introduce women to motorsport with little or no experience. Over 1000 women entered this year’s competition and the final shoot out took place in Sweden on a frozen lake in March this year.

Graeme Glew, Founder and CEO of Formula Woman commented, “We are delighted to announce The Trade Centre Group as our title sponsor. They currently supply Formula Woman with two BMW training cars which have been used throughout the competition. They recognised that the opportunity to take the title sponsorship of our race team was a great fit for their brand principles as diversity and inclusion are very important to them.”

“A lot of The Trade Centre Group’s success has been driven by television advertising and see Formula Woman as a further opportunity to expand their reach and visibility as well as promoting inclusion in motorsport.”

Tim Carr, CEO of The Trade Centre Group commented, “We are excited to extend our support of Formula Woman, as the main sponsor for the 2022 GT Cup Team. For The Trade Centre, our sponsorship is focused on providing opportunities for women in a male-dominated sport."

"I’d like to personally congratulate Erika, Jodie, Anushriya, Sara, Steph and Amy for the grit and determination they’ve already shown to win their places in the Formula Woman team. Everyone at The Trade Centre will be following the team’s GT Cup success with interest as racing commences at Snetterton in June”.

Drivers
Erika Hoffmann (Canada), Jodie Sloss (Scotland), Anushriya Gulati (India) and Sara Misir (Jamaica)

Test Drivers
Steph Sore (England) and Amy Riley (England)

Formula Woman Team to Undertake Testing Programme in DTO McLarens

• DTO Motorsport to run testing programme for Formula Woman winners

• Intensive programme in McLaren GT4s to be carried out over next six weeks

With the forthcoming opening round of GT Cup commencing this coming weekend at Donington Park, Formula Woman has opted to miss the opening round in favour of an intensive testing programme.

Formula Woman and DTO Motorsport have decided to further prepare the winners of the 2022 Formula Woman competition starting on Tuesday 12th April at Donington Park. 

The winners who have been recently testing in the Formula Woman Trade Centre BMW’s and Formula Woman Project 8 Jaguars, will be using the DTO Motorsport prepared McLarens which are now entered in the 2022 GT Cup Championship. 

Graeme Glew founder and CEO of Formula Woman commented, “We want our drivers to be as well prepared as possible, so we have devised a test programme with DTO Motorsport and we expect them to be race-ready very soon.”

“Our drivers agree that this is the best approach, and they are looking forward to the testing programme, which of course will give them much more confidence at their first race meeting.”

The six Formula Woman drivers were selected through an International Competition where 960 women with little or no racing experience were put through various tests including simulator, karting, fitness, mind coaching and ice driving in Sweden to become drivers in the 2022 GT Cup Championship.

Drivers

Erika Hoffmann (Canada), Jodie Sloss (Scotland), Anushriya Gulati (India) and Sara Misir (Jamaica) 

Reserve Drivers

Steph Sore (England) and Amy Riley (England) 

Formula Woman Winners and Race Team Announced

• The four winners of the Formula Woman competition are announced

• Two reserve drivers are also nominated to support the race team

• DTO Motorsport appointed to run the Formula Woman GT Cup Team

After months of assessments, tests and training, Formula Woman today, (11thMarch 2022), announced the winners of this year’s competition.

From 800 applicants, four drivers and two reserves have now been selected. Erika Hoffman (Canada), Jodi Sloss (Scotland), Anushriya Gulati (India) and Sara Misir (Jamaica) are the official drivers of the Formula Woman GT Cup Team.

Providing support will also be two reserve drivers, Steph Sore (England) and Amy Riley (England) who will be helping the official drivers and be on standby should their services be required.

The first round of assessments took place back in September 2021 at Anglesey Circuit with further rounds at Bedford Autodrome and Knockhill. Alongside on track training in the award winning all electric Vauxhall Corsa-e, the applicants took part in, karting, simulator training, fitness and mental performance programmes and written tests.

The assessments culminated in 75 finalists who went through three days of eliminations at PF International and Croft Circuit. 10 finalists and one wildcard then progressed to the shootout in Sweden where the winners were announced this morning.

Along the way, Formula Woman also provided numerous other opportunities to the all-female community including trackdays with Javelin in The Trade Centre Group BMWs, a trip to the British Grand Prix, several karting events and visits to Carfest and SupercarFest.

Formula Woman is also delighted to announce that DTO Motorsport will be running the two McLaren 570s GT4 cars in the GT Cup, a 26-race championship at UK circuits.

DTO Motorsport have followed the Journey of the Formula Woman closely and have always felt that they were the right team to support Formula Woman on the next part of this journey.

Dani Jordan, DTO Motorsport Co-Founder and Head of Brand commented: “We have already built a reputation for advocating women in motorsport, so we’re extremely excited to have been chosen to support the Formula Woman race team in the GT Cup. The women have proven to be level-headed, committed and have shown natural talent throughout the competition and we love that we’re able to support them during this early stage of their careers.”.

“The real work is about to begin, and we look forward to forming a plan with Formula Woman and getting the women out testing, so they are prepared for race day.”

Graeme Glew, Formula Woman Founder commented: “I am absolutely delighted with today’s announcements, not only have we announced the winners of the Formula Woman Competition but also the team we have appointed to run the cars in the 2022 GT Cup Championship.”

“A huge congratulations to our four drivers and two reserves. I am absolutely delighted with the selection and satisfied that the right choices have been made.”

“Sweden provided a new opportunity for our 11 finalists and the panel which included ice driving experts and rally coaches, the panel was led by Mia Flewitt.”

“Our three instructors from Car Events sat with each of the finalists and scored them all on various levels including performance, control, attitude and awareness. This formed the main part of the scoring process.”

“We are all really looking forward to the next step, competing in the 2022 GT Cup Championship with our newly appointed team, DTO Motorsport.”

Chris Haynes, Managing Director of Bute Motorsport who run and organise the GT Cup Championship commented: “A huge congratulations to the four winners and two reserve drivers. It is really exciting to see the Formula Woman competition come to fruition, and we look forward to welcoming six new talented drivers to the GT Cup.”

“We would also like to welcome DTO Motorsport. We are excited to have their professional organisation as part of the GT Cup family. They have a very good reputation, which will be a great asset to the championship.”

Sparco extend their support to the Formula Woman team for GT Cup

Formula Woman is delighted to welcome on board Sparco as one of our official Technical Partners. Sparco will be providing the Formula Woman GT Cup team with their racewear and safety equipment to ensure the best comfort and protection.

Formula Woman is a global all female motorsports competition partnered with McLaren Customer Racing. The competition strives to provide opportunities to women all over the world to try their passion in the arena of motorsports. The best qualified women get to compete on the nation’s biggest platform - The UK GT Cup Championship in 2022.

The GT Cup has now welcomed the all-female run Formula Woman team, who will be running two full-season entries for the 2022 season in two McLaren 570S GT4s.

Along with Sparco’s long standing partnership with McLaren (which has been reconfirmed outside the context of Formula 1 in favour of new perspectives in international motorsport), and their historic association with the British GT Cup, through this partnership Sparco will continue to support women motorsports talents.

Graeme Glew, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Formula Woman, says, “I am delighted to announce this partnership with Sparco, a leader in innovation and technology in the racing gear market. We look forward to this cooperation and hope to produce some great results during the season along with Sparco.”

Niccolò Bellazzini, Brand Manager, Sparco, says, “For Sparco, the search for and support of new talent in motorsport is fundamental, so we are proud to participate as a technical partner in initiatives like Formula Woman that support the search for talent independently by gender, latitude and age.”

Formula Woman Assessments Conclude With the Vauxhall Corsa-e Excelling

• Formula Woman applicants complete their assessments

• Vauxhall Corsa-e excels throughout the training programme

• 740 very satisfied drives in the much-loved Corsa-e

• Next step to choose the 50 finalists

The first round of the Formula Woman competition came to end after the last of the assessments was completed at Bedford Autodrome on the 7th December.

Taking centre stage throughout the process was the all-electric Vauxhall Corsa-e which proved to be the most outstanding of cars and became a much-loved friend of everyone.

The Corsa-e completed many laps of Bedford Autodrome, Knockhill and Anglesey never missing a beat. All the Formula Woman applicants, of which nearly 740 took part, absolutely loved the car and some took advantage of test drives at their local dealerships to familiarise themselves with it prior to taking to the track.

Graeme Glew, Formula Woman Founder commented: “The Corsa-e really did prove to be a fabulous choice for the assessments. We were delighted with how it performed throughout, not missing a beat. It was a very easy car to drive, handled very well, it just couldn’t be faulted.”

Seven Vauxhall Corsa-e were used as training cars with qualified instructors giving tuition to the applicants as they undertook a series of test in the hope of making the next round and progressing to the ultimate prize of a season racing the McLaren GT4 in the GT Cup.

Jeremy Townsend, Vauxhall Communications Director commented: “We were delighted to be able to support the Formula Woman competition. It was a fabulous opportunity for the Corsa-e to be put through its paces by so many applicants and to be able to offer everyone the chance to test drive the cars out on the public roads through our dealerships.”

Formula Woman now goes through the next process of deciding the 50 women who will go through to the next round, the finals in late February 2022.

Formula Woman announces new partnership with Stirling Eco

Stirling Eco is delighted to announce its new partnership with the Formula Woman series, which aims to find future female professional racing drivers.

The essence of Stirling Eco is demonstrating its experience of world-class innovation and design, where art meets functionality. The company offers exceptional value, performance and fun, whilst reducing the carbon footprint to make every-day travel exciting, with eco- friendly bikes that save on cost and provide zero emissions with every trip.

Formula Woman is currently going through the assessment programme of its 1000+ female competitors across the globe for its 2021/22 series, which is taking place at race circuits throughout the UK.

These assessments include theory, fitness and technical challenges, as well as driver on-track skills in the electric-powered Corsa-e cars supplied by FW partner Vauxhall.

Stirling Eco’s CEO Rob Grace commented, “I’m eager to spread our wings and continue building our proud brand and product ranges. We are the UK’s only fully electric motorcycle dealership and we’re dedicated to designing a sustainable future for all of us. Indeed, it’s safe to say that sustainability is at the heart of what we do, and joining forces with Formula Woman is the next exciting opportunity for us.

“Our extensive research allows us to equip bikes with ground-breaking, planet-friendly technology that makes zero-carbon travel possible. Stirling Eco bikes allow any owner to enjoy guilt-free travel, safe in the knowledge that they are not contributing any nasty carbon emissions to the air at all! Simply charge up the battery and travel up to 60km on a single charge — safely, silently and sustainably. Furthermore, with the speed the technology is evolving, it won’t be long before the bikes can go a lot further without charging.”

Formula Woman CEO Graeme Glew said, “As soon as I visited the impressive showroom of Stirling Eco I knew there was going to be a synergy with our two companies. They are both looking for excellence as well as making sure that we take on board all the requirements for the future - including the vital green issue of reducing your carbon footprints. Stirling Eco offer an incredible range of electric scooters that are very different in looks to what we see on the road and are works of art, quite literally.”

Graeme Glew added, “What impressed me was that these amazing eco-friendly electric bikes are not only fabulous to look at, but are also incredibly cheap to run. You can even trade-in your current vehicle to a petrol or diesel scrappage scheme, to get a huge discount on your Stirling Eco bike. We will certainly be promoting the Stirling Eco bikes and services through Formula Woman, and that also includes making sure that all our competitors - our Formula Woman family and community - spread the messages across the world.”

Trade Centre thrilled to support TV’s Formula Woman

Formula Woman is proud to announce the support of The Trade Centre Group, who are the UK's fastest growing used car retailer.

As part of its support for the event, The Trade Centre have provided two co-branded BMW’s which will be used in track days for driver training and throughout the competition.

The Formula Woman assessments will be carried out at various circuits around the UK including Anglesey (taking place on 19/20 September), Knockhill, and Bedford Autodrome from September to November this year.

This will progress through to the final shootout and then intensive race training for the winners, who will partake in the ultimate prize of a season driving the McLaren 570s GT4 in the 2022 GT Cup Championship.

Formula Woman has attracted significant interest from around the world including applications from India, Canada, the United States of America and even down under in Australia.

Entry requirements are that drivers must be over 17 years of age with a full driving licence, have little or no racing experience and of course, you have to be a woman - the entry deadline is the 17th September 2021.

Tim Carr, CEO of The Trade Centre Group commented: “The Trade Centre Group is a diverse and inclusive business, in a male-dominated sector. We are thrilled to support Formula Woman by providing two performance BMW’s for driver training in the 2021-22 competition series. We wish all the competitors the best of luck and look forward to seeing women on the grid for the 2022 UK GT Cup Championship.”

Founder of Formula Woman, Graeme Glew, added: “We are delighted to announce Formula Woman’s involvement with Trade Centre Group, the two cars, proudly wearing The Trade Centre UK and Trade Centre Wales livery look fantastic and are ideally suited to the competition. Women are becoming progressively involved in motorsport and it is fantastic to have the support of the biggest used car retailer in the UK.”

If you fancy getting behind the wheel and see yourself on the grid in the McLaren 570s GT4, then you can enter at www.formulawoman.com.

Ryley Wealth Management to support Formula Woman

• Corporate and private wealth management specialists support the Formula Woman competition

• Ryley Wealth Management commit to promoting and celebrating diversity in the motorsport sector

• Ryley Wealth Management to be present at the forthcoming Formula Woman assessments

Formula Woman is delighted to announce the support of Ryley Wealth Management who will champion women’s involvement in motorsport.

Launched to find the next female racing driver, Formula Woman will be carrying out on-track assessments from September where Ryley Wealth Management will be present.

This will progress through to the final shootout and intensive race training before the ultimate prize of a season driving the McLaren 570S GT4 in the 2022 GT Cup Championship.

Formula Woman will receive support from Ryley Wealth Management throughout the competition as they have committed to promoting women in a traditionally male-orientated sport.

David Ryley, Ryley Wealth Management CEO, commented: “I’m delighted that Ryley Wealth Management are sponsoring the Formula Woman competition, which will champion women’s involvement in motorsport as a whole. Seeing initiatives like Formula Woman rise up within traditionally male-orientated sports shows the growth and progression of motorsport over recent years, and we are committed to promoting and celebrating diversity in all industries.

“As a financial services provider, there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing that your support has helped new talent to truly flourish, which is why we chose to partner with Formula Woman. I’m looking forward to attending the forthcoming assessments and races as often as possible – it promises to be an incredibly exciting competition!”

Graeme Glew, Founder of Formula Woman, commented: “We are delighted to have Ryley Wealth Management join our impressive list of commercial partners. Motorsport revolves around wealth and successful sponsors, so Ryley Wealth Management is a great addition to our Formula Woman portfolio.”

Vauxhall takes up the Formula Woman challenge

• Vauxhall to supply six Corsa-e for on track assessments

• Formula Woman goes electric with Corsa-e

• Corsa-e to be dynamically showcased at CarFest North

Formula Woman is delighted to announce that Vauxhall will be supporting this year’s competition with their award winning, all-electric Corsa-e.

Launched to find the next female racing driver, Formula Woman will be carrying out on track assessments where the Vauxhall Corsa-e will be taking centre stage, giving the applicants the chance to experience the power of electric in a standard road car, before progressing onto more powerful machinery.

The Vauxhall Corsa-e was chosen as the ideal car for training Formula Woman applicants due to its size, ability and green credentials.

The zero-emissions-in-use Corsa-e features a 50kWh battery connected to a 100kW (136PS) electric motor, and is capable of up to 209 miles from a single charge under WLTP testing. Supporting up to 100kW rapid charging, an 80% charge takes just 30 minutes, making it ideal for multiple test drives per day and, of course, for on-track training.

James Taylor, Vauxhall sales and marketing director, commented: “We’re excited to be able to support such a fantastic initiative with our all-electric version of Britain’s best-selling car. The Corsa-e has been critically acclaimed for its environmental performance, low running costs and ease of use experience and we’re confident that the Formula Woman applicants will also find it surprisingly adept on circuit too.”

Graeme Glew, Founder of Formula Woman commented: “This is another leap forwards for Formula Woman, to have Vauxhall and the new Corsa-e for our driver assessments makes a lot of sense. The hundreds of competitors who have entered the Formula Woman Competition will now have the chance to have professional instruction and introduction to track activities in a Corsa-e which is sure to create a pleasant surprise in terms of handling and performance.”

The Formula Woman assessments will be carried out at various circuits around the UK including Anglesey, Knockhill and Bedford Autodrome from September to November this year.

Formula Woman has attracted significant interest from around the world including applications from India, Canada, America and even down under in Australia.

The Vauxhall Corsa-e will be seen in action this weekend at CarFest North, Bolesworth Castle and again at CarFest South at Laverstoke Park 27th to 29thAugust, where applicants will also be in attendance.

SHEPHERD COMPELLO TO SUPPORT FORMULA WOMAN

• Motorsport insurance specialist supports the Formula Woman competition

• Shepherd Compello to promote diversity in motorsport

• Branding to appear on cars, caps and race suits

• Shepherd Compello to support applicants adventure in to motorsport

Formula Woman, the all-female televised motorsport competition has gained the support of motorsport insurance specialist Shepherd Compello.

As the motorsport event industry opens up after a year of lockdowns, Formula Woman is breathing life back into the motorsport arena and relaunching their competition from 16 years ago.

Shepherd Compello has recognised the importance of supporting diversity in motorsport and sees Formula Woman as a great opportunity to help women on their adventure through the competition and beyond.

With applications open until September, Formula Woman is a unique opportunity to experience motorsport from assessments through to training and then the ultimate prize - a season driving the McLaren 570S GT4 in the 2022 GT Cup championship.

Holly Shepherd, Managing Director of Shepherd Compello commented: “The Formula Woman competition is the perfect fit for Shepherd Compello as it combines our motorsport insurance expertise with our commitment to promoting diversity in all industries. Shepherd Compello is a proud signatory of the Women in Finance Charter and an award-winning firm for our work in diversity and inclusion in the insurance sector. We are delighted to have the opportunity to promote women’s involvement in motorsport through this new partnership with Formula Woman.”

Graeme Glew, Founder of Formula woman commented: “One of the essential partners in a motorsport project is insurance and with the Formula Woman comeback and our association with McLaren Customer Racing and GT Cup Shepherd Compello was on our preferred partner wish list right from the start. We are certainly looking forward to working with Shepherd Compello and their team and they will be supporting us at all the forthcoming assessments starting in September.”

Formula Woman online tutorial is now live!

The Formula Woman online tutorial has gone live today which is available to all our applicants via this website.

Clicking on the online tutorial button will then take you to the Formula Woman portal and should take at least an hour to complete. Applicants can then access this multiple times with their login details.

This is to prepare our applicants for the assessment days which commence on the 19th September with the application process closing two days prior.

The first assessment will take place at Anglesey Circuit with more to be announced in due course. But we can say that Knockhill Racing Circuit will host one in November.

We can also reveal that some of the tasks at these assessment days will be a short test based on the tutorial.

All of this was brilliantly set-up by InGear Media who are a digital marketing agency and work with I Zone simulators at Silverstone.

You will see this simulator on the online tutorial as Formula Woman resident applicant Nikki Dean visited InGear Media to film for it.

So huge thanks to Nikki and InGear Media for their work on this online tutorial as the next stage of Formula Woman now commences!

However, if you are yet to apply then don’t worry, because there is still plenty of time to do so….just click ‘apply now’.

Formula Woman at Supercar Fest the Runway

Supercar Fest the Runway took place at Sywell Aerodrome on May bank holiday weekend, in what was the first event Formula Woman have been able to attend since lockdown.

Several Formula Woman applicants were able to get close to Paddock Racing’s McLaren 570S GT4 race car, as well as meet some of the Formula Woman team in what turned out to be a great networking day.

“It was amazing to get out and about in the sunshine,” said Formula Woman CEO Graeme Glew, as temperatures reached 25°c.

“To meet some of the new Formula Woman applicants was terrific, as well as launching the new merchandise range too which was a success!”

At the event, applicants were able to buy Formula Woman merchandise at a discounted rate with a teddy bear, mug, water bottle, city bag, t-shirt, and face mask all on offer.

From next week, the merchandise will be live on this website and is already available on the f1.co.uk online store.

If you would like to see more of Supercar Fest, then Resident Applicant Nikki Dean vlogged her day while discovering more about her fellow applicants.

There will be many more events to look forward to in the near future with hospitality at the British Grand Prix, track days, and I Zone simulator days.

Meanwhile, the Formula Woman online tutorial will be launched next week on the 10th June for all those who have applied for the competition.

Formula Woman to attend SupercarFest Runway and the British Grand Prix

Formula Woman will attend SupercarFest Runway where applicants have been invited to get close up to one of Paddock Racing’s McLaren GT4 race cars.

This will take place at Sywell Aerodrome next bank holiday weekend on the 30th May before the British Grand Prix on the 16 – 18 July.

Formula Woman have taken a hospitality suite at Brooklands for Friday practice, which overlooks one of the best viewing points at Silverstone and is exclusive for Formula Woman competitors and sponsors.

However, the Friday will also feature a qualifying session for the new sprint race format that has been introduced to three Formula One weekends in 2021.

Applications for Formula Woman continue to pour in from across the globe with women from Tasmania, Canada, USA, Brazil and India, to name a few, applying for the competition.

The application process is open until 17th September and the online tutorial is expected to go live very soon for all the applicants.  

Formula Woman is open to women of any age from all walks of life and if you would like to take part in this opportunity of a lifetime, then apply via this website!

International Applicants join the race for Formula Woman

• Applications from around the world join Formula Woman.

• Formula Woman sparks interest from USA, India, Europe and beyond.

• Assessments to commence in September 2021.

• Winners to compete in the 2022 GT Cup in two McLaren 570s GT4 race cars.

Applications to Formula Woman is attracting interest from around the world with international applications racing in, as the competition seeks to find the next star female racing drivers.

The highly successful competition from 2004 is back with a bang, with applications from women looking to take the opportunity of a lifetime and become a Formula Woman.

Applications to join the competition are open until September with online tutorials beginning in May, enabling applicants to join from wherever they are in the world.

Applicants who join the Formula Woman community get the chance to experience a host of women only activities throughout their adventure, from track days and ice-driving, to simulator experiences and visits to motorsport events.

The successful applicants who get through to the finals will have the most superb opportunity to race a McLaren 570s GT4 in the 2022 GT Cup.

The Formula Woman competition will also be broadcast on television as the applicants are followed on their adventure, with the format being finalised very shortly.

A new initiative launched by Formula Woman to help applicants, is personal sponsorship, enabling applicants who need a little help with their one-off £99 access fee or for any other purchases such as merchandising and track days to bring on board their own personal sponsor to join them on their adventure. Their personal sponsors will have a presence on their car, helmet or overalls.

Formula Woman is all about creating opportunities for women who wish to get involved in motorsport. One of those is to create some social media buzz about their involvement in the competition and gain coverage in their area from local media.

Applications are now open via this website.

Formula Woman Applications are now open!

It has been a busy week at Formula Woman following the major announcement last Monday regarding McLaren Customer Racing.

Two GT4 race cars will be made available to the six winners of Formula Woman, who will then compete in the 2022 UK GT Cup Championship

Today, as the competition develops further with the opening of the application process, you can now officially enter.

What is the application process?

Up to this point, it has been a case of individuals registering their interest via the Formula Woman website.

This was done to provide an indication to us as to what appetite there would be for the new initiative.

From noon on Friday 12th March, the expression of interest section on this website will be replaced with the application process.

However, if you didn’t register your interest before today, you can still apply for Formula Woman.

So from today, this is where you can now confirm your intent to start the Formula Woman journey with the online tutorial and assessment commencing in April, which every applicant will be invited to take part in.

So, when it comes to your application, you must first answer a series of questions before a one-off payment of £99.

Please note this is the only fee you will be required to pay, other than your own travel expenses to and from the allocated assessment centres.

However, with this £99 comes a Formula Woman welcome pack containing a branded and numbered access card, which you should always use to gain access at your assessment and any events you participate in.

Then you will be invited to take part in the on-track, televised assessments in September at selected venues across Great Britain – Covid-19 restrictions allowing.

Finalists will then be selected from these on-track assessments to take part in the final ‘shoot out’ in the winter of 2021/22.

6 of those 16 will then be trained and coached between February and April 2022, ahead of a sponsored entry into the GT Cup Championship to compete against your male counterparts.

And to drive a McLaren Customer Racing GT4 race car while doing so presents a great opportunity for all Formula Woman applicants.

“To receive the support from McLaren is incredible,” Graeme Glew, CEO of Formula Woman, said.

“The prize on offer to the winners is a fantastic opportunity to compete in a very successful series with one of the most successful race car manufacturers in the world.

“The GT4 is an amazing car with huge power and will give the winners a truly memorable experience with a very real chance of winning races.”

Since its formation in 2007, the GT Cup Championship has only grown in stature while visiting the major UK circuits during a season.

Danny Buxton, Head of McLaren Customer Racing, Motorsport said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to support the Formula Woman initiative with our McLaren GT4 products in the 2022 GT Cup Championship.

“This championship is an established part of the UK motorsport scene and continues to grow in stature and popularity and we wish the Formula Woman programme all the very best for the season ahead.”

McLaren Customer Racing to provide GT4 Race Cars for Formula Woman Winners

• McLaren Customer Racing to provide two GT4 race cars for the Formula Woman winners.

• Winners to receive entry into the seven round 2022 GT Cup Championship.

• 16 finalists will compete for the ultimate prize.

Formula Woman is delighted to announce that McLaren Customer Racing has agreed to support the competition and will provide two GT4 race cars to the winners of the Formula Woman, a televised championship to find the next female motor racing champion.

After a series of online assessments, the successful applicants will then proceed to the next round of on track assessments which will culminate to the finals at the end of February 2022.

The winners will then be awarded their prize of a drive in two McLaren GT4 race cars in the UK GT Cup championship during 2022.

The winners will undergo full training and coaching during the months of March and April prior to taking to the grid in the 3.8 litre twin turbo V8 race car.

Graeme Glew CEO of Formula Woman commented:

“To receive the support from McLaren is incredible. The prize on offer to the winners is a fantastic opportunity to compete in a very successful series with one of the most successful race car manufacturers in the world.”

“The GT4 is an amazing car with huge power and will give the winners a truly memorable experience with a very real chance of winning races.”

Danny Buxton, Head of McLaren Customer Racing, Motorsport commented:

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to support the Formula Woman initiative with our McLaren GT4 products in the 2022 GT Cup Championship. This Championship is an established part of the UK motorsport scene and continues to grow in stature and popularity and we wish the Formula Woman programme all the very best for the season ahead.”

The Formula Woman competition is now open and accepting expressions of interest. Applications will open very shortly as the competition gets underway.

The on-track assessments will be broadcast on television in the UK and across the globe, giving huge exposure to everyone involved and focusing on the development of the 16 finalists.

Graeme Glew continued:

“We have had an amazing response so far but obviously we have to be aware of the current situation the world is in. The timescales will remain fluid as the country battles the pandemic. By starting the competition at the end of 2021, we will be in with a real chance of getting it underway.”

The competition has received the full support of the 2004 winner Natasha Firman

“I would encourage you to register and take part. It was a fabulous opportunity for me and will be for you too.”

Racing driver, motoring journalist and TV presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson who was the original host in 2004 said;

“If you have ever had the urge to test your skills on track, then Formula Woman is for you. I urge you to register now!”

Q&A with Formula Woman founder Graeme Glew

Just 8 weeks after our re-launch, the interest in Formula Woman has been very encouraging.

We are now up to 1000 registrations and have attracted global interest from countries like Brazil, Spain, the United States of America, and Poland, just to name a few.

So inevitably, Formula Woman has been subject to vast coverage from the external media.

Graeme Glew, FW founder, has appeared on MotorsportDaysLive and Motorsport.Radio, while many of the written press have covered a story on our re-launch.

But with so many things going on in the world, we decided to speak to Graeme and provide an update on Formula Woman and what will be happening in the near future.

Why is Formula Woman making a return?

Because the world is now ready for Formula Woman, judging from the registrations so far women around the world have an appetite for this. The response has been even better than we anticipated.

When will we know about the car manufacturer?

All I can say right now is that we have a major announcement coming soon - a very exciting one!

What has the response to Formula Woman been like so far?

Apart from healthy registration interest, we have been asked if there are opportunities in motorsport for positions other than driving and the answer to that one is yes. Our plan is once you become a Formula Woman, the world of motorsport will open up to you.

What are your goals for Formula Woman?

The main goal is to create an opportunity for women who could only dream of becoming a racing driver to actually enter the competition and have a go!

Are any of the former Formula Woman racers involved in the relaunch?

Yes! There are a few who want to offer their services as instructors, and our 2004 champion Natasha Firman is now a Formula Woman ambassador.

Can transgender people apply for Formula Woman?

Yes, of course! In the original Formula Woman Championship we had a transgender racer in the final 16.

How is this different to the W Series?

It is very different. The W Series is for women who have already competed and wish to continue their careers in single seater motorsport. Formula Woman is the women with little, or no, experience in motorsport. The objective is that the winners will compete against the men - watch this space!

By Edward Hardy

Formula Woman is Back!

SO YOU WANT TO BE A RACING DRIVER?
ANY WOMAN CAN DO THIS. FORMULA WOMAN IS BACK!

• Formula Woman was a highly successful all-female competition which first ran in 2004.

• There were 10,000 applications from women of all different backgrounds.

• Little or no experience, anyone can enter as long as you are a woman.

• Entrants must be over 17 years old and have a full driving licence.

• Expressions of interest are now open to any woman who thinks they could be a racing driver.

Formula Woman is back after 16 years to search for the next female motorsport champion. This highly successful competition sets out to introduce more women from everyday lives and backgrounds into motorsport competition.

The all-new Formula Woman is now open and expressions of interest are being invited to the new televised competition which will commence in the autumn of 2021.

Formula Woman is the brainchild of Graeme Glew to encourage women who have never considered being involved in motorsport to give it a go. He now feels the moment is absolutely right to relaunch the competition and help more women get on track.

Graeme commented: “I have been involved in motorsport for many years and when I launched Formula Woman back in 2004 we had no idea of the success it would be.

“The idea was to attract the interest of women who would not have explored getting into motorsport from the usual channels. We wanted to give them an experience, something they would thoroughly enjoy and also learn from.

“We were inundated with applicants, 10,000 of them, and this was before the days of social media.

“We had a very diverse group of women, from solicitors, policemen, shop assistants, hairdressers, firefighters, to a British Airways pilot and a pole dancer. We even had an opera singer and a 68-year-old grandmother! It was great to see such a wide-ranging group of people apply.

“Formula Woman was unusual, but it captured people’s imagination and offered something different. We also gained support from major car manufacturers and big brand sponsors as well as prime time ITV coverage.

“Here we are 16 years on and with the launch of other all-female initiatives to help women enjoy and participate in sport, I felt this was the right time to bring the competition back and create the next step on the ladder to find the next female racing drivers.

“Any woman can do this no matter who you are or where you come from. The interest so far has been fantastic. We have received expressions of interest from all age groups, cultures and jobs from around the world. I would encourage any women wishing to apply can go to our website and register online.”

In 2004, 3,500 women were assessed at race tracks across the UK and 100 finalists then took part in a three-day shoot out with the top 16 racers going on to compete in the first Formula Woman Championship.

Natasha Firman, the 2004 Champion, commented: “I won the very first championship and am delighted to hear the competition is back. We raced on some of the best national circuits, the competition was really close and went right down to the wire. So if you have the passion and interest I would encourage you to register and take part. It was a fabulous opportunity for me back in 2004.”

Graeme continued: “We will provide all the necessary equipment as well as providing hospitality opportunities at many motorsport events, from track days to ice driving in Sweden. The winners of Formula Woman will receive a sponsored race season in 2022.”

To register for Formula Woman 2021 and take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you must be over 17 years old and hold a full driving licence. You must have had little or no racing experience and of course be a woman! To register, click here and answer one simple question: Why do you want to be a Formula Woman?

Successful applicants will then be contacted in the New Year and invited to take part in an assessment process with the winners getting a fabulous opportunity to race in something rather special in 2022.