Formula E doubles up with second all-women test

Formula E and the FIA have announced the return of an all-women’s test session for Season 12, expanding the initiative with double the track time for participating drivers as part of pre-season testing.

Photo credits: Simon Galloway

Formula E and the FIA have announced the return of an all-women’s test session for Season 12, expanding the initiative with double the track time for participating drivers as part of pre-season testing.

While the concept was first introduced in 2018, allowing teams to run a second car in the Diriyah in-season test if driven by a female driver, in 2024 Formula E took a major step forward by hosting its first dedicated all-women’s test at Circuito Jarama, Madrid, where 18 drivers took part. F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling topped the timesheets for Nissan in that inaugural session.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Formula E has confirmed that the second edition of the all-women’s test will take place on October 30, 2025, at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. All 11 teams competing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will be required to field at least one female driver, with two full test sessions providing an entire day of running.

For the second consecutive year, Formula E is therefore offering a dedicated platform for up to 22 female drivers to get behind the wheel of the GEN3 Evo race car, with teams required to offer the same equipment and technical support as their male counterparts. This initiative will be a key part of the official pre-season collective tests and reflects Formula E and the FIA’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion in motorsport.

Despite these efforts, in fact, women remain underrepresented in the all-electric championship. Since its inception in 2014, only three female drivers—Katherine Legge, Michela Cerruti, and Simona de Silvestro—have started a Formula E race, with de Silvestro being the last to do so in the 2015-16 season.

Although several female drivers have held development and testing roles or participated in rookie tests over the years, none have secured a full-time race seat.

Progress continued, however, at the Rookie Free Practice session at the 2025 Jeddah E-Prix. This 40-minute FP0 session, designed to give emerging talents track time during a race weekend, saw two female drivers—Jamie Chadwick (Jaguar Racing) and Tatiana Calderón (Lola-Yamaha Abt)—take part.

Looking ahead, the expanded all-women’s test aims to further break down barriers and increase opportunities for female drivers.

“Building on the success of last year’s pioneering all-women’s test, we’re excited to make the event even bigger and more impactful by extending it to a full day of testing involving two lengthy test sessions", said Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer of Formula E.

Pablo Martino, Head of Formula E at the FIA, reinforced the organization’s commitment: “Developing the next generation of Formula E drivers is a cornerstone of our focus in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, and as part of this strategy, we are also committed to fostering diversity and inclusion. With this expanded initiative, we keep working with Formula E towards offering a level playing field for women and men’s drivers."