Opportunity for women in motor racing, says F1 Academy boss Susie Wolff

SINGAPORE – When she was in secondary school, much of Abbi Pulling’s spare time was spent working on PowerPoint slides for potential sponsors in order to keep her racing dreams alive.

The British driver taught herself graphic design and sent countless e-mails, and while her efforts were often futile – she would get about one reply for every 150 to 200 e-mails – she was determined to keep going.

She knows well the heartbreak of having a racing campaign end prematurely due to funding issues, but things are looking up these days for Pulling. The 21-year-old is currently top of the F1 Academy drivers’ standings with six wins this season.

She said: “I had to do it and kind of outreach to these companies because I knew if I wasn’t making the most out of my time, I would potentially have to stop because of the financial restraints.

“I’ve come close to it a few times, but I count my lucky stars every day that I’ve managed to keep going.”

Pulling and 15 other female drivers are competing at the Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix this weekend, when the F1 Academy makes its debut as one of the support races at the Marina Bay circuit.

Launched in 2023, the female-only, junior-level single-seater racing championship is aimed at developing young drivers and helping them progress through the pyramid, including Formula 3, F2 and then F1.

Before the F1 Academy was established, there was the W Series, which lasted three seasons before it fell into administration in 2023.

Unlike the W Series, the F1 Academy is founded by Formula One and has the financial, broadcast and commercial support of its machinery.

Pulling believes it has already made an impact in motor racing.

“It’s kept my career going, but it’s also inspiring the next generation,” said the Briton, who previously raced in the W Series and now competes for Rodin Motorsport, who are backed by F1 team Alpine.

“They can see that we’re putting the car on the limit and we’re trying to extract everything out of it, and hopefully, it’s inspiring them to strive to do the same.”

The F1 Academy is “set up on a very solid foundation” owing to backing from F1, the pinnacle of the sport, said its managing director Susie Wolff.

Just two years ago, the former professional driver considered leaving the motor sports industry after stepping down as Formula E team Venturi Racing’s chief executive, but an opportunity to lead the F1 Academy put those plans on hold.

The Scot is all too familiar with the challenges of being a racing driver – she was the first woman to take part in an F1 race weekend in 22 years during practice with Williams at the 2014 British Grand Prix. Wolff, who is married to Mercedes’ team principal Toto, was drawn to the role as she felt she could make an impact.

She feels the competition has made its mark in just 1½ years, describing seeing 10 F1 liveries on the cars in Jeddah, the first race of the 2024 F1 Academy season, as “the proudest moment”. The championship is also set to have its own Netflix series in 2025.

Pulling believes that it is just a matter of time before a female driver breaks into the male-dominated circuit to secure a spot on the F1 grid.

But Wolff stressed that the goal of the series is more than just about getting a driver to the sport’s pinnacle.

She said: “It’s a long-term project, we know it’s going to take time. It’s really about changing the preconceptions that this sport is male-dominated, that there is an opportunity for women, because there absolutely is.”

While there has been support from many in the paddock, Wolff admitted that it has not been easy, adding: “We know that not every little girl wants to become a racing driver or an engineer, but we can empower them to think sometimes outside the box, to believe that there are opportunities.

“I do think we are having an impact, and that’s the most important thing... it can all be very exciting.”