Formula E CEO Predicts Women Drivers to Race Soon

Mexico City, Mexico — Formula E Chief Executive Officer Jeff Dodds has announced that he expects to see a female driver compete in the electric racing championship within the next two years. This prediction comes as the series strives to enhance opportunities for women in motorsport.

The inaugural Formula E race in 2014 featured two female drivers: Katherine Legge and Michela Cerruti. Legge made history as the first woman to score points in the series during Season 2, but opportunities for women have remained limited.

Dodds emphasized the organization’s commitment to gender equality in racing during a recent interview. “So, a year on from the last test, we halved the timing gap between championship male drivers and female test drivers,” Dodds stated. “My instinct is, if you ask me to bet, I would say within the next two years you’ll see a woman driving in the world championship.”

A significant step was made with the first all-women test session in 2024 at Madrid’s Circuito del Jarama, which was followed by a second session at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit at the end of October. Fourteen female drivers participated, with Chloe Chambers achieving the fastest lap of the day.

Dodds noted the importance of continued opportunities for female drivers. “What we have to do is continually provide them opportunities to get in the car and test the car,” he explained. “We have to remove some of the barriers.”

In collaboration with companies like Google Cloud, Formula E is utilizing AI technology to help female drivers enhance their skills and accelerate their learning.

The future looks promising as the series transitions to its new Gen4 cars expected in Season 13, which aim to level the playing field for all participants. Dodds highlighted that these new vehicles come with design features aimed at inclusivity.

As plans unfold, Formula E stands firm in its commitment to supporting female talent and proving that men and women can race competitively together.