BBC F1 Presenter Jennie Gow officiating at the #D2BD launch in Melbourne.
As part of the build up to last weekend’s opening round of the Formula 1 championship in Melbourne the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) announced it has joined forces with the Dare To Be Different team to launch the program in Australia.
The initiative aims to help young girls from around Australia to understand the opportunities that await them in the motor sport industry, whether it is as a driver, engineer, mechanic or one of the many other roles in a growing industry.
Dare To Be Different is a unique educational program, founded by former Formula 1 test driver Susie Wolff and CEO of Britain’s Motor Sport Association, Rob Jones. Susie Wolff said she was delighted to see the program expand to Australia.
Toto Wolff, Susie’s husband, was representing her at the launch.
“Dare To Be Different aims to inspire the next generation to smash preconceptions and prejudices, connect girls and young women who are keen to create change in the industry as well as showcase those who are already role models for change in the sport,” Susie Wolff said.
“We are very excited to be working with CAMS in Australia to ensure increasing female participation in motor sport and highlight to young girls the impact that they can make in what is a male dominated industry,” Wolff continued.
This is the first iteration of the Dare To Be Different program outside of the United Kingdom and CAMS is proud to partner with them.
“We are proud to be taking on responsibility for implementing such an important project across Australia, which will encourage young girls to consider careers in STEM industries (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), using motor sport as a tool to reach their dreams,” said President of CAMS Andrew Papadopoulos.
Some of the F1 elite with the next generation of female motor sport representatives.
Some of the biggest names in world motor sport were on hand to launch the program to Australia. Including Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Principal Toto Wolff who was representing Susie, Williams F1 Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams and Ambassador of Dare To Be Different, Formula 1 boss Chase Carey, Formula 1 Managing Director of Motorsports Ross Brawn, CAMS President Andrew Papadopoulos, Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman John Harnden and CEO Andrew Westacott.
As well as CAMS 2016 Australian Rally Champion Molly Taylor who spent a considerable amount of time with the girls present while they toured the Formula 1 precinct.
Dare To Be Different hopes to change the preconceptions of a male-dominated sport by increasing participation of women to spark change. It is a non-for-profit organisation that aims to inspire and celebrate women in every aspect of motor sport.
Claire Williams, #D2BD Ambassador and Williams F1 Deputy Principal talking to one of the young girls about her motor sport aspirations!
The Dare To Be Different network unites women in motorsport in an unprecedented manner, with members benefiting from direct access to their peers, colleagues and even their idols for information, advice and inspiration.
To find out more about the new, Australian Dare To Be Different program, simply head to the CAMS website or visit the global site at daretobedifferent.org.