JEDDAH: Ahead of the first Jeddah E-Prix, the FIA, Formula E management and participating teams and partners took part in several events at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit to educate and inspire 120 young local girls.
The FIA Girls On Track initiative is designed to increase female participation in Formula E. Young women from the ages of 12 to 18 are invited to discover, for free, different aspects of the motorsport industry.
The activities, which took place on Friday ahead of the races that night, on offer included career talks, a walkthrough of the pit lane, activations in the Gaming Arena, and partner workshops led by inspirational women from within the paddock.
In addition to the on-site events, Formula E co-hosted a panel discussion at the University of Business and Technology (UBT) with the Nissan Formula E Team. The attending group of 70 selected UBT students heard from an expert panel from the FIA.
Questions posed by the students covered the inaugural Jeddah E-Prix, race week operations, sustainable racing, diversity initiatives, and Formula E’s continued focus on innovation.
Speaking about the initiative, Julia Pallé, VP of Sustainability, Formula E, said: “These programs and initiatives benefit the people in our host communities and the wider environment where we race. This weekend here in Jeddah, we continue to make sure our race weekend is delivered to the highest possible sustainability standards, while championing and supporting equity, community and environmental action.”
Laiali Al-Zahrani, an 18-year-old Saudi student who took part in the event, told Arab News: “The experience was incredible. We got to meet some of the drivers, meet amazing people, and learn how members of the team work together in order to win. We learned how teamwork is so important. We also learned how communication and organization are important to make things efficient and safe.”
