The female-only racing series Formula Woman, officially known as the Privilege Insurance Formula Woman Championship, started in 2004 in the UK. Open to any woman aged between 17 and 70, it was created to give women an opportunity to be trained to world-class level and to boost the female audience for a sport in which the customary role for women is to be eye candy - "brolly dollies", employed to shield drivers from the sun, or Formula Unas, glamorous women picked to hang around Formula One grids.
In addition to managing the race series and generating interest and sponsorship, Formula Woman also trains selected women in performance driving and race craft, and helps them with fitness, diet and media relations.

Link

Formula Woman has been on the go for a while now. Sadly, not all the competitors have the talent to progress further. :(

And as this is not really F1 related but more UK Motorsports, I shall move the thread into there. <thumbsup>

Having been at their first event this year (and last year, for that matter) I can honestly say I have never seen a caterham seven destroyed in such imaginative and unusual methods.

Particularly one who took evasive action to a car in the middle of the track and left BOTH right hand side wheel arches at the top of the pit wall...

Unfortunatly their second race was cut short due to a red flag - Car went into the pit wall a bit more firmly than the previous day's encounter.

Last year, they disqualified their best driver after 4 rounds because she'd had previous experience.

The year before accounted for many spectacular incidents, all of which terminal for the involved vehicles - and one of them called for BOTH ambulances to leave the circuit at Pembrey (which instantly stops any further competition due to the fact you need at least 2 ambulances on site at any one time).

The year before that, they had Mazda RX8s. a hand full of these actually survived - and produced their most famous and long lasting graduate - Natasha Firman, who's surname is a whapping great clang for F1 fans as she's the sister of Ralph. She got a seat in the works Mazda in various events (mostly Britcar) and has since disappeared.

In short, it could be a good idea if they actually picked girls who could drive, and not just look good. It is also the only racing series in the world to specify the gender of the driver, and the first UK championship to run on Bio Ethanol. It is also in debt to amoungst others, BARC and Caterham, and was taken over last year.

This is nothing against women drivers in motorsport, just this particular series. If you want to see some really good female drivers plying their trade, go and find Isla Cox (who races a 206 Gti with and against Husband Brian), The Simmonite Sister's in hillrallying and rallying... and in fact anyone other than Vicki Butler Henderson, who is daft.

<oops>

Thanks for that WW. My head wasn't screwed on properly when I posted. <doh>

As a female I HATE series such as Formula Woman - if you're going to race, go and do it with the guys.

Women complain about always wanting equality - back in the days of fighting for the right to vote, and now an example in sport is wanting equal prize money at Wimbledon.

I find it incredibly contradictory that women fight for equality and will then go and race in a series such as Formula Woman.

I've spoken to many other females to ask them why they won't / don't compete and all too often the answer is "because I'm worried about the comments I might get from a guy" - I've had very little problems, and any problems tend to be from the people you don't like, anyway.

As someone who believes in equal opportunites, and understanding that as far as I'm aware, no race series debarrs women from entering, I trust the organisers will be taken to court for sexual descrimination. After all, Working Mens Clubs were forced to admit woman due to sexual equality law.....

<hitwall>

Although being one for equal opportunites, I disagree with this one. The men play five set games, the women only three. If, like most other tournaments, the men played three sets, I'd happily agree that the winnings should be equal. However, the fact is that the men's champion could potentially, the the most extreme example, play two and a half times more sets than the women's - that's hardly equal, is it?

Oddly enough Norbert, I agree with you on this one! <thumbsup>

If you want to discuss Wimbledon, go elsewhere - tennis is not really my thing!

But your first post is spot on...

And anyway, sure I saw a review where a man raced in Formula Woman....

Silverstone October last year. Formula woman challenged male racing drivers to take on their "elite" group of female drivers.

Only one could be bothered, A novice driver convienently also a Journo from Autosport.

One bloke who hadn't driven up against 14 women who had had a season's practice... Of course he lost. The cynic amoungst me suggests that they only took on a novice driver so that result was all but gaurenteed. How they could call themselves Elite after only one season is beyond me too.

Just one thing - WHO mentioned Wimbledon FIRST?

:P <sarcasm> <roflmao>

Hmmm. Not being from the UK, I'd never heard of FW before. I thought having some sort of support and training offered for women who are wanting to break into such a male dominated sport was a great idea, but if it predominantly runs just 'women only' races, then I agree that it sort of defeats the purpose. <hitwall>

If it also produced some drivers who lasted longer than their FW season, that would also be something.

http://www.formulawoman.com/

Moving off topic totally... if you want to get started in motor racing/sprints but don't have a car but do have £17,000...

Try This!

... you can be a woman too, if you like (!)

Nooooooooooo!!! K series = kalamity!

Now that is something I can recommend. I know loads of people who have started racing via the Academy.

Kim Denning really looks after the drivers and it's a really good way to get into the sport.

don't panic Norbert, These K Series have had the Caterham magic worked upon them - Better HGs and better head bolts holding it all together.

And besides, they've run out of them, so next year's cars (on sale now) are going to be powered by Ford Sigma 1600cc engines.

I want to drive in F1 but I am discriminated against because I am not very good. As a 'not very good' F1 driver I believe I should have the right.

Still even if I was very good there is no guarantee that I would get into F1.

There will come a time for women in F1, when it is in the financial interests of the organisers.

...or when the tea and coffee need topping up....







<peek>

Erm, actually.... in seriousness. You've said 'I am not very good'. Anyone saying this about themselves will never get to F1. If you don't think you're the best, you never will be. Now go and get some self esteem and show them how it's done!!

<thumbsup> <grouphug>

Errr... Not exactly.

If you're not good enough to drive, you will get no where!
In any case, how do you know you're not very good at racing? untill you try it you'll never know, and thus never be able to make such a statement.

N.B. Karting isn't always a good reflection of a driver's ability.

Don't know much about Formula Woman, but in the States, we have the Womens National Basketball Association, WNBA. Many commentators call it the Nag League.

Nag - A small saddle horse or pony.

Nag - someone (especially a woman) who annoys people by constantly finding fault
<devil>

Ms. Flood1 just cut me off for the forseeable future. <doh>

Personally I think it's a great idea, but would like to see a new and improved version of it next year... Say topless womens racing.... Half and hour of watching that and I'd be exhausted <think>

So do the women who race here in the same Golf series as me. Sure some of them are dolly birds indulged by usually old wealthy boybfiends, and some of the guys are rich idiots indulged by their fathers.
But the successful women are good,very good.
If any thing they are more aggrssive than their male counterparts and believe me they can race.
The last thing I want to see in my view mirror is a bright pink bonnet on my tail. Then I know I have real scrap to contend with.
But sadly no matter how successful they are they have very little chance of gaining enough sponsorship to progress into other forms of racing.
There is no doubt that they are discriminated against, not by their their fellow competitors or by the organisers. But by the commercial fraternity who are very reluctant to offer them sponsorship so they essentially lose faith and drift away from the sport.
Ridiculous IMO.

It is topless. They are in caterhams after all.

However, I don't think the way you mean would be particularly safe if there was a fire. Also what about family friendly entertainment?

<roflmao> <clap> <roflmao>

Just don't ruin a beautiful idea <shutup>

Ricky, apply to be a scrutineer in charge of checking the protective clothing at FWoman events...

Ricky's motto will be - No clothing required <doh>
<roflmao>

Nah, No clothing allowed more like <roflmao>

Where do I apply??? <devil>

I see no reason for clothing if what is underneath is far more interesting...... <think>

MSA Scrutineering and Oggling department,
Motorsports House
Colnbrook
Slough
Surrey

Incidentally, in case any of you think I'm joking, there really are scrutineers who inspect the driver's clothing before they are allowed to race. although I'm pretty sure they only check the overalls and helmet.

The big question is, are the drivers wearing the clothing when they're checked?
Picture this -
Ricky very eagerly signs up.
Goes to whosoever s in charge.
Gets sent to a shed where all the clothing is kept. Here mate, check all of these .... <doh>
<roflmao>

Uh, yes they are...!

(usually)

I find it very sad that this thread has deterioated into nothing more than than sexist remarks and the concensus that women are something only to be ogled at.
If that is what you want why not decide pole position with a wet T shirt competition.

Depends on the championship. Some series you have to wear full fireproof underwear as well as overalls.

In response to that, I will point out that no where have I said I was against women competitors, and in fact I welcome them to all aspects of the sport.

But I don't think F Woman is the way to get more interest.

James Allen would have a heart attack if F1 did that <roflmao>

would he even notice, unless lewis and jenson were the contestants?