In collaboration with the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, the FIA hosted five outstanding female sim racers from different corners of the globe who had qualified through an online Time Attack / hotlapping competition on iRacing. The invitation to Bahrain was both a reward for their exceptional performances and an opportunity to experience the world of endurance racing first-hand.

The participants were invited to test their skills on-site on Le Mans Ultimate, the official video game of the World Endurance Championship. The immersive programme also offered behind-the-scenes access to the FIA’s operations during a live race weekend, including visits to Race Control and Scrutineering, as well as guided tours of the Ferrari AF Corse, the Iron Dames and BMW M Team WRT garages when the action was live.

The five participants included Fabienne Lanz (South Africa), a racing driver and sim racing advocate who founded the Girls Camp for Africa; Andrea Aymon (Switzerland), founder of 921 Racing and six-time GT3 Endurance champion on iRacing with over 7,400 iRating; Beverley D’Souza (an Indian-Portuguese who was born and raised in Dubai), winner of the UAE Sim Championship’s opening rounds; Holly Card (United Kingdom), a rising young sim racer with a passion for single-seaters; Brenna Schubert (USA), a competitive racer bridging virtual and real-world motor sport.

“It was an amazing weekend, and I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Getting to see the behind the scenes in Race Control and Scrutineering, aspects of motor sport I didn’t know much about it until this weekend, was cool,” said Card.

“The days were an incredible deep dive into the world of motor sport. We experienced the 8 Hours of Bahrain from every possible angle and the people we met made the weekend truly memorable,” added Aymon.

The FIA’s initiative in Bahrain showcased not only the skill and passion of these racers but also the shared goal of empowering women to get involved in motor sport, both virtually and on track.