Racing start

THE NEXT Damon Hill could be female, if a motor racing research project finds the winning formula.

Judy Eaton, a lecturer in gender and psychology at Coventry University, is studying the social and psychological barriers to women entering the world of Formula One motor racing.

Her work has been commissioned by the RAC Motorsports Association, which became concerned that only 2 per cent of those holding competitive motor sport licences in Britain were female.

While in most sports gender differences are unavoidable, in motor racing they should make no difference.

Dr Eaton will compare variations in parental support for boys and girls interested in motor racing and will study why teenagers decide to give up or continue the sport.

* see research papers