F1 Academy driver Alisha Palmowski, 19, is calling for more girls to enter motorsport. The Manchester-born racer, who competes globally, started her journey go-karting at a track in Trafford Park as a hobby.
Palmowski now drives in the F1 Academy, an international series aimed at developing young female drivers. She noted that motorsport has historically been male-dominated but believes this landscape is changing.
The driver stated that throughout her career, she was often one of only two or three female drivers among more than 30 competitors. She hopes the F1 Academy's visibility, with races in front of millions and thousands trackside, will boost female participation at a grassroots level.
Palmowski expressed encouragement at seeing many girls now go-karting at her former home track. She cited 1970s Italian F1 driver Lella Lombardi, the only female to have competed in F1, as a significant inspiration.