This is the first programme that will be delivered as part of F1 Academy’s Discover Your Drive, a global initiative aimed at increasing the female talent pool in motorsport both on and off track.

The programme will be operated by Motorsport UK utilising the organisations experience in talent development through its Academy programme, and TeamSport Karting.

Recent statistics show that around 45,000 young girls visit TeamSport venues every year, but only a small percentage ever progress to competition. Of the 2,275 cadets aged 8-12 in the TeamSport Race Academy, only 146 cadets are girls. The disparity further increases at senior level with only 5% of all Motorsport UK race licence holders being female.

F1 Academy Discover Your Drive Karting UK will address this, acting as a gateway to motorsport for young girls, making them more aware of the opportunities available and removing the barriers that often inhibit girls to compete.

Motorsport UK will leverage its successful Academy pathway that has supported drivers such as Lando Norris and George Russell from karting through to Formula 1. Motorsport UK has worked with its Academy coaches and experts in sports science to create criteria, underpinned by existing theory, that will enable TeamSport’s karting instructors to identify promising girls aged 8-12.

Girls who demonstrate the right mindset and talent at assessments will subsequently be offered development sessions with TeamSport. Under Motorsport UK’s guidance, the sessions will nurture their talent and arm them with the skills and techniques needed to compete in junior levels of indoor karting.

This new pilot programme, which will be rolled out at six venues across the UK for the remainder of 2023, will see the participants supported through the qualifying stages of the Motorsport UK sanctioned British Indoor Karting Championships – an entry level for many British drivers – after completing their training. The programme aims to scale up to all 35 TeamSport venues across the UK next year.