To conduct primary research I have contacted a number of people for interviews. I decided to reach out on e-mail first and then Instagram DM. These are the people I have contacted:
Sophia Floersch (F3 driver)- Instagram DM and email, a response is no
Marta Garcia (F1A 2023 Champion, FRECA)- Contact form, email, Instagram
Lena Buhler (F1A 2023 runner-up, FRECA)- Email, Instagram
Hamda Al Quibaisi (F1A)- Email, Instagram
Nerea Marti (F1A)- Contact form, email, Instagram
Abbi Pulling (F1A)- 2 Emails, Instagram
Amna Al Quibaisi (F1A)- Email, Instagram
Bianca Bustamante (F1A)- Email, Instagram
Jessica Edgar (F1A)- Email, Instagram, response is no
Carrie Schreiner (F1A)- Email, Instagram
Chloe Grant (ex-F1A, GB4)- Contact form, Instagram, response is yes, interview set for 8th April 3pm, interview completed
Chloe Chong (ex-F1A, British F4)- Instagram
Maite Caceres (ex-F1A)- Email, Instagram
Maya Weug (F1A)- Contact form, Instagram
Doriane Pin (F1A)- Contact form, Instagram
Chloe Chambers (F1A)- Contact form, Instagram
Tina Hausmann (F1A)- Email, Instagram, response is no
Lia Block (F1A)- Email, Instagram
Nina Gademan (British F4)- Instagram
Ella Lloyd (British F4)- Instagram
F1 Academy- 2 Emails
More Than Equal- 2 Emails, Instagram
Females in Motorsport- 3 Emails, Instagram
British F4- Instagram
Nicki Shields (F1A commentator)- Instagram
Toni Cowan-Brown- Instagram
Kareenaonthegrid- Instagram
Chloe Grant Interview:
Research:
Got her first GB4 podium (30th March-1st April) https://www.lasertoolsracing.co.uk/blogs/news/chloe-grant-scores-her-first-gb4-podium-on-her-return-to-the-series
Girls on Track ambassador with Motorsport UK
Part of Scotland’s national racing team Écurie Écosse
Has 4 championship titles
Career began in 2013
Won scholarship in 2021
First competed in single seaters in 2022 GB4 championship
2023 F1 Academy
Raced alongside F1 at COTA
Best newcomer 2014 when she entered Kart Club Cadet Championsip East of Scotland https://chloegrantracing.com/about/
Ended 2015 her first full season 3rd in the championship
2016 ESKC Cadet Vice-champion
2017 graduated from Cadet to Minimax
Won the ESKC Minimax championship at 11 years old
Awarded Most Improved Minimax Driver of the Year
2019 progressed from Minimax to Junior Max, she undertook 5 championships
2019 ESKC Junior Club Champion
Runner-up in the Northern Challenge 2019
NSKC Junior Championship runner-up
3rd place in GKC Junior Championship
2020 CKRC champion
2020 NKF 3rd
2020 awarded Junior GoldStar and Kart Sport Champion awards by the British Woman Racing Drivers Club
Became the youngest driver to gain a Motorsport UK Racing Driver’s Licence at only 13
2021 won a scholarship to compete Junior Saloon Car Championship, full season drive, finished 14th out of 37
2022 inaugural GB4 Championship, single-seater debut
Achieved best finish at Brands Hatch 4th, finished 9th in championship out of 21 drivers
ART Grand Prix F1 Academy 2023, season finale alongside F1 United States Grand Prix
FIA Girls on Track finalist
Questions:
First of all congratulations for the GB4 podium, what an excellent start to the season
Do you want to explain what it was like to get on the podium for the first time in GB4?
You had many successes in karting, winning 4 championships. What was your karting experience like?
You progressed to GB4 as your single seater debut, what was your first season like?
You were an FIA Girls on Track finalist, what was the process like and how is it helping young talent?
What was F1 Academy like?
You raced alongside F1 for the first time at the United States Grand Prix, how was that experience racing as part of the support roster and meeting the F1 drivers?
Is F1 Academy a good initiative for young girls to help them progress?
What unique challenges have you faced compared to your male counterparts?
Can it be discouraging being a woman racing in a male-dominated sport?
More than equal did a study last year that female racing drivers face barriers such as doubts over credibility, no tailored training, less track time and reluctance from investors and sponsors, have you encountered any of these issues?
Do you think enough is being done to support female racing drivers from karting and throughout the feeder series to allow them to develop and progress to the top levels of motorsport? What needs to happen to help?
What is your goal for the future? What are you going to do in the next 5 years?
Who are your role models?
What is a message/advice you would give to young racing drivers?
Is there constant doubt surrounding female racing drivers?
Can motorsports be unwelcoming for female racing drivers?
Is there an issue with female racing drivers having less time on track and less opportunities?
Is there an issue with getting funding and sponsorships?
Should training be tailored to help female racing drivers?
What made you pursue a career in racing?
What is training like to prepare for races?
What advice would you give to aspiring young girls?
Have you ever been discouraged from pursuing your dreams in motorsport?
What is it like being in a male-dominated sport and winning?
What is it like winning against male competitors?
What disadvantages and issues do you think female racing drivers face in the modern world of motorsports?
What needs to be done in order to see more girls progress to the top levels of motorsport?
Overview:
The interview was about 5 minutes long just a quick one. She replied to my direct message on Instagram saying she was happy to do it and asked me for a time. I then arranged to do it on Monday 8th April at 3pm. I sent over a Zoom link on Instagram, and she then joined. I asked her about her karting days, about GB4, about F1 Academy and about her goals for the future aswell as any advice she would give to young girls who aspire to do what she does.
Donnington Interviews:
Abbie Eaton and Hannah Chapman.
Kareena interview:
When I contacted Kareena for an interview she was happy to help but asked what I would ask her in the interview so she could prepare, so I sent her a list of questions:
What is F1 Academy doing to help female racing drivers?
What could it be doing better/what improvements need to be made?
What is the future for F1 Academy?
What did More Than Equal find in their study? What challenges do female racing drivers face?
What is the initial impact of the study, how does it help? Wider and more long-term implications of the study?
What's the importance of research in helping female racing drivers progress and succeed?
I wouldn't normally send the questions, but she was providing an overview of the subject so I thought it would be good to allow her to prepare what she was going to say and include the important information in her answers.
The interview was about 10 minutes long. I asked her the questions I sent her before.
I chose to contact Kareena for an interview as she is a content creator who gives in-depth analysis about topics in motorsport and has covered F1 Academy, More Than Equal and other initiatives for women in motorsport and I personally watch her content to learn about these subjects, so she was ideal to provide an overview.
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