Formula E to conduct all-female test in Spain

Formula E will conduct an all-female test “to accelerate diversity and equality across motorsport”.

The racing series will field 22 female drivers at the Ricardo Tormo circuit near Valencia, Spain, in new ‘Gen3 Evo’ cars set to be used across the upcoming season.

The drivers are yet to be announced, but the test will be “a tangible platform for a wide pool of elite drivers who wouldn’t otherwise get an opportunity”, Formula E said.

Each of the current teams in the Formula E championship will be required to field at least one female driver for the half-day test in November, but will be encouraged to field two.

There are currently no female drivers in a Formula E race seat.

Three women have competed in a Formula E race, all in the inaugural 2014 season, including experienced British sports car and IndyCar driver Katherine Legge, Swiss Simona de Silvestro and Italian Michela Cerruti.

The last woman to race in Formula 1 was Italy’s Lella Lombardi in 1976.

Last year the CEO of the World Endurance Championship, Frederic Lequien – which includes the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours – said there were “plans” for a woman to compete at the top level in the series by 2025.

Formula E – which races identical lithium-ion battery-powered open-cockpit cars – has had female drivers test before, including former W Series drivers Alice Powell and Jamie Chadwick.

This, however, marks the first time a test will field only female drivers, with an opportunity to use the most up-to-date Formula E machinery, which will be raced in the series’ upcoming 11th season.

“We know there isn’t a simple solution for greater diversity in motorsport,” said Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds.

“If we’re going to truly give women equality, opportunity and visibility in our series, however, conditions for all need to be the same to aid their development and test themselves against those already on the starting grid.”

The Formula E season begins in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 7 December, where Pascal Wehrlein will begin his defence of the title he won with Porsche.