Components One is a sport dominated by males. With advances such because the Components One Academy, we are able to hope to see additional growth for girls in motorsport. Because it at present stands, solely 5 girls have competed in a Components 1 Grand Prix.
The Historical past
Maria Teresa de Filippis
The pioneer for girls in Components One is Italian driver Maria Teresa de Filippis. She made her debut on Could 18th 1958, and was an energetic Components One driver till 1959.
Earlier than beginning her profession in Components One, the Italian racing driver tried her hand at racing in a Fiat 500 and gained. Her consequence on this race skyrocketed her confidence, particularly since her siblings had guess she’d lose. She then competed within the Italian Sportscar Championship and completed second within the 1954 season. Her potential was solely getting stronger, and her profession moved towards Components One.
She competed in a complete of 5 Components One races. She, sadly, didn’t rating any championship factors, however she made her mark on historical past.
Following the dying of Porsche staff chief Jean Behra, Maria retired from all types of motorsport on account of her devastation. She later joined the Worldwide Membership of Former F1 Grand Prix Drivers in 1979, and in 1997 she was appointed Vice-President of the membership. She was additionally a founding member and chairperson of the Maserati Membership.
Lella Lombardi
She is the primary lady to attain factors in a Components One race. Fifteen years after Maria accomplished, Lella Lombardi had her personal alternative to etch her title into historical past.
Earlier than her profession in Components One, Lombardi competed in numerous championships. She began out within the Components Monza Sequence in 1965 earlier than transferring on to Components Three in 1968. She continued her trajectory towards Components One by competing and profitable the 1970 Components 850 sequence. By 1974, the Italian driver was signed to drive Shellsport-Luxembourg in Components 5000 and completed fourth.
After signing on as a Components One driver, Lombardi participated in seventeen races and began twelve of them all through her profession. Her finest consequence got here in 1975 throughout the Spanish Grand Prix, the place she grew to become the primary lady in Components One to attain some extent.
After her Components One profession, she couldn’t cease making historical past. She grew to become the primary feminine racing driver to qualify on the Race Of Champions. She completed fourteenth within the race. She later raced in sports activities automobiles and has even pushed the long-lasting Lancia Stratos Turbo. She retired from racing in 1988 and, by 1989, based her personal racing staff, Lombardi Autosport.
Divina Galica
Her profession in motorsport began via an invite to a star auto race. She took to the game like a duck in water. Divina competed in three Components One races all through her profession.
She achieved immense success all through her time racing within the British Shellsport Worldwide Group 8 sequence in 1976, and was quickly entered for the British Grand Prix that very same 12 months. The 1976 British Grand Prix was additionally the one time two girls had been registered to race in a Components One occasion. She entered the race with the unfortunate quantity 13, and this proved to dwell as much as the title. She did not qualify for the race.
Though she didn’t discover a lot success in Components One, the British racing driver discovered her area of interest in sports activities automobiles and vehicles. Along with her success in motorsport, she was an Olympic skier.
After her racing profession, she couldn’t cease her obsession with motorsport. She grew to become a racing teacher and rose to the place of senior vp at Skip Barber Racing. And, in 2005, Galica grew to become director of IRacing.com. She continued to work as a driving teacher at Bertil Ross Racing College.
Desiré Wilson
She is the one lady to be licensed to drive in each CART Indy Vehicles and Components One Championships. She solely ever entered one Components One Championship. Nevertheless, she has a powerful profession in motorsport.
In 1972, Wilson made her full debut within the Components Vee Championship. She competed on this for 3 seasons. In 1975, Wilson gained the South African Components Ford Championship and was a title defender the next season. Following her defending title, the racing driver gained the “Driver to Europe” award.
Though she has many successes to her title, Wilson has solely ever tried to qualify for one Components One Race. Though she tried her very best, the automotive she was given for the race had been changed with the inferior mannequin she had beforehand been crushed in.
After her short-lived profession in Components One, Desiré didn’t cease racing. She competed in a number of different championships, like Le Mans and the Indy 500. She now often races on the Goodwood Revival.
Giovanna Amati
She is the final lady to ever try and qualify for Components One. She started racing professionally in 1981 when she scorched her title into historical past.
She shortly moved into Components Three between 1985 and 1986. By 1992, and with an honest monitor document behind her, Amati discovered herself in a Components One seat. Her inexperience was evident all through the South African Grand Prix. She didn’t qualify for the race. Sadly, this continued on the Mexican Grand Prix and Brazil.
Along with her Components One profession, Amati attended the Porsche Supercup in 1993 and located herself competing in any and all championships. She had an excessive love for racing.
After retiring from motorsport, Amati grew to become a sports activities commentator and even wrote articles.
Greater and Higher
Though there have been 5 earlier girls to race in Components One, we’re rising nearer to having extra girls on the Components One grid. Components One Academy, created by Susie Wolff, is a rising phenomenon in motorsport. We are able to solely hope for future success for girls in motorsport.
Do you agree?
