Designed to identify the world's best young female competitors, the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission’s flagship programme, Girls on Track – Rising Stars,  is this week putting the last 14 girls identified as part of a global talent search through their paces across four days of intense evaluation at the world renowned Winfield Racing School as they seek a career in motor sport. 

Having been proposed by their National Sporting Authority and selected by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission’s Detection Cell, the 14 talented young drivers aged between 12 and 16 from 12 countries, gathered today at Paul Ricard for the first activities of this penultimate stage of the competition.

The juniors (born between 31.03.2008 – 31.12.2010) taking part are: Domenika Arellano (Ecuador), Lisa Billard (France), Zoe Florescu Potolea (Italy), Shriya Lohia, (India), Sara Matsui (Japan), Mathilda Paatz, (Germany), Tyra Sundberg (Sweden), Gabriela Teixeira (Portugal).

The seniors (born between 01.01.2006 – 31.03.2008) competing are: Alice Buckley (Australia), Chloe Chong (UK), Chloe Grant (UK), Macie Hitter (UK), Aurélia Nobels (Belgium), Agustina Sanchez (Uruguay).

After a welcoming ceremony, presided over by Deborah Mayer, FIA Women in Motorsport President Commission, in the presence of Maya Weug, winner of the first edition, mandatory safety equipment was distributed and personal items and seat fittings were checked to ensure optimum racing conditions for each driver in the coming days on track. The first physical and mental activities also took place, supervised by 321 Performance, the internationally renowned driver performance centre. The programme targets the driver as a whole in regard to mental, physical and nutritive development, and the girls will be afforded an exceptional insight into the importance of physiological welfare in the sport.

The fourteen drivers are now taking part in the  shoot-out,  Karting and Formula Training Camps supervised by the FIA and its partners: FDA, Iron Dames, Winfield Racing School, Circuit Paul Ricard, 321 performance, Pirelli, OMP, Kart Republic. From tomorrow the first sessions on the go-kart track start for the girls under the watchful eye of six jury members – including Rahel Frey, Iron Dames driver and 2022 24 Hours of Spa Winner, Cathy Muller, former French racer and Manager of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission’s Detection Cell, Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA), Winfield Racing School and 3,2,1 Performance representatives.

At the end of this demanding week, only four junior and four senior drivers will have the opportunity to attend finale at the famous headquarters of the Ferrari Driver Academy in Maranello, Italy. 

The winning Junior driver will potentially be awarded an international karting season with the financial support of the Ferrari Driver Academy. Meanwhile, the selected Senior driver will potentially becomethe third female driver to have the chance to join the Ferrari Driver Academy to develop a professional career in the sport and compete in Formula 4 with the FIA Girls on Track main partner, the Iron Dames project.

Deborah Mayer, FIA Women in Motorsport Commission President, said: "It is my great pleasure to welcome you all for this 3rd edition of FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars. You come from all over the world, young, talented, passionate about motor sport  and dreaming of a professional career. Your dream is dear to my heart and defines my commitment and that of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission: to promote and help women to thrive and succeed in motorsport. FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars is designed to offer you the best conditions to develop your talent and to guide the best among you towards a professional racing career. Today is the starting point of a long journey. The first step is always the most difficult but when it’s done your in and everything becomes possible. I wish you all the best."

Photo Gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fia-official/albums/72177720301384068

FIA Girls on Track - Rising Stars news, information and videos of the action can be found on the FIA Women in Motorsport social media platforms.

Note to media: Media are invited on site throughout the selection (detailed programme on request). Contact and registration: cmorard@fia.com (+33 675 947 859).