Women in Motorsports: Careers & Opportunities in Racing

When someone says they work in motorsports, what's the first job you picture?

Probably a race car driver.

And while the women behind the wheel absolutely deserve the attention they receive, they're only one part of a much bigger story.

Walk through the pits at a race weekend and you'll find women working throughout the industry.

They're team owners.

Crew members.

Engineers.

Marketing professionals.

Photographers.

PR representatives.

Hospitality coordinators.

Business owners.

Sponsors.

Content creators.

And yes, drivers.

One of the things I've learned through my own journey into motorsports is that you don't have to be behind the wheel to belong in racing.

There are so many ways to become part of this industry.

Women Behind the Wheel

Let's start with the most visible role.

Women have been competing in motorsports for decades, including at some of the highest levels of professional racing.

They aren't simply participating.

They're winning races, setting records, competing for championships and inspiring another generation of racers.

Seeing women succeed behind the wheel matters because visibility changes what's possible for the people watching.

A young girl at the racetrack shouldn't have to wonder whether there's a place for her in racing.

She should be able to see it.

Women Own and Lead Race Teams

Leadership in motorsports doesn't only happen from the driver's seat.

Women are also building, owning and operating race teams.

Running a racing organization requires many of the same skills necessary to operate any successful business.

Leadership.

Financial management.

Partnership development.

Marketing.

Operations.

Hiring.

Strategy.

Decision-making.

And the ability to handle an environment where things can change very quickly.

Team ownership is another reminder that motorsports isn't simply a sport.

It's a business.

And women are helping lead that business.

Women Are Part of the Crew

Race cars don't prepare themselves.

Behind every car is a team of people responsible for making sure it is ready to compete.

Women work in technical and crew positions throughout motorsports, including roles involving engineering, fabrication, data, mechanics and race operations.

These may not always be the people standing in front of the cameras, but they're an essential part of what happens on the racetrack.

Every successful pass begins with the work happening in the pits.

Women Are Building Motorsports Brands

This is the part of the industry where my own journey really began to take shape.

Marketing and branding play an enormous role in modern motorsports.

Teams need content.

Drivers need personal brands.

Sponsors need activation.

Race organizations need promotion.

Businesses need strategies for turning their involvement in racing into something valuable.

Women are working throughout those areas as social media managers, brand strategists, public relations professionals, photographers, videographers, designers, partnership managers and marketing executives.

You may never put on a firesuit, but your work can still have a major impact on what happens at the racetrack.

Women Are Sponsors and Business Owners

Here's another role that doesn't get talked about enough.

Women aren't only working for racing organizations.

They're investing in them.

Female entrepreneurs and business owners can use motorsports sponsorship to introduce their companies to new audiences, entertain customers, build relationships, create content and support teams and drivers.

That's a part of motorsports I've become increasingly passionate about.

Sponsorship gives business owners an opportunity to become active participants in racing instead of simply spectators.

And a good partnership should involve much more than writing a check and putting a logo on a car.

The most effective sponsors become part of the story.

Women Are Telling the Stories of Racing

Think about everything you see during a race weekend.

The photos.

Videos.

Interviews.

Social posts.

Articles.

Broadcasts.

Press releases.

Behind-the-scenes content.

Someone has to create all of it.

Women working in media, journalism, photography, videography and content creation help determine how motorsports stories are told and how fans experience the sport away from the track.

In today's digital world, that's an incredibly important role.

A race may last seconds.

The story surrounding it can live online for years.

Women Are Creating the Fan Experience

There is also an entire side of motorsports dedicated to hospitality and events.

Sponsors bring clients to races.

Teams host guests.

Companies organize experiences.

VIP areas need to be managed.

Appearances need to be coordinated.

Partners need support.

Behind many of those experiences are professionals making sure everything runs smoothly.

Hospitality might not be the first thing someone thinks about when they hear "motorsports career," but it's a major part of the business of racing.

You Don't Have to Grow Up Racing

This might be the most important point.

Not everyone working in motorsports grew up at a racetrack.

Some people did.

Others entered the industry through marketing, engineering, sales, photography, media, events, business ownership or completely unrelated careers.

I came into motorsports through business, relationships and marketing.

My professional world started in real estate. Then came marketing. Eventually, those experiences and relationships opened doors into racing.

There wasn't one perfectly planned path.

And that's exactly why I think it's important to talk about the different ways people can enter this industry.

Your Existing Skills May Already Have a Place in Motorsports

If you're interested in working in racing, start by looking at what you already know how to do.

Are you good at sales?

Teams need partnerships.

Love social media?

Drivers and organizations need content.

Interested in photography?

Race weekends need storytellers.

Good with numbers?

Motorsports is a business.

Interested in engineering?

Race cars are constantly generating technical challenges to solve.

Love planning events?

Hospitality is a huge part of sponsorship.

Run your own company?

Maybe your path into motorsports is through partnership or sponsorship.

You don't necessarily need to reinvent yourself to work in racing.

Sometimes you simply need to figure out where your existing skills fit.

There's Room for More Women in Racing

Representation matters.

But participation matters too.

The more women who enter motorsports—as drivers, owners, crew members, engineers, marketers, sponsors, executives and entrepreneurs—the more normal it becomes for the next generation.

That's how industries evolve.

Someone has to be the first woman in a room.

Then someone becomes the second.

Eventually, nobody thinks twice about it.

Find Your Way Into the Pits

There isn't one correct way to become part of motorsports.

That's what makes this industry so interesting.

Maybe you'll drive the car.

Maybe you'll own the team.

Maybe you'll tune it.

Maybe you'll photograph it.

Maybe you'll market the driver.

Maybe you'll bring the sponsor.

Maybe you'll be the sponsor.

Your path doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

Mine certainly didn't.

I started in real estate and marketing and somehow found myself building relationships and doing business at racetracks across the country.

And if there's one thing that experience has taught me, it's this:

You don't have to fit the traditional picture of someone in motorsports to belong here.

Sometimes you just have to find your way in.