Motorsport is taking a step into the 21st century as the World Endurance Championship has finally abolished their grid girls. About time too. Motorsport’s continuing reliance on grid girls sums up the sport’s attitude towards women
For something that relies so heavily on the latest technology, motorsport can be worryingly backward.
It’s terrific to see the World Endurance Championship, then, take a step into the 21st century by finally abolishing their grid girls.
“From Silverstone next week, you will see that for any race we will do – no grid girls like in the past,” WEC chief executive Gerard Neveu announced. “For me that is the past. The condition of women is a little bit different now.”
Well, you’d hope.
And, of course, for all Bernie Ecclestone’s chat about a women-only driving championship, the most prominent women on the track in F1 this season will be the beaming, statuesque grid girls – because, as the F1 supremo has noted in a letter to then Caterham principal Cyril Abiteboul, access to the grid should really only be for celebrities and “really glamorous ladies”.
Some motorsport commentators have cautiously welcomed WEC’s move, but added the caveat that in some situations it’s pleasant to bring “beauty” to an event. Of course, for these pundits, there’s no discussion or consideration of the fact that it’s kind of strange that only women are judged to have enough “beauty” to be used solely as decoration. (Not that motorsport is the only culprit – the ‘walk-on girls’ in darts are in a similar position; and the powers-that-be have never quite known what to do when a woman has been competing. I’ve seen them use male models to accompany the player – which would seem the most obvious thing to do – but I’ve also seen them use the same scantily-clad women, except with placards with ludicrously limp ‘Girl Power!’ slogans.)
And others have been horrified at the very thought of grid girls no longer being part of the spectacle of motorsport. Of course, they couch it as a concern for the women’s future income and employment. (It’s OK, guys. I’m positive they’ll cope. Are you sure you’re not just worried about the prospect of your FIA-approved ogling being banished, and having to make do with the actual action on track for your entertainment?)
When Michele Mouton – the champion rally driver – was appointed as president of the FIA’s women in motorsport commission, she said: “For many years people have asked me why there have been no women following in my footsteps. I really hope the commission can help answer that question and that we can attract and support women in all areas of our sport.”
Grid girls, however, aren’t part of motorsport. As Ecclestone himself admitted in that letter to Abiteboul, they’re showbusiness, they’re window-dressing, they’re part of the reason that motorsport is still so male-dominated. While motorsport is presented as something solely “for men”, that’s what the advertisers will think – and surely that’s part of the reason that female drivers struggle to get seats and sponsorships.
Maybe Ecclestone doesn’t really care about making F1 a more welcoming proposition to a broader demographic – but he’s behind the times. As WEC world champion Anthony Davidson rightly points out: “Surely the world’s moved on – and motor racing should follow quite closely what the rest of the world’s doing in that respect.” Fingers crossed.