Case Study: Asya

My interest in motorsport was sparked after I watched my first F1 race back in 2021 during lockdown. I had always been interested in sport science and sport psychology, but it was then when I decided I wanted to do it in the motorsport industry. I knew getting into the world of motorsport ran on a who you know not what you know basis, so after entering sixth form in year 12, I talked to my school’s career team if they might be able to help me find companies or people in the industry to start my motorsport journey and grow my experience. I found out my school was partnered with Motorsport UK and the Race for Diversity team, along with many other schools across the UK. From there I joined the Discord community, met with Evelkah Powell (Race for Diversity Manager) and was instantly thrust into a whole variety of networking events, volunteering opportunities, and eye-opening experiences. The last two months were particularly busy with events for the Race for Diversity community. It started with an invite to No. 10 Downing Street to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Formula 1 where, after a speech from the prime minister on the importance of motorsport for the UK’s culture and economy, I had the opportunity to meet and converse with industry professionals and motorsport legends such as Sir Jackie Stuart and Susie Wolff. I then got the opportunity to go to the Festival of Speed through the Race for Diversity Schools programme. It involved a guided tour around the FOS Future Lab by Matt Green, where we explored different STEM exhibits and interactive experiences. We then attended to a talk at the Lotus lab, where we invited to take a closer look at their concept car and its hidden features. The most recent opportunity involved an entire weekend of volunteering at Formula E. On the Friday I attended the Inspiration Hour where I tried sim racing, listened to a talk from industry professionals on what a career path could look like, and finally a pitlane walk where I saw the cars closeup and watch the teams in action. On the Saturday I volunteered at the Race for Diversity stand in the fan zone area. We aimed to share the goal of Race for Diversity, encourage those interested in a career in motorsport to sign up to the Discord community and other opportunities such as the Girls Karting Academy. Joining the Race for Diversity community has been one of the greatest decisions I have made in terms of taking steps towards my dream career and given me opportunities I would never have even dreamed of back in 2022. My current goals are to keep on finding and taking any opportunities that come my way, so I can meet more brilliant people who work in the industry.