VW Cup racer Anna Walewska was one of the leading names at the recent Women in Motorsport gathering at the Silverstone track in Northamptonshire.
The 23 year old Walewska, who is based in Surrey, will be racing a VW Gold GTi for the Alan Blencowe Racing team in 2010, took part in the event organised by the MSA, the governing body for UK Motorsport. The event was part of the International Women's Day.
Motorsport is just one of a very few opportunities where men and ladies are on a level footing, yet only 8% of the registered racing licence holders are actually ladies. This statistic is one which annoys the ambitious Walewska, as she explains “There are not nearly as many women involved as there should be. I think that’s just down to poor promotion. There’s a need to make access to motorsport a lot easier than it is.”
“A lot of women come to me at race circuits and ask ‘How do I get into it? How do I start? Can I race against the guys?’ It’s a shame they even have to ask those questions; the answers should be easy to find.”
“The Silverstone event was a good get-together, a chance for women in motorsport to meet and discuss what we are doing and the hurdles that we face; it was very enjoyable and I was glad to attend.”
The views of Walewska are also reflected by Melissa Wright, who is a director for Racing Line, the Championship Promoter, and the Championship Manager of the Fuchs Lubricants backed Volkswagen Racing Cup. Wright is one of a few women involved in motorsport at a senior level.
“Motorsport is the perfect environment for women to compete alongside men,” says Melissa. “The Volkswagen Racing Cup welcomes female competitors and we are delighted that it attracts drivers of Anna’s calibre. The championship has no need of a ‘ladies cup’, because the women are in any case up there and doing well against the men.”
2010 will see Walewska building on her 2009 performances as she looks to use the VW Cup as a platform for a British Touring Car Championship Drive by 2012.
The opening rounds of the 2010 Volkswagen Racing Cup with Fuchs Lubricants takes place at Oulton Park on the 3rd and 5th April, Easter weekend.
Photo credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography