Female Drivers Close 70% Performance Gap in Extreme E Over Four Seasons

Female Drivers Close 70% Performance Gap in Extreme E Over Four Seasons

By Michael Harrison

January 30, 2025 at 02:53 PM

The performance gap between male and female drivers in Extreme E has narrowed by nearly 70% over the series' four-year run, demonstrating significant progress in motorsport equality.

Starting with a 4.5-second differential in 2021, the gap decreased to just 1.1 seconds by the end of the 2024 season. This improvement occurred through consistent year-over-year progress, with roughly 30% reductions in both Season 1-2 and Season 2-3.

Four cars compete on dirt track

Four cars compete on dirt track

Notable achievements include:

  • Catie Munnings ranking third fastest overall in the 2024 Desert X-Prix
  • A median time difference of just 0.61 seconds in late 2024
  • Molly Taylor becoming Season 1 champion alongside Johan Kristoffersson

The series' unique format requires each team to field both male and female drivers with equal seat time, making it the only premier motorsport competition offering true gender parity in racing opportunities.

Extreme E founder Alejandro Agag emphasizes that this success demonstrates how the gender gap in motorsport performance is about opportunity and investment rather than ability.

The upcoming hydrogen-powered FIA Extreme H World Cup will continue this mixed-gender format, providing further opportunities to close the performance gap between male and female drivers.

Former F1 champion Jenson Button, who has been involved with the series since its inception, notes that the data proves how powerful equal opportunity can be in motorsport, showing that talent isn't gender-specific but needs the right platform to develop.

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