Formula E aims to introduce female championship drivers within three years

Formula E Chief Executive Jeff Dodds has announced an ambition to see female drivers competing at the championship level within the next two to three years. To achieve this, the all-electric racing series plans to launch a massive expansion of its existing women’s program, moving beyond the current focus on testing to create more direct opportunities for women to enter the grid.

Dodds noted that while men and women can compete equally, the current conditions for competition are not equal. The announcement comes as the series marks 50 years since a woman last competed in Formula One. Since its inception in 2014, Formula E has featured three female competitors, the most recent being Switzerland’s Simona de Silvestro in 2016.

In addition to diversity initiatives, the series is preparing for a technological shift with the introduction of the Gen4 car. This new generation of vehicles will feature a significant power increase to 816 PS (600 kW) and permanent all-wheel drive. The upcoming season will also see an expanded racing calendar consisting of 21 races across 13 cities.