Girls on Track first at VALO Adelaide 500
South Australian women and girls keen to get involved in motorsport will be given the opportunity to get up close to the Repco Supercars Championship, with the FIA Girls on Track program to be held at the 2022 VALO Adelaide 500.
Delivered by Motorsport Australia, the program aims to give young girls an exclusive insight into a live motorsport event, with the aim of growing their interest in STEM subjects and industries, to ultimately increase female participation.
For girls aged eight to 18, the free event will run on Thursday December 1, on the opening day of Supercars action at the South Australian venue.
Schools across Adelaide and South Australia are invited to register for the free FIA Girls on Track Inspire program, seeing female students take part in simulator and pit stop challenges, as well as STEM exercises and other motorsport-based activities.
Thursday afternoon will host the FIA Girls on Track Pathways session, which aims at inspiring females aged between 15 and 22 to pursue career pathways in the motorsport industry.
FIA Girls on Track ambassadors and champions will facilitate the event, including Triple Eight Race Engineering co-owner Jess Dane, Erebus Motorsport Managing Director Shannen Kiely, and Motorsport Australia Board of Director Kristen Bailey.
It comes after the program visited the Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint in August, with more than 50 young girls in attendance.
"This will be the first time that the innovative Girls on Track program will be held at the VALO Adelaide 500, and it is clear evidence of the commitment from the South Australian Government and South Australian Motor Sport Board to support the growing participation of women in motorsport," said Motorsport Australia Chief Executive Officer Eugene Arocca.
"We are experiencing record engagement with women in motorsport and support for our programs at the VALO Adelaide 500 will continue to increase both the appeal and reach of motorsport, particularly to young girls.
"On behalf of everyone at Motorsport Australia I want to thank Premier Malinauskas and his government for not only bringing back the VALO Adelaide 500 but for supporting important grassroots initiatives."
Both FIA Girls on Track programs will be held trackside on the opening day of the 2022 VALO Adelaide 500, coinciding with the event’s Schools Day.
The specialised Education Program provides local schools with an interactive and educational experience, with participating schools receiving free entry to the event and Supercars Paddock for all students, teachers and guardians.
"The VALO Adelaide 500 is the ultimate showcase of Australia’s best in motorsport, both on and off the track," said VALO Adelaide 500 Chief Executive Mark Warren.
"As fans of all ages flock back to the Adelaide street circuit, it’s important to the event to showcase the various career pathways available to students and young people in the sport.
"Motorsport can be a vehicle for South Australian students to develop an interest and skillset in STEM avenues like engineering and software analytics, and we look forwarding to hosting the FIA Girls on Track programs alongside our Schools Day to create opportunities for our next generation of motorsport careerists at the VALO Adelaide 500."
To register for the FIA Girls on Track programs, visit motorsport.org.au/events/girlsontrack
To learn more about the VALO Adelaide 500’s Schools Day and register your school’s interest, visit adelaide500.com.au
The VALO Adelaide 500 will take place from December 1 – 4, 2022. Tickets for the Repco Supercars Championship season finale are on sale now.
