Following the successful Girls on Track - Dare To be Different activations at the Mexico City and Berlin E-Prix’ earlier this year, the FIA Girls on Track event is now heading to Saudi Arabia for an activation around the Diriyah E-Prix on the 21st and 22nd November 2019.

The first two Girls on Track E-Prix events saw hundreds of young girls take part in engaging and educational activities aimed at demonstrating that there is a place for girls and women in motor sport, both on and off the track.

In June 2018, Saudi Arabia’s ban on women being allowed to drive was lifted in a historic move that has seen tens of thousands of driving licenses issued to women in Saudi. The event in Diriyah, the UNESCO heritage site, will be part of the 2019/2020 season opener and offers a unique opportunity to inspire and encourage girls between the ages of 8 and 18 years as well as to educate the general public on gender equality in motor sport.

Aseel Al Hamad, board member of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) and representative of Saudi Arabia on the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission said: “We are delighted to be hosting the FIA Girls on Track initiative in Diriyah and hope that we will inspire, empower and equip girls in Saudi Arabia with both the skills and the mindset to consider a future in motor sport.”

The event will see girls participate in a number of innovative activities that includes media training where participants will learn from motor sport journalists on how to report from a race meeting. The activation will teach them how to prepare a news story and present a piece to camera all the while boosting their confidence. A technical workshop will develop Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths skills (STEM) whist having fun in the context of motor sport. Participants will be encouraged to be creative, to work as a team and be introduced to the STEM career opportunities in the industry. An educational challenge aimed at informing girls of the effects of climate change and demonstrating what they can do to have an impact on the environment will also be on site. Split into three separate activities that are both fun and educational, the aim is to develop practices that they can adopt to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.

A doctor will be on hand in a health workshop to teach participants the basics of first aid. Encouraged to act with confidence in a stressful situation and shown how to practice CPR on mannequins these essential skills may one day enable them to make a difference in a critical situation. A simulator activity will guide participants through essential driving practices alongside an instructor. They will be explained where to brake, how to steer through curves and when to accelerate in two timed laps that will see them focus on getting the fastest time. Girls will also experience first-hand what it is to be a racer. After one practice lap, the girls will get out on the track for two timed laps – this unique experience that is both thrilling and competitive is a unique opportunity to kick-start a karting career.

“As we look to further promoting the development of women in motor sport, the FIA Girls on Track activations showcase the opportunities available to girls and women around the world. Hosting this event in Saudi Arabia alongside the high-profile Diriyah E-Prix is a big step towards promoting gender equality in our industry and one we hope will be adopted by ASNs in the region,” said Michèle Mouton, President of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission.

The FIA Girls on Track programme was launched at the 2019 Mexico City E-Prix in February 2019. It aims to make a tangible contribution to FIA’s goal of gender equality and increased participation in motor sport.

The FIA Girls on Track activities will take place in the area surrounding the Diriyah E-Prix track at Ad Diriyah For more information and to register participation of girls between the ages of 8-18 click here.