How racy poses can fast-track F1 career
SHE is not the first woman to have adopted such a tactic.
But Scottish racing driver Susie Wolff has no regrets about using her good looks to try to fast-track her career.
The 32-year-old – who has posed in a number of revealing photoshoots – said the attention helped with sponsorship and funding. She added: ‘I make no apology for having used gender as a unique selling point in my career. Why should a woman deny her femininity just to conform with the expectations of the racing world?
‘I’m a woman, I drive racing cars and if there’s an advantage in terms of finding sponsorship or support, then I will make the most of it.
‘That’s what racing is all about: finding competitive advantage and exploiting it. That can open new doors for me and other female racers, which is great. But then we have to stand or fall based on our ability.’
The Oban-born driver, who began racing aged eight, is aiming to become the first woman to race in Formula 1 for 40 years.
A development driver for Williams, she believes she is ‘on the cusp’ of making the grade, having driven for the team in practice sessions – most recently at the Spanish Grand Prix in May.
Married to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, she hopes to inspire a generation of young women to participate in motorsport. She said: ‘If I can’t be the woman to break through the glass ceiling, then I want to be involved in making it happen for the person who does.’