After these initial explorations, guests from Racing Pride, FIA Girls on Track UK, and Race for Diversity reconvened at the Motorsport UK HQ for a series of hosted chats with motorsport industry professionals. Hosted by Racing Pride CEO Richard Morris, each conversation was followed by time for questions, conversation and networking. 

These talks took place alongside the current Motorsport UK exhibit on rallying, allowing members of the public to drop-in and listen to our speakers while exploring the Scramble event.

Rowena Purdy, who is a member of Motorsport UK’s LGBTQ+ Expert Committee, discussed her rally career and how she went from flying planes in the RAF to driving and navigating rally cars. Rowena brought along her classic Porsche, Poppy, which was on display outside the Motorsport UK HQ during the course of the event.  

Kerrie Sparling, Racing Pride Industry Ambassador, shared her insights about working as a Power Platform Development Manager at BWT Alpine F1 Team. She also reflected on the experience of participating in the Formula Woman competition and competing in Citroen C1 endurance racing, as well as the impact of Racing Pride’s partnership with her team in Formula One. 

Matthew Harriet Randall, recently appointed Racing Pride Director, talked about their role as Head of Software Development and Integration at Aston Martin Lagonda. Matthew also discussed their work to promote EDI initiatives, not least as Chair of the I AM Inclusion network. Aston Martin is a firmly established Racing Pride Industry Partner and the discussion addressed our work together.

Laila Fadli Dokkali, discussed the importance of intersectionality when championing diversity and inclusion. Laila shared with our members about her time as a Mission 44 MSc Motorsport Scholarship awardee. Laila recently began a graduate role as an F1 Simulation Engineer with Racing Pride Partners Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains F1 and shared her sense of excitement at this opportunity as well as her early experiences. 

Along with Laila, Ami Jerger shared tips about networking and building experience to embark on a career in motorsport.  Ami has worked for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, as well as being an Electronic Systems Engineer at INEOS Britannia. Ami most recently founded AJ Racing, the UK’s first all-female owner driver kart team. Racing Pride was pleased to have two of the team’s karts – a cadet kart and a KZ kart – on display in the Motorsport UK foyer, proudly featuring our logo, to illustrate accessible and welcoming roots into karting.

Following inspiring conversations from our group of speakers, Racing Pride attendees took a break for lunch thanks to the kind hospitality of the Motorsport UK team. This provided a further opportunity for networking, before taking to the sim rigs for a friendly competition!

One prize was awarded for the fastest lap (discounting Richard Morris who set a benchmark to chase!) and another randomly allocated among those who had raced on the sims, giving everyone a chance to win a framed art print created by Racing Pride Community Champion Cammie Sturch from Go for the Gap.

The Racing Pride and Motorsport UK event concluded with a brief thank you and closing session from Richard and the team. We were hugely pleased with the warm atmosphere and community feel achieved during the event, and particularly grateful to the team from Motorsport UK for their support. Thanks to our guests for their insightful career chats and our visitors from the FIA Girls on Track UK and Motorsport UK Race for Diversity initiatives. 

Photo Credit: Aaliyah Chapman Photography