Olympian, World Cup silver medalist and Motorsport Engineer, Nicci Daly and her Formula Female platform have put together a lineup of 7 female drivers for this weekend’s Tillotson T4 Karting World cup at Whiteriver Karting Park, Collon, Co.Louth.
In 2018 Daly launched her Formula Female platform in a bid to use her own experience of working and studying Motorsport to encourage more females to compete in the sport, promote the role of STEM in Motorsport and the career opportunities associated with it.
In 2019 she developed the Go Girls Karting & STEM initiative and launched it as joint venture between Motorsport Ireland & Formula Female. It was part of Sport Ireland’s Women in Sport program and supported by Irish Motorsport team Cjj Motorsports. The aim of the program is to encourage active participation and visibility of females in Motorsport as well as using Motorsport as a platform to teach STEM education.
“Since launching the program, I have been very lucky to work with people such as MSL Grange Motors, Tillotson Racing and Motorsport Ireland who are aligned with Formula Female on closing the gender gap in male dominated Automotive and Motorsport sectors and have already introduced over 500 school girls to the program”
“The most rewarding part for me is when they come up to you at the end and say WOW how do I do this more often? How can I get more involved? Or, I didn’t know math’s could be so fun and I didn’t realise there was so much science involved in Motorsport. It’s powerful and assures you that you are making an impact on them”
“Visibility & Opportunity matter” Providing opportunity & promoting those already in the sport while increasing new participation. Check out our team & the cause ⬇️ #DrivingFemalesForward #DreamLikeDaisy @MotorsportIRL @fiawim @motorsport_ie @HerSportDotIE https://t.co/srDbVfSaBs
— Formula Female (@FormulaFemales) September 4, 2021
After over a year on the sidelines due to the Pandemic, and an extended Olympic training program, Nicci Daly and her Formula Female team are back to put together a fantastic female lineup of 7 drivers across three different categories for the Tillotson T4 World Cup next month at Whiteriver Karting centre.
“We are excited to be back at the T4 World Cup with Tillotson Racing again this year. A company we feel aligned with on making the sport more inclusive. With Tillotson developing the T4 series, an affordable and accessible entry point for newcomers, it allows us to be able to provide opportunities for more girls and boys to get started in Motorsport. Since they launched in Ireland in 2019, Tillotson have expanded into 30 countries all over the world”
“We have 7 drivers across the three different age categories ranging from 10 years old to 24, it is fantastic to bring these girls together to be able to support each other and feel supported. Some of these girls race in different series, but they all have one thing in common and that’s to compete. They love mixing it with the boys and well able to get their elbows out.”
To the team we welcome T4 series regular Roisin Sweeney, while introducing IAME Junior X30 regulars, Amira Bouhlel, Holly Dunnion and Ellen Donnelly to enjoy their first experience in the T4 Series.
Lily Rose Hughes joins us from the IAME cadet class to take part in the T4 mini class after enjoying her first ever season in competitive karting.
“We are also welcoming 2 brand new drivers to the sport through this event, a key objective of the Go Girls program. Kelsey Kirby and Ava Kelly join us for their first ever competitive experience in Karting”
For this event Formula Female have collaborated with Laura Hannon (Mechanical engineer, author & Illustrator) to launch ‘Daisy's 1st Racecar’, Laura's 1st book in a series of STEM inspired children's books that will follow Daisy on her journey through Motorsport & STEM.
The message is clear, to #DreamLikeDaisy. To help the next generation believe anything is possible and encourage them to follow their dreams. Proceeds will go to support the children's services through the Cork University Hospital CUH Charity.
This year we wanted to create a team that embodies the #DreamLikeDaisy spirit and promote the real life girls of Motorsport that are exactly like the character of Daisy. We want to show the next generation what is possible and what they can achieve just like these real-life girls.
You can buy Daisy’s first race car here
