Deborah Mayer: “Enabling women to reach all sectors of motorsport”

Deborah, congratulations on this new role which allows you to take charge of an important mission in which Michèle (Mouton. Editor's note) has been involved for so long. First, tell us a little about your story and how you got this position.

I was in the investment and private banking industry for many years. I developed the Iron Dames project, which is a project that is absolutely close to my heart and which aims to promote women in motorsport. It reminded me of my own professional experience of being one of very few women in a highly competitive environment where women were probably the minority. So when I discovered motorsport and got into it, I thought it was important to develop this project. And now, in this new year, I am elected president of the FIA ​​commission. Not all women in the motorsport industry are probably as visible as drivers are, but they also occupy roles that allow drivers to thrive and achieve success: engineers, marketers , the people who operate the hospitality facilities, who allow the pilots to recover and be physically fit, etc. 

What can you say about the future goals and objectives of the Commission?

This involves maintaining the continuity of programs, but also considering new projects and initiatives. HAS both in terms of programs that are lacking and for which we will try to do our best to expand access to talented young women from countries that are not yet represented in the current program, from Asia, from America from the South, from Africa. At the same time, we will gradually do our best to launch new projects and promote partnerships with other associations. We already have initiatives in favor of women. We will therefore gradually continue existing projects and develop new ones by representing the specialties of different countries. This will allow for people with different experiences. The goal is to have interactive behavior, to take ideas, projects, discuss them, implement what we can implement, generate brainstorming, and develop new initiatives. The Commission's goal is to raise awareness of women in motorsport and not just drivers, but all active women. Showing young women who may never have thought there would be an opportunity for them to have a career in motorsport that there are possibilities. Again, it's not just about being a pilot. You can develop cars, projects. There are so many possibilities. What is very good about this generation, our time, is that everyone is on social networks. You can reach out to these talented people, these talented women and tell them that you have an opportunity, that you have possibilities. 

How important is it to have drivers like Tatiana Calderón in IndyCar or Sophia Floersch in Endurance ?

I think this is crucial not only in motorsport. In any industry or activity, it is important to have someone to lead the way and guide young people. This is also the role of the Commission. One of our goals is to be the point of contact, to provide women with access to the motorsport industry. I want to raise awareness about talented women and promote women in motorsport. The beauty of motorsport is that it allows both men and women to compete. The possibilities are numerous.

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