The FIA World Endurance Championship will welcome two pioneering programmes to Imola this weekend (18-20 April) in the shape of FIA Girls on Track and FIA CareerShift – part of the governing body’s wider mission to double motorsport participation and promote diversity and inclusion.
Launched in 2019, FIA Girls on Track aims to inspire girls aged between eight and 18 via a series of workshops, interactive activities and talks with women performing different roles in the paddock, offering insights into their personal stories and guidance on routes into the sport. Last year, more than 2,500 girls attended Girls on Track events.
FIA CareerShift – inaugurated during the 2024 FIA WEC season finale in Bahrain – seeks to empower young adults through behind-the-scenes educational experiences at FIA World Championship events, with tailored workshops focusing on sporting, sustainability, media, medical and event management aspects of the industry.
“The FIA remains committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in motorsport, and the new partnership with the FIA World Endurance Championship to host CareerShift and Girls on Track events is testament to that mission,” commented FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“By providing young people with hands-on experience and direct access to industry professionals, we are paving the way for the next generation. This initiative is about breaking barriers and creating opportunities, ensuring that motorsport is a sport for all.”
The Imola events are the first of what will be a full-season programme, which will see the FIA and WEC bring FIA Girls On Track and FIA CareerShift to thousands of young people around the world.
“We are delighted to welcome FIA Girls on Track and FIA CareerShift to FIA WEC in 2025,” acknowledged series CEO, Frédéric Lequien. “As a championship that prides itself on diversity and inclusivity, we greatly support such initiatives. We look forward to offering the participants an exciting and engaging insight into every aspect of our wonderful series.”
“It’s brilliant to see the Girls on Track programmes growing across the globe,” added Burcu Cetinkaya, Chair of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission. “Over the last five years, we’ve seen the way that the programme can broaden girls’ horizons and open their eyes to new opportunities and careers at a critical point in their education. I look forward to expanding the programme further.”
