Research for 2nd podcast

Updated: Feb 20

Motorsports is more accessible than ever, through social media
As of December 2022, females make up 40% of F1 fans, an 8% increase from 2017.
In 2022 female fans were harassed at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Female fans feel discouraged as there is a lack of role models for female fans as there are not female drivers who are progressing to the highest levels of motorsport, due to lack of opportunity and track time for young female talent, but also there are barriers to women in motorsport (‘Other barriers outlined by the study include no tailored training available to female drivers; persistent doubts over women’s ability to drive fast; less track time; fewer role models, and a culture that’s either ‘unwelcoming or inappropriate’.) but also the sport remains male-dominted in terms of media and engineering. Gender split in f1 . Many fans of the sport aspire to then work in the sport, however female fans may be discouraged from following that path if they don’t have role models and there is a toxic culture surrounding them however you could say nowadays there are more females on the screen in f1. In the sport’s 73 year history, only 5 women have driven in F1 and since the last Lella Lombardi, who drove between 1974 and 1976.
Many female fans experience misogyny online with people questioning their legitimacy as motorsport fans. ‘DTS fan’ is also used as an insult for female F1 fans. Women are often branded as fans because of the ‘hot drivers’ but that is not the case. Women enjoy close exciting racing, with adrenaline rushes, but how they face criticism purely because they are female fans
Women have created a newfound appreciation of motorsport.
Female fans have a lot of power. Talk about women’s power and influence in the sport
F1Toni’s Tiktok titled ‘In Defense of the Fangirl’ and also Lissie Mackintosh ‘Dear Christian Horner’., 2022 ‘Drive it out’ video of all drivers on the grid and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicalli, this video was published after reports of fan abuse during Austrian GP July 2022.
The Grid Clique created a safe place for female fans as well as the LGBTQ+ community and people of colour who are motorsport fans but often felt afraid to engage in conversations about the sport they love.
Mahindra Formula E team AI influencer, instead of employing a female.
Harassment of female fans at Spa (Austrian Grand Prix) 2022