The Australian FIA Girls on Track program has announced 18 women across a range of roles in motorsport as “Champions” for the program.
Officials, administrators, drivers, team managers and more, the women are ones who will help strengthen the program’s main goal of having strong female leaders in all areas of motorsport, whilst also encouraging young women to get involved with motorsport showing that it’s not just about driving or being a “motorsport mum”.
West Australians joining the program include Laura Byrnes, Danielle Meyn, Telea Plummer, Tayla Dicker and Lauren Cornes.
One of the biggest issues revealed with the COVID-19 pandemic is that the program which is built around ambassadors almost becomes impossible to run when there are border closures or travel restrictions so the addition of champions in each state gives easier access to the program and will hopefully build the program up further.
Girls on Track ambassador Jessica Dane believed the Champions played a pivotal role in the program.
“There are countless opportunities in motorsport and so many roles,” Dane said.
“The Girls on Track Champions play a hugely important part in showing participants what the different pathways in motorsport look like and give them goals to aspire to.
Their support is invaluable, and we wouldn’t be able to run so many incredible events without them.”
Alfa Romeo ORLEN F1 Team CFD Development Engineer Krystina Emmanouilides also serves as an ambassador for the program and echoed Dane’s comments.
“Having more people involved in the Girls on Track program means more access to those in industry for the program participants – opening the field of career paths participants can learn or be mentored about,” Emmanouilides added.
“The Girls on Track Champions are building solid foundations for the program to build on. Thank you, Champions.”
With media a big part of the program, tv personality Kate Peck believed that having more Championship could unearth more talent.
“The Girls on Track Champions strengthen our main goal and that is to have strong female leadership in all areas of Motorsport,” Peck said.
“For every Champion we involve, our community widens, and we are able to access more budding young female talent.”
For more information on the Girls on Track program, head on over to Motorsport Australia’s website
