Women and motorsport: the FIA gives an important recognition also to Ferrari’s new driver
The FIA has taken an important step forward in the area of inclusivity by awarding Ferrari’s new driver, Alba Hurup Larsen, as a reference role model for young women. The Federation continues to actively promote inclusion, diversity, and gender equality, once again placing the spotlight on women in motorsport by recognizing a driver who will be supported by Ferrari from next season.
During the FIA General Assemblies held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the governing body officially presented the first-ever FIA Women in Motorsport Award alongside the Empowering Disabled Motorsport Award. These new recognitions underline the FIA’s commitment to building a more open, inclusive, and accessible motorsport environment at every level of competition.
The purpose of these two newly established awards is to celebrate individuals and organizations within motorsport that have contributed to creating a more diverse, inclusive, and accessible ecosystem, both on and off the track. The FIA Women in Motorsport Award specifically honors role models who provide opportunities for girls and women across all areas of motorsport, from grassroots initiatives to professional racing pathways.
Alba Hurup Larsen, a Danish driver competing in the F1 Academy and set to be supported by Ferrari from next year, was recognized for founding the Girls International Racing Lab (GIRL) initiative. This project is a growing network designed to encourage young girls and show them a clear pathway into motorsport through racing activities, mentoring sessions with Alba herself, and a series of dedicated events. At present, the initiative already includes around 400 girls and young women in Denmark alone, with the ambition to reach 15,000 participants worldwide by 2026.
The Empowering Disabled Motorsport Award 2025, meanwhile, celebrates outstanding contributions to the inclusion of people with disabilities within motorsport. This year’s award was presented to ADAC Südbayern, a Bavarian regional club of the German mobility organization ADAC. The initiative is aimed at people both with and without disabilities and combines adaptive technologies, inclusive events, and close collaboration with an extensive network of partners across the country.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “Increasing accessibility in motorsport is at the heart of our focus, so I am proud to launch the new FIA Women in Motorsport Award and Empowering Disabled Motorsport Award. These recognize the valuable work of our members around the world. Congratulations to ADAC Südbayern and Alba Hurup Larsen for their commitment to increasing participation in motorsport and for promoting our shared values.”
Alba Hurup Larsen, winner of the FIA Women in Motorsport Award 2025, added: “I founded GIRL when I was 15 years old. The purpose is to make it easier for other girls to try motorsport and to strengthen the mental resilience of teenage girls around the world. The response and support have been incredible. Our goal for 2026 is to see 15,000 girls taking part in GIRL events worldwide. This award represents the highest recognition of this mission. It gives me more confidence than ever that we will attract more partners and collaborators, allowing us to turn this vision into reality and go even further.”
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