Women are outperforming men in the most extreme motorsport — here they drive faster than in "Formula 1"

Top Fuel is the most extreme form of drag racing, often called the fastest sport on the planet. Two cars race down a straight track 305 meters long, accelerating to over 480 km/h in less than four seconds. The G-force involved is greater than that experienced by astronauts at rocket launch. The record speed exceeds 558 km/h, while in "Formula 1" the Grand Prix record is about 372 km/h. To stop, braking parachutes deploy from the rear.

This is the only elite class of motorsport where women regularly outperform men in the race for major titles. For example, women have won seven of the last nine European championships.

American Brittany Force won the US championship in 2017 and 2022 and held the world speed record for a long time.

This season, women make up 20% of Top Fuel drivers in the USA and Europe, whereas in all motorsport they are about 10%, and at the elite level only 4%.

For comparison: the last time a woman started in a "Formula 1" Grand Prix was 50 years ago.

43-year-old Susanne Callin became European champion for the second consecutive year in September at the Santa Pod Raceway near Northampton. She says she has never felt discriminated against because she is a woman.

A pioneer of women's drag racing is American Shirley Muldowney: the first woman with a Top Fuel license and the first driver in history with three titles (1977, 1980, 1982). In her time, she had to contend with hostility from rivals and fans.

Why have women emerged as winners here? The "More Than Equal" organization, which supports women in motorsport, conducted a study. It found no physical or biological reasons. The reason is different.

There are role models here. Successful female racers appear regularly, and a woman's victory is now the norm, not a sensation. Women help each other in competitions.

For comparison, young female racers trying to break into "Formula 1" talk about how male competitors deliberately pushed them off the track in karting, and about sexist comments.

Plus, the sport is accessible. For beginners, there are junior programs, open pit zones, and "track days" where you can drive a regular car. Entry into the sport is much cheaper than in "Formula 1", where millions are needed.

Many racers grow up in racing families. Callin's father is still on her team, and Brittany Force is the daughter of 16-time NHRA champion John Force.

In this sport, women can also successfully continue their careers after childbirth. Callin did not compete for over ten years, raising her daughter and stepdaughters, and returned at 35. That's when her career sharply took off. Finnish Anita Mäkelä won the European Championship four times, three of which were after a six-year break for children and a family poultry farm.

As for safety, after fatal accidents in 2004 and 2008, rules were tightened, including shortening the distance. Now fire-resistant suits and a protected cockpit are mandatory.

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