Gabriela Jílková Is Fueling Change In Male-Dominated Motorsports World

"In motorsport, you cannot always win; but it is always a nice relief to stand on the highest step of the podium and have the awful smell of champagne all over you," Gabriela Jílková told SheThePeople days before her team Goa Aces JA Racing clinched the Indian Racing League 2024 championship title. Jilkova and her South African teammate Raoul Hyman delivered a splendid 1-2 finish in the season finale on November 17 at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore.

Gabriela Jilková: Journey In Motorsports

Gabriela's career in racing started when she took up karting at age 5, poised to shake up the male-dominated world of motorsports. She soon continued into single-seaters and then grand tourers, winning numerous prestigious championships and earning worldwide recognition as 'Quick Gabi'.

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A post shared by Gabriela Jílková (@quickgabi)

"When I was starting with karting, there were not many girls on the track. But today, it is really nice to see that more women are involved in the motorsport environment, on a track or in the paddock. I know many stories of girls do not turn out this way but I have been very grateful that I was able to build respect on the track at a young age and am still capable of it."

Expanding her skills beyond the tracks, Gabriela was recently chosen as a simulator and development driver in the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team. In November 2023, she concluded the Women's Test in Valencia, completing 43 laps and 152 kilometres in the Porsche 99X Electric.

Gabriela said, "More women are taking part in motorsport and not just behind the steering wheel, but also in the background, which is something we didn't often see before. We can now see that there are teams which are more involved with women as mechanics, engineers, or strategists."

Navigating Hurdles And Seeking Self-Motivation

A few years ago, Gabriela's career saw an unanticipated roadblock as she was injured in a multiple-car crash during a Red Bull Ring event in Austria. Seriously injured on five vertebrae, she was immobilised for many months. However, this incident did not dull her spirit to make an unforgettable comeback.

"After the crash, the first question I asked the doctors was when I would be able to drive a racecar again. For many years, I was away from competitions but I still tried to be involved as a coach or took part in motorsports events to stay connected and find ways to make a comeback."

While her motivation remained high, the challenges on the ground did not make her return easy. "I lost a lot of sponsors after the injury. Motorsport is financially not easy and I come from a family where they could not support me by themselves. I always needed partnerships. So it was not easy to come back but I am so proud of myself for [persevering] and now racing at a higher level." 

This challenging part of her racing career became a turning point for Gabriela to overcome any setbacks that came her way. Today, as she takes on new adventures and higher-level competitions with determination and resilience, feelings of self-doubt or the fear of failure do not hold her back.

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"If I have a race that does not go the way I expected, I don't think much about it because my programs are quite packed and I have to physically and mentally prepare myself for the next competition. I don't see it as 'losing' but more as 'learning' so I can see how I can do better next time," she noted.

Indian Racing League

The Indian Racing League (IRL) prides itself on being the world's first gender-inclusive league, where each team includes at least one female racer. Gabriela appreciated this as she believes it provides a platform for women in motorsports to compete with top racers and equally showcase their skills.

"I'm always looking forward to coming back for the IRL because every year is different and there are challenging new tracks and international drivers competing on really high levels. It is great to see IRL give female drivers this opportunity to not just be part of the race but also fight for the podium."