McLaren Signs Its First-Ever Female Racing Driver, Emma Gilmour
Gilmour will join Tanner Foust behind the wheel of McLaren’s Extreme E electric rally racer in 2022.
McLaren announced earlier this year that it was joining Extreme E, the electric off-road rally racing series featuring teams owned by Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, and Jenson Button, for its 2022 racing season. Shortly after that, it snapped up American racing driver and tv personality Tanner Foust, and now it's announcing the hiring of Emma Gilmour, McLaren's first-ever female racing driver.
McLaren Racing was founded in 1963 and has entered 901 Formula One grand prix, as well as Can-Am and IndyCar races. During the 58 years it has existed, it had never previously signed a female driver in any capacity. It's hard to say for sure whether that trend would've continued, but by entering Extreme E, it was essentially forced to hire Gilmour per the series' rulebook.
The signing, which was announced today at COP26, is a promising one, given that Gilmour is an experienced rally driver and has prior experience in Extreme E, filling in for Jamie Chadwick when it clashed with her W Series commitments.
Because COP26 is happening in my home country of Satire Island, oddly enough, HRH the Prince of Wales was at McLaren's car unveiling. More excitingly, legendary female engineer Leena Gade—who is set to be McLaren's race engineer in Extreme E—was also present.
The challenges of Extreme E are massive, with teams having to make repairs in tents with pretty small amounts of equipment and staff, but if anyone can make it work, it's surely Gade, who won the Le Mans 24 hours three times for Audi.
“I’m incredibly honored to be McLaren Racing’s first female driver," said Gilmour in a press release. "Growing up in New Zealand, Bruce McLaren and McLaren Racing are seen as the pinnacles of motorsport.
"To be competing in Extreme E next year with McLaren is a special opportunity. The series is a fantastic platform that represents equality and addresses the key issues affecting our planet and society," she said. "I’m looking to draw on my previous experience in Extreme E alongside all my skills across rally, rallycross and cross-country rallying, that make me well-suited to the sport, to make a positive impact and inspire the next generation of female drivers and engineers. I can’t wait to get started with the team.”
Got a story tip? Mail it to tips@thedrive.com
