The first ever Women on Track was held on Thursday evening, with local students invited to listen to, and talk to, some of the many female members of the ELMS family and hopefully inspire them to follow a career in motorsport.
The Women on Track event was introduced by the ELMS Event Director Gaëlle Chouteau and hosted by ELMS TV Presenter Steph Wentworth, with the six members of the panel representing several key areas around the paddock.
Erin Parry is a Systems Engineer for United Autosports, working on the no23 McLaren 720S. She explained that she started as a mechanic working on national series and worked her way up the career ladder and became an engineer when she gained her degree.
Maria Silva is the pitlane responsible and, like all marshals, is a volunteer official but spends a lot of her time at the races because that is her passion as well as holding down a full-time job away from the track.
Samantha Cox is the Team Manager and owner of the highly successful Algarve Pro Racing team. She explained how she got into motorsport and the hard work involved in running a successful team.
Franziska Baier is the Head of Marketing and Communications for the Iron Dames project, and she explained how she got into motorsport thanks to her father. She also talked about the Iron Dames and how important it was to tell the world about the work that the team was doing to promote the opportunities for women and girls around the world.
Paola De Palmas is a photographer who first entered the motorsport world in 2013 when she lost her job. She decided to get out there and approached several people and eventually was able to work for the photographic agency that was covering the ELMS. She now has several clients in the paddock.
As a driver Jamie Chadwick is probably the most visible member of the panel. She explained how she got into motorsport thanks to her brother and after success in single seaters she is now enjoining racing in the ELMS, with three wins this season she is fighting for the LMP2 title this weekend alongside her IDEC Sport teammates.
There were several questions from the audience before the presentation was concluded. However, there was still time for one-on-one questions over a drink and some food.
Following the success of the first Women on Track event, more are sure to follow.
