Autosport – 22 August 2019

in detail that has happened, generally the standout moment

for me was that we had an all-female test in Formula E [in

Saudi Arabia last year], which was a great platform for a lot

of young female drivers to have a great opportunity.

We had Jamie Chadwick winning a British Formula 3 race,

which was a great step in the right direction. Obviously for

me since 2015, Dare to be Diff erent has gone from strength to

strength. Now we are joining forces with the FIA to become a

global organisation [Girls on Track]. The joining of that force,

and the fact that we’ve been able to have such an impact – it’s

moving in the right direction, but I think more important than any

of that is that it’s a topic that has been talked about a lot more.

W Series certainly has become quite a talking point. Some

are for, some are against it, but the fact that we’re all speaking

about it a lot more makes it feel like to me we’re slowly but

surely making progress.

TE Is it easier to make that change if the issue is kept

in people’s minds by various means?

SW Yes, and I think the reason that it’s in people’s minds

so much is because people do want to see change. They see

motorsport as a very standout sport that’s been very heavily

male-dominated, and I do think it brings a positivity when

there is a success for a female, whether that be on the track

or success for females off the track.

It’s also because people want to see that change happen. It’s a

change that’s coming because society, in general, is in a big wave

of a moment that wants to see more change and more equality

and more diversity, and that’s in many diff erent environments,

that’s in many diff erent sports. Motorsport is riding that wave of

positivity, and people are really expressing a wish to see change.

TE Dare to be diff erent... what diff erence do you believe it made?

SW I always said that I wish there’d been something like that when

usie Wolff is hiding in the Venturi garage from a
sweltering hot day in the Red Hook area of Brooklyn,
metres away from the famous New York City skyline,
at the ABB FIA Formula E Championship fi nale.
Following her spell as a test-and-development driver
for the Williams Formula 1 squad, Wolff took on one of the biggest
challenges of her motorsport career when she was announced as the
team principal of the Venturi squad ahead of the 2018-19 FE season.
Throughout the campaign, Wolff has had to balance getting
the most out of ex-Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa in his FE rookie
season alongside Edoardo Mortara, as well as Venturi’s early-
season reliability struggles, while also coming to grips with the
role of team principal. On top of that, she has helped steer her
Dare to be Diff erent campaign into the new broader FIA-backed
Girls on Track via an event at the Mexico City E-Prix, with the
long-term goal of encouraging girls into the wide-ranging
spectrum of motorsport employment.
Wolff guest-edited Autosport’s previous Women in Motorsport
special in 2015, so now it’s time for her to talk about the change
in attitudes in the intervening four years, her long-term goals
and her refl ections on her fi rst season in FE.

Tom Errington Has there been a change in the perception
of women in motorsport since you guest-edited our fi rst
Women in Motorsport special?
Susie Wolff I certainly feel it’s talked about a lot more, which
has to be something positive. Without remembering everything

Susie Wolff launched her Dare to be Different campaign at Autosport International

in January 2016. Now, as Venturi team principal in Formula E, she’s still

pushing the cause of women in motorsport. Is it working?

TOM ERRINGTON

(^) PHOTOGRAPHY

Has daring

made a difference?

S

“We get these girls into work experience in

teams from F1 down. We’re helping to drive

female talent in every aspect of the sport”

S^ B

LO

XH

AM

22 AUTOSPORT.COM 22 AUGUST 2019