Motorsport UK launches ground-breaking Level Up: Women in Sports collaboration with sporting icons

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Motorsport UK’s Race for Diversity programme is proud to launch Level Up: Women in Sports. This ground-breaking collaboration with sporting icons Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and Crystal Palace Football Club will support 30 young women aged 16-24 from underrepresented backgrounds, offering insight into careers across sport. Level Up will provide inspiration and guidance on how to succeed in sporting careers through unique behind-the-scenes access, inspiring workshops and the chance to hear first-hand from industry professionals, helping to remove barriers to opportunity. The inaugural intake was selected from over 220 applications, 39% of which were from women of colour – far beyond sport industry standards. The launch event at Selhurst Park, the home of Crystal Palace FC, represented the opportunity to recognise not just female representation but importantly ensuring that women from all backgrounds can succeed in all aspects of the sports industry. The cohort will experience the many career pathways open to them in motorsport, cricket and football with the three founding organisations over the next three months. Each sport will host a session with high-profile events taking place at iconic venues Brands Hatch and Selhurst Park, concluding with an unforgettable experience in July at the inaugural women’s test match between England and India at Lord’s cricket ground, the home of the MCC. The launch evening provided a taster for the new initiative, with representatives from across the sporting industries opening up invaluable networking opportunities. Further opportunities were presented by the many organisations in attendance including the Premier League Foundation, Association of Black and Ethnic Engineers, Jabari, Motorsport UK Inclusion Hub and Futures in Sport. The inaugural cohort was further encouraged by introductory speeches from representatives of the three sports: John Donegan of the MCC, Dana Tohme from Crystal Palace FC and Evelkah Powell from Motorsport UK Race for Diversity. The evening continued with an inspirational panel conversation moderated by Susan Patterson Smith, Head of Pathways and Learning at Palace for Life and paneled by Kassandra Farzavandi, Programme Planner at Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team; Gemma Staple, Female Engagement Officer at Palace for Life; Charlotte Carter, General Manager – Women’s First Team at Crystal Palace FC; and Charlotte Marshall, London Spirit Marketing Manager at MCC. Opening and closing speeches were given by Crystal Palace FC CEO, Sharon Lacey and Motorsport UK’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Polly Dedman, opening up about their personal journeys into working in sport with tips and insights gathered from their own experiences. In helping to open doors to successful careers in sport for promising young women from underrepresented backgrounds, Level Up: Women in Sports is an integral part of Motorsport UK’s Race for Diversity initiative powering the future of motorsport.

OTHER CASE studies

Race for Diversity Fest: Bringing STEM to Life Through Motorsport

Race for Diversity delivered an engaging and immersive Fest designed to inspire students aged 14–15 by connecting STEM learning with the fast-paced worlds of motorsport and sport. The event demonstrated how hands-on experiences can ignite curiosity, raise aspirations, and open doors to future pathways that many young people may not otherwise see as accessible. Race for Diversity is a national programme led by Motorsport UK, working to increase participation and representation of young people from minoritised ethnic groups and economically disadvantaged backgrounds across STEM and motorsport pathways. By creating inclusive, high-energy learning environments, the programme aims to diversify paddocks across the UK and ensure talent from all backgrounds can thrive. The full-day Activation Day gave students a unique opportunity to explore real-world STEM careers linked to sport and motorsport. Throughout the day, participants built confidence, developed teamwork skills, and engaged with inspiring role models, all within a safe, inclusive setting. A key highlight was behind-the-scenes access at the stadium, offering an insider perspective rarely available to young people at this stage of their education. Students rotated through a range of interactive activities designed to bring classroom learning to life, including: Pit Stop Challenge, Racing Simulator Experience, Robotics Challenge, Stadium Tour Interactive career talks complemented the practical sessions, showcasing the breadth of STEM roles across sport and motorsport and helping students understand how their interests and skills could translate into future careers. By combining excitement, education, and representation, the Race for Diversity Fest demonstrated the power of experiential learning in widening access to STEM and inspiring the next generation of diverse talent.

Pioneering motorsport scholarships programme backed by Sir Lewis Hamilton to be expanded

An MSc Motorsport Scholarship Programme to increase diversity in motorsport engineering, backed by Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE HonFREng and run by the Royal Academy of Engineering, is being relaunched in a new and expanded form. The new programme will have more scholarships of up to £43,000, target a wider range of candidates and will be supported by two additional delivery partners. Following the recommendation from The Hamilton Commission, set up by Sir Lewis Hamilton to investigate the underrepresentation of Black people in UK motorsport and the STEM sector, the Royal Academy of Engineering launched a two-year pilot programme in June 2022. Funded by Sir Lewis’s charitable foundation Mission 44, the pilot programme provided financial and career support to two cohorts of young engineering graduates from a Black or mixed Black ethnic background undertaking a Master’s degree in motorsport or engineering discipline. Of the 13 people awarded scholarships during the pilot – five in the first cohort in the 2023–24 academic year and eight in the following academic year – five are now working in Formula 1 teams, two in the motorsport sector, and one in engineering more broadly. Following an evaluation of the pilot in 2025, the new programme opens on 23 January 2026 with expanded eligibility criteria and more scholarships on offer in this round than before. The Masters in Motorsport Scholarships will open for applications on 23 January 2026 and close on 4 May 2026. Apply now for the MSc Motorsport Scholarship. Applications close at 4pm on Wednesday 6th May. Learn more about the programme by registering for the Royal Academy of Engineering’s support webinar and Q&A here.

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.