How the Silverstone Museum inspires women in motorsport
Motorsport has long had a reputation as a man’s game, but at the Silverstone Museum’s annual #GirlsWill events, that stereotype is quickly fading. Now in its third year, the event transforms the Silverstone Museum into a hub of activity during the month of October, hosting talks, panels, and activities designed to dismantle barriers and inspire girls of all ages to pursue a future in motorsport.
Overlooking turns six to eight, the Silverstone Museum provided the perfect setting to inspire a new generation eager to make their mark on the track and beyond. This year, the #GirlsWill campaign attracted young motorsport enthusiasts of all ages through interactive events, including a Q&A with Sekhmet Racing and STEM sessions led by Caitlyn Wood.
This year’s involvement of major industry players like Aston Martin and McLaren F1 underscores the impact of #GirlsWill and the Girls On Track UK initiative. Under the guidance of Motorsport UK, these programs have made remarkable strides over recent years, proving that motorsport is becoming a more inclusive space for future generations.
On the penultimate day of #GirlsWill, Channel 4 presenter Lee McKenzie joined as a guest to share her experiences as an F1 broadcaster, offering an insider’s perspective on life in the paddock. McKenzie’s talk was followed by a panel discussion on inclusion and diversity in the industry, featuring representatives from Motorsport UK, Girls On Track, and Race For Diversity, sparking meaningful discussions about opportunities in the field.
The campaign truly fulfills its mission, as the young women who left the Silverstone Museum did so with a renewed sense of belonging in motorsport, bolstered by the industry’s commitment to creating pathways and opening doors for them.
Inside F1 with Lee McKenzie
Lee McKenzie drew the biggest crowd of the week. With her undeniable Scottish charm, she captivated attendees with a candid discussion about her unique introduction to the world of Formula One, sharing insights from her remarkable career in sports.
Lee McKenzie got an early insight into the riveting world of motorsport most people only dream of. As she reveals in her recent book, Inside F1, Lee’s father—a journalist—unexpectedly filled in for a colleague at a Grand Prix. Unknown and addictive, motorsport drew the McKenzies in and from that moment, became a family affair. A young, curious, McKenzie found herself pulled into the vibrant paddock world, where she soon became affectionately known as “the annoying child.”
Years later, McKenzie worked her way to her first official F1 broadcast in 2008, covering none other than the unforgettable Brazilian Grand Prix—a season finale that remains legendary to this day.
Watch Lee Mackenzie’s full interview
Welcoming girls in a male-dominated industry
Motorsport UK, the governing body for four-wheel motorsport in the United Kingdom, has invested more in diversity initiatives over the last six years. Working with projects such as Girls on Track UK and Race for Diversity, they create a community of girls and women looking forward to finding their spaces in this male-dominated industry.
The Motorsport UK Inclusion Panel highlighted how the projects are working together and are already seeing an effect in the paddock, with more female professionals working in different areas. However, Jessica Runicles, head of sustainability in Motorsport UK, shared that the demographics are still far from the goals set.
“Only 5% of our licence holders are female, about 98% of our licence holders are white, and we ultimately want to change those demographics, so they’re more reflective of the UK”.
They hope to reach “50% women and 17% in terms of racial diversity”.
“We know that motorsport isn’t for everyone and that’s absolutely fine, but days like this, where we’ve got audiences of women, shows that it’s more than 5% that are interested, so how do we translate that into people involved in the sport?” says Runicles.
The Race for Diversity project was relaunched this October. The project aims to increase the participation of Black, Asian, minority ethnic groups, and economically disadvantaged backgrounds groups by organising school activations and inspiring talks.
The manager for Race for Diversity, Evelkah Powell, talked about how role models are essential, and she pointed out the importance of women bringing other women to the motorsport world.
“The desire to have women in spaces has increased. When I now look at the industry, I can at least spot one or two women in the space wanting to challenge the narrative, wanting to make a change, and actually bring another woman behind them. So I think that’s very inspirational”.
The Girls on Track UK, initially founded by Susie Wolff, brings motorsports to young girls across the country. The community created within this project promotes events, work experiences, and initiatives to put young girls in contact with the industry.
When asked about the expectations for the future, Jenny Fletcher, Girls on Track UK’s Programme Manager, hopes that projects like Girls on Track will be less needed.
“I hope there’s less need for the conversations because it is seen as more of the norm. We’re not in a room full of men with maybe a handful of women, it’s going to take a very long time to get 50/50, if we even get there, because of the history and stereotypes, it is, I’m hoping, going to be a change that’s made because It’s going to be knocked on effect. The more women we can inspire now, to get into the industry, will then be increasing the number on the bottom of the pyramid that will then have a knock-on effect for the next generation.”
Watch the full interview
