Natalie Decker Racing: How Women Are Changing Motorsport, One Gear At A Time

By Martha Brown


Motorsport has been for the longest time been a sport where access to it was determined by some dangly bits between your legs. But in recent times, those without these so important dangly bits as Natalie Decker Racing Team, have made a compelling argument as to why they don t matter and what does is how fast you can go around a corner.

Even though lady s have been in motorsport since 1901. There notoriety hasn t taken off until the modern day and age where they have made their presence felt without the need to unionize or take matters to the supreme court. But with good old fashioned, pedal to the metal and breaking records in the process.

The biggest benefit the sport of motor racing owes to the individuals it has turned its back towards in the past. Is that as the days go by, more and more females are finding an interest in the sport and pursue it because of a genuine interest in it. Meaning that as time goes on and the industry faces the wrong it s made, the sport will be recognized as a gender-neutral sport by society, similar to tennis.

However, on the same token, one can use the notoriety of being considered an anomaly to garner attention in the right ways, and become a catalyst for people to discuss the lack of representation woman have in the sport or be used as a role model for those who want to do something where they ll find themselves in the minority.

But the current reality is that males still garner more attention and paychecks than their female counterparts. But it s only a matter of time before such a statement becomes a thing of the past as more and more females continue to race, they will bridge this gap that exists.

What s amazing is that men are being outperformed in a sport that they dominate in. Yes, it s true that those gals who are fortunate enough to have a helping hand in getting into racing are at more of an advantage than those who go at it alone, but not having a male to sneak you in through the door doesn t make it any less difficult. It just simply means it ll take longer and that is a matter of semantics.

One thing female race car drivers regardless of what league they happen to drive in can t avoid is the scrutiny that comes racing. Your every move is under the microscope and all mistakes are usually attributed to sex rather than skill. But those same disadvantages, make it easier to break out and stand out in their field of expertise.

Having more and more woman takes an interest in race cars and the act of racing means that the sport can undergo a much-needed transformation than the current trajectory it s currently cruising in. With the potential to make the sport a gender-neutral sport in much the same way as tennis is, it would be a foolish move by the FIA and other bodies to pass up. A new revenue stream all thanks to the collective efforts of female race car drivers doing their thing.




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