The British Women’s Racing Drivers Club has launched a new programme to encourage more women to try motorsport for the first time. The BWRDC was founded in 1962 with the ambition of addressing the gender gap in motorsport. Since then, the BWRDC has supported women from karting all the way through to single seater competitions.
This year, the BWRDC has launched ‘Into Speed,’ to encourage more women to try motorsport for the first time.
“Two years ago we were working flat out on projects for our 60th anniversary,” says Helen Allen, Chair of the BWRDC. “Since then we have been thinking and gradually working on this project to get more women into motorsport.”
“It was actually my Vice-Chair, Caroline Ryder, who came up with the idea of Into Speed. We knew that there were a lot of women around the paddock who want to have a go. And that’s where the idea of Into Speed was born.”
What is Hill Climbing?
Into Speed hopes to encourage more women to try motorsport for the first time by introducing them to Hill Climbing. Hill Climbing is a time trial competition where drivers race up a designated route often located on twisting, turning country roads.
It’s a race against the clock, and with no more than 1 car on track at a time. It’s perfect for first timers who aren’t yet ready to race wheel to wheel with other drivers.
Caroline Ryder, the Vice-Chair of BWRDC, collaborated with Motorsport UK to make the initiative possible. Her history in motorsport dates back to 1986, when she won the National Leaders Sprint Championship. She still races, and currently competes in the British Hill climbing championship with her son.
“I’ve been in and around paddocks up and down the country pretty much my entire life,” says Caroline. “Having been involved all this time, I’ve driven in lots of different cars and categories. Hill climbing is a brilliant place for women to try out racing for the first time.”
How does Into Speed work?
Into Speed drivers will complete a set of training days with the BWRDC, where they will learn from experienced hill-climbers and fine tune their skills. They will then be required to apply for a Competition License, which costs £78, before entering into a Hill Climbing competition with the BWRDC.
These events will take place throughout the summer, starting with Shelsley Walsh in May, Prescott in early June, and ending with Harewood Hill on August 3rd.
The BWRDC hopes that Into Speed will provide a welcoming route that will guide participants from their inaugural track sessions all the way to their first Hill climbing event. Caroline is adamant that the drivers should focus on their own performance rather than worrying about the times of others.
“It doesn’t matter what time you start with; the competition is to beat your own time!” Caroline says. “Of course it would be great to win the competition, but it’s not about that. If you leave the day with a personal best, especially in the early days, that’s great! That’s what spurs you on.”
Like Caroline, Helen Allen believes Hill Climbing is the perfect discipline for first timers.
“Hill Climbing is one of the easiest and least expensive disciplines to get involved in,” she says. “You can go as quickly or as slowly as your confidence allows.”
Helen worked as a part of her husband’s pit crew, before deciding that she wanted to get behind the wheel. She bought her own Ford Fiesta XR2i in 1996, and ever since she’s raced as a hobby.
“In the time I’ve worked for the BWRDC I’ve seen a massive change in women in motorsport,” she says. “Women are all over the sport now. Yes we’re still in the minority, but we’re getting far more coverage, and we’re getting recognised.
“We now have a generation of young women, who believe that they can do anything.”
Non-driving roles
And there’s more to Into Speed than mastering your racing skills up a narrow country road. The BWRDC has recognised that motorsport is not solely about the drivers, and many women already have crucial roles in competitions across the country. The programme offers opportunities for women to learn how to work in non-racing roles that are essential to the sport.
“I know a lot of people who have competed themselves and have now got to a point where they don’t want to compete anymore. But they still want to be involved, and want to give back to the sport, whether that’s through the likes of marshalling or time keeping.”
You can find out more about the BWRDC here.
