Fabienne Wohlwend Inspires Women To Claim Their Space In Motorsports

At an age when most children are still figuring out their hobbies, Fabienne Wohlwend already knew she wanted to be a motorsports legend. "I started karting when I was seven and after the first lap, I immediately jumped out, opened my visor, and said, 'I want to be a Formula One champion'," she recalled in a recent interview with SheThePeople. Determined to make her childhood dream come true, the Liechtensteiner has relentlessly chased her passion and achieved notable success in the global racing landscape.

Fabienne recently competed in the Indian Racing League 2024 season finale in Coimbatore, where her team Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers finished as the first runners-up. This annual championship event is the world's first gender-inclusive motorsports league, shaking up the traditionally male-dominated sport.

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Fabienne Wohlwend's Journey

Fabienne's journey in motorsports was no cakewalk as the opportunities for racers -- especially women -- were limited in Liechtenstein. Her early days were spent travelling across Europe for competitions while also balancing her academics. She entered the senior level in 2016 in the Italian F4 Championship.

While Fabienne is often seen as an outlier in the motorsport, she always knew this is exactly where she belongs. "Every time I jump out of the car and take my helmet off, people are always surprised to see a female with blonde hair. But only the people made it to be something ‘special’. When I started racing as a seven-year-old, I did not think I was doing anything different than my brother.”

Coming from a humble background, financial support was another hurdle for Fabienne. Thus, aside from racing, she also took up a more 'traditional' profession in banking. She started racing full-time in 2019 when she was selected for the (now defunct) W Series – an all-female Formula Regional championship.

"The W Series was the biggest change in my career. I was finally financially able to quit my banking job and focus on racing... It also gave me so much more security and opportunities to showcase my skills," Fabienne said, adding that the championship also connected her with more women in racing.

Sisterhood In Motorsports Community

Mutual support between Fabienne and her female colleagues has been a cornerstone part of her career as they fight gender-based challenges together. "We always count on each other and push each other. We watch some onboard videos together, share tips, help each other, and just have a good time together."

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A league like the IRL, which aims to create equal opportunities for women in motorsports, is a game-changer, according to Fabienne. “We’re in year three of IRL already and we’ve grown so much. We have new opportunities for drivers and more fans and supporters. So I think we've made a massive step and we're nowhere near the finish line. There is still a long way to go but we’re definitely on the right path.”

As Fabienne gears up to take on new horizons in her career, she hopes to be a role model for more young girls like her seven-year-old self and encourage them to chase their dreams. “I hope I can inspire and reach out to more females in motorsports and create a platform for them,” she said.