Formula 1 presenter Lee McKenzie has voiced her support for the #GirlsWill campaign, emphasizing the importance of boosting female involvement in motorsport. Speaking at the Silverstone Museum, McKenzie addressed the Northamptonshire circuit’s initiative, now in its second year, aimed at encouraging young women to pursue careers in motorsport as well as in STEM (Science, Technology, […]
Formula 1 presenter Lee McKenzie has voiced her support for the #GirlsWill campaign, emphasizing the importance of boosting female involvement in motorsport. Speaking at the Silverstone Museum, McKenzie addressed the Northamptonshire circuit’s initiative, now in its second year, aimed at encouraging young women to pursue careers in motorsport as well as in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. She highlighted the significant dropout rate among teenage girls in sports, an issue affecting various athletic disciplines, not just motorsport.
“There is a huge dropout across all sports for girls around 14 years old, not just in motorsport,” McKenzie remarked, emphasizing the urgency of reversing this trend. She expressed optimism that initiatives like #GirlsWill would help close this gap, asserting, “It needs to change—not just in motorsport but across the board.”
The campaign is underpinned by recent findings that spotlight the gender imbalance in motorsport. According to a 2023 study by the organization More Than Equal, co-founded by former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard, female participation in motorsport globally hovers around a modest 10%.
McKenzie, who began her career in sports broadcasting at just 15, also used the event to promote her new book, Inside F1: Life Alongside Legends. Reflecting on her own experiences breaking into the sports industry, she shared that she never felt discouraged by the male-dominated landscape, remarking, “Nobody told me I couldn’t do it.” Growing up in the industry, McKenzie said she was unaware of the gender disparity, noting, “I didn’t know any different.”
While female drivers continue to make strides, McKenzie pointed out the challenges they face in gaining visibility. “Women are racing—just not in the place that people want them to be racing,” she said, alluding to the limited exposure that female drivers receive in mainstream motorsport events.
The Silverstone Museum, home to F1’s British Grand Prix, is committed to creating more pathways for women and girls in motorsport through the #GirlsWill campaign. During the campaign’s October events, the museum offered free admission to encourage young girls and their families to learn more about careers in the sport. Stephanie Sykes-Dugmore, head of collections and research at the museum, shared that the campaign has sparked increased interest. “The fact that so many girls are turning up to these events just shows how much the F1 audience is diversifying,” she said.
The #GirlsWill campaign represents a significant step toward equal opportunities in motorsport, with Silverstone and advocates like McKenzie championing a more inclusive future for girls in racing and related STEM fields.
