6 days ago

Celebrating International Women’s Day with Girl Power

With International Women's Days coming up in March, Women in Wheels & Podium Place are hosting a day of celebrations, celebrating women in the automotive industry.

Who's joining us?

Lets start off with FernGP

International Women's Day with F3 & Formula Ford Single-Seater Racing Team

FernGP is at the forefront of change in motorsport, actively addressing a critical gap by increasing diversity and creating opportunities for individuals of all genders, ethnicities, and financial backgrounds. This unique approach combines professionalism with an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, offering a much-needed alternative in an industry traditionally known for being exclusive. Already leading the charge, FernGP is building a team dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment for all members, regardless of gender. In this high-stakes, unforgiving sport, we set ourselves apart with unmatched professionalism, a commitment to safety, and a relentless focus on precision. Where others falter, we excel—creating a bold new standard that blends inclusivity with the skill, resilience, and expertise required to thrive in motorsport's most demanding challenges.

FernGP’s Young Driver Programme bridges the gap for aspiring racers, providing a clear pathway from karting to Formula Fords and beyond. Designed to nurture and showcase emerging talent, the programme offers drivers vital track time and exposure to advance their careers. Beyond the drivers, FernGP is committed to inclusivity across the entire team, with representation in roles such as mechanics, operations, data engineering, and beyond.

Our mission is to establish clear pathways to success for driven individuals in motorsport while advancing to higher formulas and complementing UK and Pan-European racing.

The FernGP Team - Celebrating International Women's Day

Kirsty Mansell is an F3 driver and ambassador for FernGP’s The Female Side initiative. Since joining the team in October, she has shown remarkable progress in single-seater racing. From her impressive debut test in one of the team’s Formula Fords at Silverstone, where she displayed exceptional pace, to her second test in two of the team’s F3 cars at Donington Park in December, Kirsty has consistently demonstrated her talent.

A participant in the Formula Women Programme since 2023, Kirsty’s speed and potential quickly caught the attention of scouts, leading to her being fast-tracked through the programme. Currently in Dubai, she is competing alongside 40 women from around the globe after being selected to represent England in the Formula Women National Qualifiers, where she has just finished P3 overall. Kirsty is set to return to Dubai in 2025 for the final rounds of the Nations Cup. The team is excited to support Kirsty on her journey in motorsport.

Lilia Scatchard is a promising talent in the FernGP Young Driver Programme. She joined the team in October at the launch of the new initiative. With just two years of experience in karting, Lilia is rapidly climbing the ranks and showcasing rapid progress. The team is excited to support her progression in 2025, assisting her in obtaining her ARDS licence and advancing to driving one of their Formula Fords & F3s.

FernGP boasts a talented and diverse team, including Cydney Barge, a renowned motorsport podcast host and team presenter; Maisie Tucker, a dedicated member since the team’s early days; Nicole Hockaday, the Head of Data; and Sophie Roberts, the Head of Operations