More than 30 schoolgirls were at Sydney Motorsport Park during the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships event earlier this month to take part in the latest edition of the FIA Girls on Track.
In its second event for the year, the program welcomed girls aged between 12 and 18 as they completed a range of activities to help them gain an understanding of the different elements that make up motorsport.
From pit stop and STEM challenges to time on the simulator and media workshops, there was lots of entertainment for the young participants to enjoy.
As at every Girls on Track session, there were plenty of ambassadors on hand to guide the girls through the day, including senior official Jessica Nicholson, Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series’ driver Charlotte Poynting, Red Bull Racing engineer Romy Mayer and Supercars Media Digital Content Producer, Charlie Bullis.
Triple Eight Racing Team Co-Owner Jessica Dane and 2016 RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Champion Molly Taylor also took a break from their Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships television duties to make special guest appearances during the event.
FIA Girls on Track ambassadors themselves, the duo spoke with the participants and gave them an insight into their successful careers.
For Taylor, FIA Girls on Track is an imperative program that is crucial to giving young girls a chance to experience all facets of motorsport.
“I think it’s very important to be involved in Girls on Track,” Taylor said.
“What we’re doing is really encouraging females who may not have had any exposure to motorsport to come along and get involved, see what the different roles are in the sport and providing that door opening experience.
“It can be really crucial to their future career decision for them to know motorsport can be an option.
“We have a bunch of stages showing that it’s not just about driving, there are options to be a driver of course, but there’s also mechanics and media to all the logistics in a race team. There could be something that builds their interest in the sport
“Motorsport is a fantastic industry. It’s a community of people that is really like a family. So many facets that go into motorsport. It’s an awesome community to be a part of.”
One of the participants, Zara Roberts attended Girls on Track for the first time in Sydney and thoroughly enjoyed being
“It’s probably the most fun that I have had all year,” Roberts said.
“I already knew some of the sport, but I learned that you don’t need to be a boy to have fun on tracks and that no matter what your gender or age is, there is always something you can do in motorsport.
“I’d like to be a race car driver one day. Anything that has four wheels and is really fun.”
Following the completion of the program, all 30 participants and their parents got free entry into the paddock and race track where they were able to walk around Sydney Motorsport Park and see the live action, as well as see all nine competing categories up close.
The next FIA Girls on Track events in Australia will be held in Victoria at the Port Melbourne Go-Kart Track on 3 June and Wodonga TAFE the following day.