More Than Equal, an independent global motorsport initiative revolving around female participation in motorsport, has launched its first-ever female driver development program.
The application window will be open from January 4 until January 31, 2024, and submissions can be made via the More Than Equal website throughout that period.
Any applications will be reviewed via a set of criteria including performance, driving history, age and development stage, with a shortlisted group of candidates to then proceed onto an interview stage with the program’s driver coaches.
The program will be run in partnership with Hinsta Performance, an elite athlete coaching organisation responsible for catapulting several Formula 1 drivers to success.
Incredibly, 96% of all F1 races over the past 11 seasons have been won by a driver supported by Hinsta.
In addition to a public call for applications, More Than Equal will conduct a data-driven talent search led by former Ferrari Race Engineer Rob Smedley’s eponymous data and technology firm, Smedley Group.
More Than Equal’s decision to launch a driver development program for aspiring female drivers is an important step in encouraging female participation in motorsport.
A commitment to offering opportunities to female drivers at grassroots levels will in turn encourage a wider talent pool to progress careers up the motorsport ladder.
F1 Academy, an all-female championship, was set up at the end of 2022 to develop young female drivers and all seven rounds in 2024 will feature on F1’s support bill.
It was also announced last year that this season’s championship will be supported by all 10 F1 teams, each fielding one driver sporting their team’s respective colours.
However, there has never been a female World Champion in the entire history of the F1 World Championship – something that More Than Equal is planning to change.
“No woman has raced competitively in Formula 1 in close to 50 years, and very few women are racing at the elite level of any motorsport series currently,” said CEO at More Than Equal, Ali Donnelly.
“In order to enact lasting structural change, we need to do things differently.
“For us, that means investing in and developing female drivers early in their careers, and we are thrilled to be taking the first steps towards that by launching our female-dedicated programme in 2024.”
Head of Driver Development at More than Equal, Tom Stanton added: “Our programme is designed to support and enhance the development of female drivers in three key areas: as a driver, as an athlete and as a person.
“I’m excited to be working with Smedley Group and Hintsa Performance to maximise the potential of talented drivers, making them the winners of the future.”
More Than Equal was founded by 13-time F1 grand prix winner David Coulthard and businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Karel Komarek.
The initiative’s philosophy is to improve female participation in motorsport and ultimately produce winners at an elite level, surmising that “every girl deserves an equal opportunity to achieve her dreams: whether that is running a global company, leading a country, or dominating in elite motorsport.
“That is why More than Equal exists.”
Aside from F1 Academy, female participation in motorsport took the spotlight when the widely celebrated Iron Dames team became the first all-female crew to win a race in the FIA World Endurance Championship, taking top honours in the GTEAm class category in the season-ending Eight Hours of Bahrain, courtesy of the efforts of Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting, Rahel Frey.
More Than Equal’s driver development program will hope to ensure many more names join the likes of Bovy, Gatting and Frey to dominate motorsport headlines in the future.
