The leading motor sport bodies, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) recently held a joint FIA and FIM Women in Motorsports Conference at the Royal Automobile Club in London on 12th December 2022. The Conference was intended to bring together key individuals working towards developing greater gender diversity in motor sports across various opportunities such as volunteering, engineering, team management, medical and safety personnel, and athlete welfare. The event was live streamed via the FIA and FIM Facebook pages.
Motor sports aim to be sans gender disparity, allowing women and men to compete on equal terms, with the backing of the two federations, FIA and FIM. Often, the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission and FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission have collaborated to advance gender equality and help women on track and off track.
Deborah Mayer and Nita Korhonen
FIA Women in Motorsport Commission President, Deborah Mayer, said: “I am extremely pleased with this conference which will highlight the role and opportunities for women in motor sports, both on and off the track. By working closely with the FIM, and other international sporting federations in the future, we aim to raise awareness and inspire vocations on a wider scale.”
FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission Director, Nita Korhonen, said “This conference is a great symbol of the two governing bodies of motor sport joining forces and doing their utmost to achieve a more gender-diverse and equal world. Together we want to make sure that anyone who wants to join the motorcycling and motor sport family is welcome to do so.”
FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said: “Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lies at the heart of the FIA manifesto under my leadership. The FIA Women In Motorsport Commission is leading the way in our mission to create greater opportunities for women in all facets of motor sport.”
FIM President, Jorge Viegas, said: “At FIM we strive to make the world of motorcycling welcoming and accessible to everyone. Our Women’s commission is committed to improving gender diversity within our sport, but much more is still to be done. There is a vast array of opportunities out there for the future leaders of motor sport, and it’s our duty to promote them! I am tremendously grateful to all the parties that made this event possible.”
Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club, said: “As a founder-member of the FIA, it is a pleasure to host the FIA and FIM Women in Motorsports Conference at our London clubhouse. With 125 years of history, the Club’s distinguished history mirrors that of motoring and motor sport itself – it founded the Auto-Cycle Union in 1903, which organised the inaugural Isle of Man TT in 1907. Today, the Club continues to develop and support automobilism, whether with two, three or four wheels, through an active array of events, activities and awards. We very much look forward to welcoming everyone in December.”
