Dare To Be Different, the racing initiative founded by Susie Wolff and the Motor Sports Association, in order to encourage more female participation in motorsport, will enjoy a fuller calendar in 2017 following its successful inaugural year.
The scheme was launched by Wolff in partnership with the MSA last year, its purpose is to inspire and unite young girls (8-14) and women working in or with aspirations to work in all areas of the industry through online engagement and organised events.
2016 featured seven ‘Headline’ events spanning the nation, introducing school girls to wheel changes, interview skills, STEMNET exercises (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network) and fitness. Two Community Connect days were also hosted.
Credit: Dare To Be Different
This year, eight Headline events will be visiting go karting tracks around the country, boosted by the support of a few British-based teams. They will also be a presence at more established events such as Goodwood Festival of Speed and F1 in Schools UK National Finals, as well as the International Circuit Challenge and Dayinsure Wales Rally GB, early and late in the season respectively.
Wolff was rightfully proud at the success achieved last year, especially as they totalled an audience of more than 30,000 girls.
“We were absolutely delighted with the success of Dare To Be Different in its inaugural year,” she said. “What we have created is a genuine platform for women and girls to explore the motor sport world and all the many opportunities it presents.
“I think we made a real impact in 2016 by reaching more than 35,000 female pupils in total, and that has given us a superb springboard from which to grow Dare To Be Different and inspire many more girls to consider motor sport as a genuine career option.
“The bottom line is that this sport is just as accessible for women as it is for men, and we want to be the catalyst for a whole new generation of drivers, riders, engineers and journalists of the future – with plenty more exciting announcements just around the corner.”
Wolff has stressed from its very beginning that the scheme is not about finding the next F1 driver, but about inspiring the next generation into a motorsport career, irrespective of role or where their interests may lie.
If you know of anybody who may be interested, check out the dates below or visit the revamped website for further information.
Provisional 2017 Dare To Be Different Calendar
March 29-30 F1 in Schools National Finals
April 5 International Circuit Challenge (Headline)
April 26 Daytona Sandown Park (Headline)
May 23 Women in the Motor Industry (WITMI) at CDX17, Silverstone
May 25-28 Shell Eco-marathon
June 7 Daytona Tamworth (Headline)
June 29 – July 2 Goodwood Festival of Speed
July 12 Daytona Milton Keynes F1 Daughters (Headline)
July 20-21 Formula Student Finals, Silverstone
August 30 Raceland, Scotland (Headline)
September 27 Daytona Manchester (Headline)
October 3 Buckmore Park (Headline)
October 25 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (Headline)
