Ford's Hypercar Racing Lineup Streaks with All-Male Driver Roster Amid Rising Female Participation in Endurance Racing
Despite the growing presence of women in endurance racing, Ford has chosen to rely on an all-male driver development program for its upcoming World Endurance Championship hypercar. The 16 selected drivers boast impressive credentials, having competed in various GT3 series and garnered significant experience behind the wheel.
Ford's move comes as women continue to shatter barriers in the high-stakes world of motorsports. Notable female drivers such as Jamie Chadwick, Katherine Legge, Lilou Wadoux, and Sophia Flörsch have made a name for themselves in top-tier racing series, including the World Endurance Championship.
While Ford has invested in promoting women's participation in other forms of auto racing, its approach to selecting development drivers raises questions about the company's commitment to diversity and inclusion. According to Scott Bartlett, global sports car marketing manager at Ford Racing, there are currently no female drivers who meet the required criteria for the program, citing the need for drivers with experience in its affiliated GT3 car.
The lack of representation by women on Ford's driver development roster has sparked criticism, particularly given the growing importance of diversity and inclusion initiatives in motorsports. Other sports leagues, such as the National Football League, have implemented rules requiring teams to actively seek out minority candidates for executive and coaching positions.
Ford's partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing has led to significant advancements in F1 technology, but its decision on driver selection has drawn scrutiny from some who believe it sends a message about the company's priorities. As endurance racing continues to evolve and attract more female participants, Ford will be under pressure to address its representation concerns and ensure that its development programs are truly inclusive.
Despite the growing presence of women in endurance racing, Ford has chosen to rely on an all-male driver development program for its upcoming World Endurance Championship hypercar. The 16 selected drivers boast impressive credentials, having competed in various GT3 series and garnered significant experience behind the wheel.
Ford's move comes as women continue to shatter barriers in the high-stakes world of motorsports. Notable female drivers such as Jamie Chadwick, Katherine Legge, Lilou Wadoux, and Sophia Flörsch have made a name for themselves in top-tier racing series, including the World Endurance Championship.
While Ford has invested in promoting women's participation in other forms of auto racing, its approach to selecting development drivers raises questions about the company's commitment to diversity and inclusion. According to Scott Bartlett, global sports car marketing manager at Ford Racing, there are currently no female drivers who meet the required criteria for the program, citing the need for drivers with experience in its affiliated GT3 car.
The lack of representation by women on Ford's driver development roster has sparked criticism, particularly given the growing importance of diversity and inclusion initiatives in motorsports. Other sports leagues, such as the National Football League, have implemented rules requiring teams to actively seek out minority candidates for executive and coaching positions.
Ford's partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing has led to significant advancements in F1 technology, but its decision on driver selection has drawn scrutiny from some who believe it sends a message about the company's priorities. As endurance racing continues to evolve and attract more female participants, Ford will be under pressure to address its representation concerns and ensure that its development programs are truly inclusive.
#GirlPower in motorsports needs more love! Women like @JamieChadwick & @KatherineLegge breaking barriers is awesome, but @Ford needs to step up the game when it comes to representation 
. Can't wait for them to reconsider their selection process and make room for some talented female drivers 
#FemalesInRacing #DiversityMatters
. like, we're seeing so many talented women crush it in motorsports right now, but they still manage to snub them from the driver dev program 
. it's like, what's the point of promoting diversity and inclusion if u don't actually put your money where ur mouth is? 
. ford needs to step up their game and make sure that their dev programs are truly inclusive. can't have it both ways, right? 
. I mean, what's the deal with this "no female drivers meetin' the criteria" thing? That sounds like a cop-out to me 
.
. If Ford's not willin' to take a chance on some talented female drivers, how can they expect to attract more women into the sport? It's all about representation and equality, folks 
. I'm callin' on Ford to step up their game and make sure their driver development programs are truly inclusive 
. This isn't just about motorsports, it's about breakin' down barriers and creatin' opportunities for everyone 
.
. They need to address these concerns and show that they're serious about diversity and inclusion in their operations 
. Until then, I'll be keepin' a close eye on this situation 
.
I gotta say, it's kinda weird that Ford is going all-male with their driver lineup when we're seeing so many talented women crushing it in endurance racing 
. It's like they're saying girls aren't good enough or that Ford doesn't need to invest in diversity. I mean, we've got women making waves in sports all over, from football to F1 
. It's time for Ford to step up its game and show they're committed to equality on all levels 
.
i mean im all for the ladies gettin in there and competin but if ford wants to be part of a more inclusive motorsports world, they gotta start lookin beyond just men 
. Maybe they can find some female drivers who fit the criteria for the hypercar program and give them a shot 
What does this say about our values as an organization and as individuals?