It has been a very unusual, unprecedented beginning to the year. March and April 2020 will go down in history as one of the biggest pauses the world has had to face. Motorsport has gone through 5 pandemics and 2 world wars, I am sure it will come out stronger after this pandemic.
However, the Women’s Commission had got together despite the lockdown to address some of the concerns which have been noticed, as well as to create directions for the future. FIA has made suggestions that perhaps the best way to restart the motorsport activity is at the Grassroot level of motorsports , which is self-reliant, does not require an additional person in the car, for maintaining social distancing norms. Example- Autocross ,Drag etc .
We are delighted that the doyens of motorsports Arjun Balu and M R Dastur,have agreed to MENTOR four wheeler and two wheeler sportswomen respectively. You can avail of their guidance at baluarjun@gmail.com and dastur46@gmail.com.
When I attend the FIA Women in Motorsport commission meeting in Geneva in early February this year, it was interestingly mentioned in a research paper that fathers, brothers and mothers are influencers in bringing women into motorsport. At the FIM meet which Anita attended, it had been suggested to bring a friend to a motorsports meets. We will be implementing these ideas as soon as we have plans to open up.
Niharika Ghorpade our only lady F1 accredited journalist has agreed to write an article for the Women in Motorsports magazine and has been connected to the editor.
TVS Racing and our Aman Jubbal [who came second in the Gymkhana National Championships 2019] did very engaging interviews over March and April. Meco Motorsports led by Akbar Ebrahim had a very informative online sessions on e-sports, health tips, plans for the future and guidance to make a marketing plan for interested parties. Please check to see which programmes are continuing and which are available, as recorded content on their social media handles.
For those who would like to join motorsports as a participant,volunteer,marshal doctor or engineer please write to me at wim@fmsci.in
So hang in there ladies! Hone your skills in e-sports, continue exercising and remember we are looking forward to getting back on the track soon! Motorsport will get going again and its up to us to ensure it happens!
Sita Raina, Chairperson, FMSCI WIM Commission, email-wim@fmsci.in
