Racetracks through history have been male dominated with only five women making in to grand prix compared to over 800 men. While on a global scale, there are still some names of women that you could immediately associate with racing (like that of Danica Patrick), in India, there's hardly anyone.
But all that might change as a gang of ladies, led by the former Miss Hungary Universe Adrienne Bende, just raced to glory at the Buddh International Circuit, garnering a lot of attention and accolades.
Adrienn, the Miss Universe semifinalist who initiated this gang of lady racers, shares, “I look at it as a story of a beauty queen who wanted to look beautiful, and also to drive fast cars. I have always had a thing for cars and even when I was chosen Miss Hungary, I used to sneak out to drive. And after my modeling career was over, I decided to follow my passion and started to drive cars as fast as I could, and I continue to do so."
Adrienn, then, founded Lotus Ladies Cup to promote racing for women, which recently got its FIA license in just three seasons of racing. The international drivers from Scandinavia and East European countries were recently in India to participate in Ultima Queens Cup, a support race to the grand JK Tyre Championship Race.
Sharing more about her experience as a race driver, Adrienn shares, “I tried to participate in the existing races that were driven by men, but I was not given any welcoming response. Men thought that we won't last in the competition. It made me think that I wanted to follow my passion, and yet wanted to race as equals. That is how the whole idea took shape. There has been huge difference in the attitude of men towards us now. When they saw the fierceness with which we race, they slowly changed their opinion. And today we see respect in their eyes for us." Sheila Verschuur, a passionate racer who won the Ultima Queens Cup, has raced with men on several occasions.
She even plans to come back next year, to participate in the Championship Race that allows women also to participate. “It is not lack of infrastructure but the lack of encouragement and the attitude of men towards the women drivers that pulls us back," says Sheila.
“However, I work in the Dutch Army and every time I go to race, my superiors (all men) not only encourage me, but promote me as well. So I have seen the good and the bad," she adds.
Now that they have got the FIA license, what's next? “We want to take the race to six different countries but the sixth place is undecided. We are looking at India also as an option," she adds.
