Females in Motorsport: Issue Two
Your go-to newsletter for updates, results, and stories from the fast-moving world of women in racing.
Welcome back to Females in Motorsport, your go-to fortnightly roundup of the biggest headlines for women in racing. And let us tell you, it has been a BUSY couple of weeks, so we’ve a lot to catch you up on.
From Formula E tests and standout victories to career-best finishes, we have many brilliant women to celebrate both on and off track.
And if you think it couldn’t get any more exciting, we’re telling you what happened when Dua Lipa took on the Goodwood Hill. For now, settle in, make yourself a well-deserved cup of tea, and enjoy a slice of inspiration for the week ahead.
Headline Rundown
Pop Star Meets Pit Stop
Dua Lipa showed that training season's definitely over at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, and she took to the iconic hillclimb with none other than Iron Dames Driver Karrn Gaillard.
The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter was there showcasing her collaboration with Porsche on the Dua Lipa Rennstall 911 GT3 RS, which was unveiled at the Monaco Grand Prix and is soon to be auctioned off in aid of the Sunny Hill Foundation.
When asked about the experience and if she expected to set a record with her Porsche at Goodwood, she said "we'll see. I'll leave it up to Karen. I'm here as a trusty sidekick" praising the Iron Dames driver talent. She then added "I love speed. Adrenaline all the way."
We hope to see this powerhouse duo back on track together soon!
Photo Credit: Porsche
Katherine Legge Scores Career-Best NASCAR Cup Finish
Katherine Legge has not only scored a NASCAR Cup career best in Chicago but she has also become the first woman in eight years to secure a top-20 finish.
At the Grant Park 165 NASCAR Cup Series race on the streets of downtown Chicago, Legge crossed the line to finish an impressive 19th. The weekend itself got off to a challenging start after the British driver crashed in practice while trying to find the car’s limit.
But that setback did not stop her. As the weekend progressed, Legge then went from strength to strength, achieving this remarkable result in a type of racing that is still relatively new to her.
Katherine has once again showcased not just her talented but her resilience. We should all stay tuned to see what she achieves next.
Photo Credit: Katherine Legge
17-Year-Old Sensation Storms to Victory
German driver Hannah Grunwald clinched gold at the FIM Women’s Speedway in Croatia, holding off reigning champion Celina Liebmann to claim the top spot on the podium.
Held in Donji Kraljevec, this landmark event is the largest all-female speedway competition and the culmination of the two-day FIM Women’s Speedway Academy, making for a fiercely competitive field.
17-year-old Grunwald delivered an exceptional start and rode to an unforgettable victory. Liebmann went on to overtake fellow German Jenny Apfelbeck for second place, rounding out an all-German podium.
Photo Credits: Hannah Grunwald
Female Talent Shines at Formula E Rookie Test in Berlin
In case you missed it, Formula E held another rookie test in Berlin as part of their race weekend, and we got to witness some brilliant female talent take to track.
It was a particularly exciting day for reigning F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling, following her signing with the Nissan Formula E Team as their rookie and simulator driver. The moment was made even more special as fellow Nissan driver Oliver Rowland had just clinched the 2025 title.
We also saw Jamie Chadwick return to the track with Jaguar TCS Racing, Ella Lloyd representing the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, and Bianca Bustamante taking part as development driver for CUPRA KIRO.
This test day offered another fantastic opportunity for drivers to get behind the wheel of the GEN3 Evo machines, with a full day of testing around the iconic Tempelhof circuit. We’re already counting down the days until the next one!
Photo Credits: Jaguar TCS Racing
Aston Martin Women’s Team Scores Big for Charity
The Women’s Euros have reignited football fever this summer - and the motorsport world is getting in on the action, too.
As part of a beloved annual tradition, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team hosted their charity football tournament over the weekend. It was brilliant to see coverage showcasing both the women’s and men’s teams in action.
Held for the third year running at Brackley Town Football Club, the match saw the Aston Martin F1 women’s team take an incredible 6–2 victory over their Mercedes rivals. All proceeds from the event went toward two great causes: Helen & Douglas House, a hospice charity, and Northamptonshire Health Charity.
Both teams were comprised of brilliant female staff members - from mechanics to HR leads - and the tournament is a fantastic opportunity for the teams to come together, have fun, and support meaningful causes.
After that standout performance, maybe Jessica Hawkins really can go from racing legend to football star!
Photo Credit: Aston Martin F1
Content Catch Up
It’s been full speed ahead at Females in Motorsport over the past few weeks, and we have A LOT to catch you up on.
Our brilliant volunteers have been hard at work, interviewing some incredible women who are making their mark on the motorsport world. Did we mention our founder got the chance to go up the iconic Goodwood hill? (More on that very soon!)
It’s been a whirlwind, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. So, let’s dive into some of the exclusive content our team has been sharing:
First, we had the fantastic opportunity to interview motorsport content creator Lydia, who you may know better as Live.Laugh.Lyds.
Lydia is a rising star in the ever-growing online space of F1 TikTok. She has carved out her online presence by staying unapologetically herself. Since posting her first video in 2022, she’s enjoyed some incredible experiences—from attending F1 team livery reveals to receiving an invite to the iconic Monaco Grand Prix.
Through it all, Lydia’s mission has remained clear: to bring more female fans into the world of motorsport.
Photo Credit: live.laugh.lyds
Formula 1 Academy is changing the game, but have you ever wondered how some drivers are supported by teams that don’t exist in Formula 1?
At first glance, it may seem confusing to see drivers backed by brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Wella Professionals, or Charlotte Tilbury. So, how do brand partnerships work in F1 Academy, and how have clothing and cosmetic companies been on the rise as sponsors?
One of our brilliant writers has dived into this topic to understand this exciting shift and how it is attracting new audiences to track.
Photo Credits: F1 Academy Limited
We’ve got some exciting news from the hill (yep, that hill)! Our founder and Editor-in-Chief, Helena, had the incredible opportunity to go up the iconic Goodwood Hill with Honda. Not just in any old car, though, but Honda’s new Super EV Concept.
As PR Specialist for Honda Racing Corporation UK, Helena is no stranger to the world of motorsport communication, but this time she took on something new: on-camera presenting. Combining her love of storytelling and passion for the sport, Helena gave us all a front-row seat to Honda’s exciting new chapter.
It was a proud moment for all of us at Females in Motorsport to see her in action, and we couldn’t be more excited to see what’s next for her — and this incredible car.
Read more about the Super EV Hill Climb and the car behind it here!
Photo Credits: Helena Hicks
Spotlight
Our final section for this edition is going to highlight:
Bernie Collins – F1 strategy engineer turned Sky F1 analyst
Collins started her motorsport career at McLaren before moving to what was then Force India, later Racing Point, and now Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team. Over the years, she’s worked with some of the sport’s biggest names, including world champions Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel.
Her strategic brilliance played a key role in Force India’s remarkable fourth-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship in 2016.
Photo Credit: Sky Sports F1
After stepping down from her role as a strategist in 2022, Bernie has embraced a new chapter as a presenter with Sky Sports F1 and is thriving in front of the camera.
Follow us on the socials as we continue to highlight the women showing up in Motorsports! You can find us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
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Every newsletter should have a Bernie section