#IWD2024: Extreme E remains a pioneer in providing equal opportunities for female drivers
#IWD2024 Extreme E
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International Women’s Day: Extreme E Celebrates Gender Equality in Motorsport
International Women’s Day marks an opportunity to reflect on the series’ pioneering nature, none more evidenced than its championing of the best women drivers on the planet forming its grid and ensuring a level playing field on track. The championship mandates that each team races with both a male and female driver pairing – the first gender-equal motorsport format in the world.
Extreme E’s Commitment to Gender Equality
Reflecting on the championship’s commitment to gender equality since the series’ inception in 2021, Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We were a first in motorsport when we launched our gender-equal sporting format. At Extreme E, we strongly believe that the most effective combination of drivers, team, engineers, and car will rise to the top – and that has been proven since the very beginning.
“There is still a long way to go, but International Women’s Day is an opportunity to look back and reflect on the progress which has been made so far. The performance between all of the drivers on the Extreme E grid is incredibly close, and that should be attributed to the greater platform for women drivers created by our pioneering series – and there is still more we can do.
“I am proud that Extreme E remains a leader. As a Championship, we are hugely supportive of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), better known as the Global Goals, with Goal 5 – gender equality – an important focus for the series. The key to success in Extreme E should be solely down to talent and ability, and we as a championship will continue to strive for gender equality.”
Closing the Gender Gap
As established in the championship’s most recent Sustainability Report, which compared Season 2 median race time data with Season 1, the statistics revealed that the woman-male performance difference had closed by a notable 26 per cent, highlighting that the gender gap can be narrowed by providing equal access to track time and performance development opportunities.
This gap is expected to reduce further upon publication of the Season 3 Sustainability Report next month – more proof of the benefits of providing women drivers equal track time, training, and engineering preparation as their male counterparts.
Revised Racing Format for 2024
Extreme E has gone one step further with its revised racing format for 2024, ensuring that come the end of the campaign, the starting drivers between men and women must be equal across the season – guaranteeing greater frequency of men and women battling it out on track for position.
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Racing for All Programme
Extreme E’s Racing for All programme continues to go from strength to strength. Informed by the findings of the Hamilton Commission Report, the initiative aims to support opportunities for a new generation of young mechanical and engineering talent to join the world’s most radical off-road electric racing series, with more than half of the Extreme E grid supporting a candidate for the season ahead.
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, Rosberg X Racing, said: “International Women’s Day is a day where we celebrate women’s progress, and I’m incredibly proud to be part of a championship that supports gender equality and sustainability. Extreme E’s unique male and female driver pairing continues to ensure a level playing field for female drivers, and the narrowing performance gap between genders clearly indicates our progress. I feel like I’ve grown and developed so much as a driver, and the stats for all the female drivers speak for themselves.
“I’m more determined than ever to push the boundaries. We’re racing not just for the thrill but for a better, more inclusive future. I hope to break more barriers and set new benchmarks for equality in motorsports.”
Klara Andersson, SUN Minimeal Team, added: “I think it’s incredible to see what Extreme E have done for female drivers in just a couple of years. To have this platform to showcase our speed against some of the very best drivers in the world is honestly a dream. Especially this year the level is so high and it’s so
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
The article specifically mentions that Extreme E is committed to gender equality and highlights Goal 5 as an important focus for the series.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
- Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life
The article discusses Extreme E’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for women drivers and ensuring a level playing field. This aligns with the targets of ending discrimination against women and promoting their full participation and equal opportunities.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Performance difference between male and female drivers on the Extreme E grid
- Gender gap in access to track time and performance development opportunities
- Statistics on the narrowing performance gap between genders
The article mentions that the performance difference between male and female drivers has closed by 26% based on Season 2 race time data compared to Season 1. This indicates progress towards reducing the gender gap in motorsport. Additionally, the article implies that providing equal access to track time and training opportunities can help narrow the gender gap.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere | – Performance difference between male and female drivers on the Extreme E grid – Gender gap in access to track time and performance development opportunities |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life | – Statistics on the narrowing performance gap between genders – Equal starting drivers between men and women across the season |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: extreme-e.com
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