[Driver] Susie Wolff/women competing in motorsport (Merged)

[JohnMiller]

Actually I think he chose the name Martin. I think he also did some sort of Chinese F Renault before A1, and may even have been Champion. And karting before that, in Shanghai IIRC.

[bella]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

I find it funny that the politically correct crowd out there in society on one hand mouths that we are a sexless society where everyone is completely equal, yet they are the most obsessed with making a big drama pointing out all of the differences between sexes.

kind of my point i suppose, but with a bit less fist-shaking. i really want to see more women involved in motorsport, but i don't want them held aloft as being special because they're a woman. they're just another person with another skillset.

Originally Posted by mountainstar

You know one driver I do appreciate is Kat Legge. She didn't make a big drama about her sex, she went out there and knocked on doors and then did the best she could with the opportunities she developed. She didn't splay herself on a car in a bikini for the lads mags or hook onto a man to pay for her ambitions.

being fair to susie, she hasn't ever got her kit off or used her sexuality to extract cash from companies. i doubt very much she saw her husband when they met and went "ker-ching! that's my racing career sorted" because she's simply not that kind of girl. but i appreciate that in a racer too - both male and female. with some drivers you really wonder how much they're engaged with their racing career and not faffing around with fashion and the party set.

i agree with chillibowl as well. susie has her head screwed on the right way. she'd be a great mentor for young girls getting involved with the sport. they absolutely should look up to her for her conduct, presentation and ability.

anyway, isn't giedo van der garde essentially in the same position with the whole partner being well off and the family supporting his career thing? i don't see anyone calling him out for that, or suggesting he's with her for her family business, but i guess it's different if it's a guy

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Ostrogothicus

As for keeping whoever out of a drive, unless they got fired and then Narain took their seat he isn't actually denying anyone a drive. He got offered the drive and said what anyone would say: "YES!"

Plus he has enough backing to be able to put in a bid for the seat in the first place. Indeed to be able to hang around and 'be there' to keep his name in play.

This will be equally true for most of the others.

Does anyone know which drivers get paid by the teams for their work and which drivers pay the teams for the opportunities?

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by bella

kind of my point i suppose, but with a bit less fist-shaking. i really want to see more women involved in motorsport, but i don't want them held aloft as being special because they're a woman. they're just another person with another skillset.

being fair to susie, she hasn't ever got her kit off or used her sexuality to extract cash from companies. i doubt very much she saw her husband when they met and went "ker-ching! that's my racing career sorted" because she's simply not that kind of girl. but i appreciate that in a racer too - both male and female. with some drivers you really wonder how much they're engaged with their racing career and not faffing around with fashion and the party set.

i agree with chillibowl as well. susie has her head screwed on the right way. she'd be a great mentor for young girls getting involved with the sport. they absolutely should look up to her for her conduct, presentation and ability.

anyway, isn't giedo van der garde essentially in the same position with the whole partner being well off and the family supporting his career thing? i don't see anyone calling him out for that, or suggesting he's with her for her family business, but i guess it's different if it's a guy

A quick Google image search will show you that's not quite accurate
Although she's nowhere near Danica's league when it comes to self promotion 'glamour'-wise.

[bella]

my mistake, i don't go around googling female racing drivers as a habit

being fair if you google some male drivers (not that i do that either), there's quite a few of them keen to get their kit off or have a bit of fun pouting in front of a camera (or on a catwalk, muhahahaha). so it's not really an exclusive female thing.

[Born Racer]

A driver who is probably not talented enough for F1 racing has found their way into an F1 drive through circumstances, some talent and connections.

That's what's happened here and it's very common.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

Ha Ha that's a fair point.

Personally though, if I just wanted to watch a load of rich and privileged drivers "living the dream" I'd go to the Goodwood Revival or virtually any FIA GT race.

This is Formula One we're talking about, it really does have to be based on talent, even if it's just rich or well backed talent.....the very thought of drivers who have never won a race taking part is appalling.

Which is exactly why they should make the series open, and bring back pre-qualifying. It stops these talentless nominals being classed as F1 drivers, which they are NOT!

[wnut]

Originally Posted by bella

kind of my point i suppose, but with a bit less fist-shaking. i really want to see more women involved in motorsport, but i don't want them held aloft as being special because they're a woman. they're just another person with another skillset.

being fair to susie, she hasn't ever got her kit off or used her sexuality to extract cash from companies. i doubt very much she saw her husband when they met and went "ker-ching! that's my racing career sorted" because she's simply not that kind of girl. but i appreciate that in a racer too - both male and female. with some drivers you really wonder how much they're engaged with their racing career and not faffing around with fashion and the party set.

i agree with chillibowl as well. susie has her head screwed on the right way. she'd be a great mentor for young girls getting involved with the sport. they absolutely should look up to her for her conduct, presentation and ability.

anyway, isn't giedo van der garde essentially in the same position with the whole partner being well off and the family supporting his career thing? i don't see anyone calling him out for that, or suggesting he's with her for her family business, but i guess it's different if it's a guy

Most of this post to me, seems to be making snide remarks about Miss Patrick.

In fairness to her she has used her points of err "differentiation" to build a successful career, and why shouldn't she? Jeff Gordon has traded on his looks and considerable talent to get where he is. Why shouldn't Danica?

She has persued her career in a male dominated sport to the best of her ability, and in fairness done really well. She is quick and dedicated, and independent, and I would hazard a pretty fair role model for women in motorsport / sport.

Most of the ill feeling directed at her is the mysoginist rubbish comming from those who resent women in motorsport.

[QnickFTW]

Awesome. Why not give her the young driver test days too? Is it because thats not to be wasted on publicity stunts? Alright then.

[Paradise City]

Paid drivers are all part of the business and being a woman is just another marketable trait that can be tapped. What I take from this is the sad reality that pay-drivers are becoming ever more ubiquitous again and the overall quality of the participants is threatened albeit those pay drivers that are racing usually do have talent at least for the moment.. It's also a sad remark on the once mighty Williams team. Still that Wolff get his missus a spin means that there is one household where domestic peace reigns.

[Buildtech]

Far more interesting to see Senna in the FW08 and Maldonado in the FW18; I wonder what they would have achieved in these cars in their respective eras.

The Wolff drive.....well isn't she a lucky lady, and fair play to her in the fact that she can drive one of these cars at any sort of pace around Silverstone, I know I couldn't with or without money and or a rich hubby. It's happened before and it will happen again, the mere fact that we are all talking about it means that Williams and their sponsors are reaping the publicity benefits.

Female drivers with real raw talent - that sounds like a good thread, I can certainly think of a few.

[Peat]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

Paid drivers are all part of the business and being a woman is just another marketable trait that can be tapped.

Oh, i'd 'tap it' alright.

Wheeeey! Lads!

High five? lads? *slopes off ashamed*

[nicanary]

I've just read this thread in its entirety, and nowhere does it say that this was anything to do with F1 RACING. IMHO it was just a case of her old man asking if she could just have a sort of "fun day" - there's no suggestion anywhere that this is a prelude to her entering F1.

If you've got the power to arrange this sort of thing, why not? it's not going anywhere.

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by nicanary

I've just read this thread in its entirety, and nowhere does it say that this was anything to do with F1 RACING. IMHO it was just a case of her old man asking if she could just have a sort of "fun day" - there's no suggestion anywhere that this is a prelude to her entering F1.

If you've got the power to arrange this sort of thing, why not? it's not going anywhere.

Oh please.....if you believe that you'll believe anything

[formerf1champ]

Originally Posted by DS"

By the way, doesn't that tell a great message to all little girls, who aspire to do something in auto racing? "Just marry someone, who own shares in a F1 team. The rest will come from itself." As I'm reminded of Giovanna Amati (Who once had an affair with Flavio Briatore), didn't she have a test drive with Benetton, before or after her tenure with Brabham?

Don't worry, chicks already kow that.

Originally Posted by peebee2

13 seasons

134 races

ZERO wins ever

4 podiums

Clearly F1 material!

She got podiums???

Originally Posted by FAS33

dam shes hot, but will she be quick enough? no..

If you think she's hot, just wait til you see the rest of the internet!

Originally Posted by Paradise City

Paid drivers are all part of the business and being a woman is just another marketable trait that can be tapped. .

Yeah, that's a good one.

[nicanary]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

Oh please.....if you believe that you'll believe anything

But isn't there still a % rule for qualifying? I'm sure Mr Wolff wouldn't want his missus to look stupid in front of millions on TV. No racing IMO. Like no Shergar, no Lord Lucan etc.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by wnut

Desire Wilson who won an Aurora F1 race, was that good, sadly the barriers did not evaporate!

As much as I respect Desire, having seen her from FFord days, she really wasn't that good. I put her on the same level as Derek Daly who was, let's be honest, ordinary.

[Clive Brown]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

As much as I respect Desire, having seen her from FFord days, she really wasn't that good. I put her on the same level as Derek Daly who was, let's be honest, ordinary.

I'd rate Desiré Wilson as a decent National-level Club driver, no better than that; I'd certainly not put her on a par with Derek Daly.

Albeit she never drove an F1 car, but the best female driver I ever saw in British National racing was Deirdre Garlick.

[Peter Mallett]

Ah well, I think Derek was no more than a good national level club racer too.

[Clive Brown]

You surprise me, Peter; to me, his record in F2 and subsequently F1 suggests that he might have been a little better than that....

[DS"]

And now, Susie Wolff has announced her retirement from DTM. Coincidence?

[MGDavid]

maybe even she has realised she's not very good after all...

[Clive Brown]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

maybe even she has realised she's not very good after all...

Naah.... F1 driver, isn't she?

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by DS"

And now, Susie Wolff has announced her retirement from DTM. Coincidence?

No. To be brutally honest, many women drivers I have known keep their hand in until they land their hot ticket husband in the industry and then they stop driving. The Williams drive was a nice hail and farewell.

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by DS"

And now, Susie Wolff has announced her retirement from DTM. Coincidence?

I read that headline on Autosport's site, but when I clicked to read the article a window popped up saying I'd used all my free views this month and that to read anything I'd have to pay.
Bloody cheek!
So anyway, I didn't get to read it...