Women take driving challenge

Over 100 women are competing at Brands Hatch for a place in the first all-female Formula Woman Championship, which is being held next year.

Driving, fitness, presentation skills, reaction times and personalities are being tested at the qualifying stage.

The 16 places on the grid for next year will go to people without any previous motorsport experience.

Organisers say the event marks a new era in the traditionally male-dominated environment of motorsport.

A spokesman said: "Formula Woman drivers need to be able to work within a team, be professional and know how to deal with the media - all necessary ingredients to compete at the highest level in any sport."

He said women from all occupations had entered including a chiropodist, a costume designer, an estate agent and a piano teacher.

'Boys with toys'

At the launch of the championship, the event won the backing of Richard Burden MP, parliamentary advisor on motorsport to the Sports Minister, who said that the common perception of motor racing was often one of "boys with their toys".

He said: "By creating this competition to find the woman motor racing champion of tomorrow, Formula Woman has the potential to raise the profile of women in motorsport as a whole."

An intensive training course follows the initial driver selection process, after which the championship will be held in 2004 at racing circuits across the UK.

The assessment day in Kent is the last of 16 qualifying days which have been held over the last five months.