More than Equal, a global motorsport initiative with a mission to find and develop the first female F1 world champion, has partnered with Santa Pod Raceway, Europe’s premier drag racing venue, and Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) to launch a landmark white paper examining drag racing’s leadership in gender inclusivity.
The report, titled “It’s Never Been A Thing: Lessons in Gender Equality from Drag Racing,” showcases the unique environment, cultural values, and structural advantages that have enabled drag racing to become the most gender-equal motorsport in the world. Female drivers in drag racing not only compete but consistently achieve at the highest levels, a rarity in motorsport, where women make up only 4% of elite competitors across disciplines. This year, Drag Racing celebrated its 100th female event winner in the NHRA series, a significant milestone. The comprehensive white paper sheds light on how the sport achieved this and offers a roadmap for others to follow. The collaboration highlights that while motorsport remains predominantly male, some disciplines achieve greater gender balance, offering valuable lessons to apply across the sport.
“It’s Never Been A Thing: Lessons in Gender Equality from Drag Racing” highlights six primary themes that help explain why and how Drag Racing has achieved excellence in female representation, including collaborative advocacy, cultural and structural advocacy, elite-level representation and engineering excellence to name a few. In addition, icons like Shirley Muldowney and Paula Murphy paved the way in the 1960s and 1970s, inspiring subsequent generations of female drivers who now dominate in categories like Top Fuel and Pro Stock.
The white paper emphasises strategies other motorsports can adopt to close their gender gaps, including expanding talent development pipelines, promoting female role models, developing accessible entry points, and removing financial barriers.
“This research underscores More than Equal’s commitment to leveraging data and insights to drive meaningful change in motorsport,” said Dr. Fran Longstaff, Head of Research at More than Equal. “By understanding what has worked in disciplines like Drag Racing, we can equip the drivers in our development programme with the knowledge and tools they need to overcome barriers and succeed at the highest levels. Collaborating with motorsports that have achieved gender parity is crucial to creating a more inclusive future for all drivers.”
The findings in the report are based on More than Equal’s multi-faceted research approach designed to uncover the key factors behind Drag Racing’s exceptional rates of female representation. To ensure a well-rounded understanding, the study included extensive desk research, stakeholder interviews, and firsthand on-track observations.
Richard Foster-Turner, Business Development Manager, Santa Pod Raceway / Trakbak Racing, said, “It’s been decades since gender became a non-issue in Drag Racing. Our participants consider themselves purely racers. Nobody outside Drag Racing has been talking about this, but now with this white paper we are putting Drag Racing’s gender-equal credentials out there to stimulate discussion and follow-on research, and to help other motorsports work towards the same level of diversity.”
Cindy Sisson, Executive Director, WIMNA added, “It has been an honour for WIMNA to participate in this study, as we have always admired the NHRA’s groundbreaking approach to promoting women in racing. From trailblazers like Paula Murphy and Shirley Muldowney, who shattered stereotypes and proved that women can not only compete at the highest levels but also dominate as champions, the NHRA has consistently led the charge in fostering gender equity in motorsports. These pioneers paved the way for future generations, and WIMNA is proud to continue building on this legacy by supporting and empowering women to achieve greatness on and off the track. Together, we celebrate the ongoing progress and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that motorsports remain a space where everyone can thrive and succeed.”
The “It’s Never Been A Thing: Lessons in Gender Equality from Drag Racing” white paper is available for download at bit.ly/mtedragracing.
This story was originally published on December 20, 2024.
The post New Research by More Than Equal Unveils Drag Racing’s Blueprint for Gender Parity first appeared on Drag Illustrated.