Motor racing-Formula E aiming for female drivers

Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds expressed optimism about the series aiming for female drivers at championship level within the next two to three years. Speaking ahead of the 50th anniversary of the last female race in Formula One, Dodds stated that his series would soon announce a significant expansion of its women's programme.

He explained that while men and women can compete equally in motorsport, the conditions are not currently equal for both genders. Formula E has featured three female competitors since 2014, with the most recent being Switzerland's Simona de Silvestro in 2016. The series has also held a women's test for the past two years, but Dodds announced plans for a more extensive programme to provide even more opportunities for women to race.

Dodds emphasized that this ambition would not be achievable without the teams' support and creation of opportunities for female drivers. Most teams already have female drivers in their development programs and are prepared for the next step. Dodds expressed delight at the teams' favorable response and stated that they would announce the expanded women's programme shortly, which would involve a substantial investment.