FROM March 21 to 23, the 2025 Formula One Heineken Chinese Grand Prix will roar to life at the Shanghai International Circuit. It will also mark the return of China’s first F1 driver Zhou Guanyu in a new role with Ferrari and the Chinese debut of the F1 Academy, a groundbreaking all-female racing series launched by Formula One in 2023. Lining up on the grid will be wild-card entry Shi Wei, the first Chinese female F1 Academy driver, and champion of the Challenge Cup at the Shanghai leg of the 2024 F4 Chinese Grand Prix. Transitioning from a media professional to a race car driver, Shi not only continually pushes her limits, but also symbolizes the rise of female drivers in the sport. Shi’s story began with her passion for sports. Hailing from Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, she graduated from the Ocean University of China in Qingdao. After graduation, she worked in the Qingdao Customs news and publicity department. She regularly shared on social media videos of herself in all kinds of sports activities, and her posts attracted a large following. “By sharing my experiences, I can inspire more people to take up a sport, and that’s incredibly meaningful to me,” she was quoted by the China Daily as saying. Then, in pursuit of her extreme sports dreams, she quit her job in 2018 and became an influencer specializing in extreme sports. “Starting with skiing, I gradually got into other sports. Then, by chance, I discovered my passion for racing.” Shi recalled being deeply touched when engineers specifically adjusted the brake pedal design for female drivers during a grand touring race last year. “Manufacturers from both home and abroad held overnight meetings to make racing cars more suitable for women,” she recalled. Recognizing the difficulties faced by female racers, many institutions and organizations are making an effort to accommodate them. Besides the F1 Academy, the FIA Girls on Track project under the Formula E World Championship announced an expansion plan last November for its 11th season. The plan aims to provide 50 more women with richer race-day experiences and exclusive behind-the-scenes access for those looking to build careers in motor sport racing. (SD-Agencies) | 