Want the inside line on life as one of the most successful deputy team principals in Formula 1? Followed by the inside line on the future of the World Rally Championship, with Williams Racing star Lia Block comparing and contrasting stage and circuit.
You know where to go: the DirtFish Women in Motorsport Summit, LeMay – America’s Car Museum on Saturday. Missed out on the hottest ticket in Tacoma? Don’t worry. Our partnership with AT&T and Teradek will deliver the perfect livestream solution – drop back onto the website on Saturday morning to watch live.
And here are three reasons why ours is the only corner of cyberspace worth spectating on this Saturday.
Becs is on the mic
She’s paused. She’s taken a moment, drawn breath from another sensationally entertaining World Rally Championship round. And crucially, she’s flown from Portugal to the Pacific Northwest to moderate the three panels and a very special fireside chat at the end of Saturday. Becs Williams is in the house.
Her voice is the most recognizable in all of rallying. Now she's lending it to DirtFish for the Women in Motorsport Summit
Fireside chat is, by the way, a turn of phrase – we’re looking towards 70 degrees and wall-to-wall sunshine for the weekend. No need for fires.
Having ruled the radio waves for almost two decades, Becs pivoted to become lead commentator for Rally TV’s World and European Rally Championship coverage in 2018. She’s the best in the business at talking about our sport.
And when it comes to our sport, we’re delighted to welcome the three women at the very top of the WRC, the FIA’s road sport director Emilia Abel, rally category manager Marina Duñach and WRC Commission president Pernilla Solberg. Pernilla, of course, needs no introduction – she’s been with us for the last two Summits. She’s family.
Erin Bourke is the FIA’s project lead for United Against Online Abuse, her input to the day will be fascinating. As will that of former head of HR at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix Irana Ahmadova.
Marina Duñach, previously deputy clerk of the course for Spain's WRC round, is one of four women with senior roles at motorsport's governing body in attendance at the Summit
Jess Dane is the proud owner of one of motorsport’s longest, most varied and celebrated resumes. Right now, she’s program manager at Corvette Racing. We’re less than a month out from Le Mans, the perfect time to be talking GT racing. But which is the more complex side of the sport? Lia Block’s perfectly placed to answer that one. Listen in.
And then we have our first ever DirtFish Women in Motorsport Drivers: Michele Abbate and Aoife Raftery. Coming from different sides of the sport, these two are primed and ready to continue the stage-circuit chat.
Group B cars back in Tacoma
Monday December 8, 1986 was a miserable day for rally fans. The day after the Olympus Rally, Lancia, Peugeot and Toyota were packing their kit up and heading for the port. Group B was leaving Washington for the last time.
On Saturday, the band’s back together in public for one day only. Lead singer? It has to be the sister car to the Delta S4 Markku Alén used to win that Olympus Rally. Alongside it at LeMay – America’s Car Museum sits the stunning Ford RS200 and the MG Metro 6R4.
There will be plenty of iconic rally machinery on display during the Summit
The latter will hold a special place in the day’s emotions, given the input into that car from a certain Sir Frank Williams and Williams Grand Prix Engineering in the early Eighties.
The collection doesn’t stop there, with DirtFish Rally School cars joining a wider display of some of rallying’s most exciting machinery from down the years.
And, of course, this being the Summit, we have our wide range of local vendors offering a plenty of PNW product.
Claire Williams talking rallying
Most famous for guiding Williams Racing to back-to-back Formula 1 constructors’ podiums, Claire began her career in the Silverston press office. While racing is central to her family’s history, Claire’s always been a fan of rallying and is looking forward to talking more on both sides of the sport as she and Becs provide the fireside (remember, there will be no firesides present) highlight of Saturday afternoon.
Williams history and rallying go a long way back – the Metro 6R4 the case in point
Claire said: “I couldn’t be more excited to join the event to talk about my experiences in Formula 1, but also to learn more about the world of rallying and the inspiring women participating in it.
“We all know the value a diverse workforce delivers; pushing hard here is critical. However, and perhaps even more importantly, creating a motorsport world that welcomes and supports women in their careers is just the right thing to do because everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue their dream and to fulfil it in a positive environment.”
