"Can women be successful in Formula One?" Well, veteran McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa seems to think women might just not be strong enough to deal with the rigors of the track. Danica Patrick, 26, made history after winning the IndyCar race in Japan. While she’s busy posing for Sports Illustrated, some are questioning whether a woman’s physical strength is an obstacle for being a competitor in F1 racing.
With the entire buzz over Danica Patrick wiping the floor at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan, it's easy to forget there's other talented females engaged in various forms of motorsport across the world. Just look at Michèle Mouton's rally career — multiple wins in her Audi Quattro and finishing a close second place in the 1982 WRC championship. So you know that the girls can go just as fast as the boys.
According to F1-Live, the 37-year old de la Rosa said:
"There are less and less obstacles because there are now many women in kart racing ... The base of the pyramid is expanding ... I would be delighted to see it happen sooner or later, but it is more difficult for women because of the important physical elements of racing in Formula One,"
We wonder what Danica has to say about this. What’s your take?
Although we wonder what Danica would have to say about that, we're pretty sure she's too busy on a Sports Illustrated or FHM shoot to dignify it with a response. Of course as soon as she's done with that, she'd probably point out to de la Rosa that she managed to do pretty well against Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan. Of course none of them were in Formula 1, but who's counting.
Source: F1Live
Woman driver can be an admirable role model to inspire young women in all corners of the universe, as well as creating a center of attention to the sponsorship from a wider market.
Steve Fossett World Land Speed Racing Team is searching for a woman. The team is after a woman driver to operate their 48-foot long, jet-powered car to achieve the Absolute Land Speed record at speeds in excess of 800 mph. The streamlined Fossett racer is powered by a single, 40,000 HP S&S Turbine LM-1500 jet engines and is said to have less than 1/4th the drag of the current record holder, Thrust SSC.
The team’s program manager Eric Ahlstrom said: “We believe there are a number of women active in motorsports and aviation who are qualified to drive our jet car through the sound barrier and beyond. A smaller driver will have advantages in entry/exit, visibility, and control. The driver will be expected to provide detailed feedback data, run-by-run, that will build to the World Record. We’re doing something that’s never been done before.”
All driver candidates – it should be noted that the team has not ruled out small men – must have sponsorship and a gamut of experience before the team will let them cruise in its multimillion dollar auto.
To handle the job, the ideal candidate will have reactions and judgment proven in the top ranks of professional racing, aerobatic and experimental test flight. Physical and Mental fitness, not gender, favors the driver who will be exposed to a combination of G-loads and visual distortion greater than any other person has ever experienced.
