Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (February 21st, 2024): Effat University today welcomed the Formula 1 Academy and Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) to its campus as part of a special Motorsport Career Day designed to showcase the many different options available to students seeking a potential career in motorsport.
Today’s event was staged during a historic week for Saudi motorsport with F1 Academy – the ground-breaking all-women’s racing championship - conducting pre-season testing in Jeddah this week ahead of its season opener at the world’s longest and fastest street track – the Jeddah Corniche circuit – during the fourth successive FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX on the weekend of March 7th – 9th, 2024.
The second season of the all-women series will begin in Saudi Arabia on March 7th and finish in Abu Dhabi on December 8th. Moreover, Saudi Arabia’s first female racing driver, and home town hero, Reema Juffali, has also been confirmed as a special Wild Card entry for the Jeddah round. CEO of the Saudi Motorsport Company, Martin Whitaker, was joined by Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy on stage to discuss the importance of hosting this pioneering motorsport series in Saudi Arabia and the many doors it will open for young Saudi women aspiring to work in this arena. They were also joined on the panel by Saudi female racing drivers, Reema Juffali and Aseel Al-Hamad.
Together they spoke about the synergy between the inspirational F1 Academy series and the Kingdom’s Vison20230, the powerful impact motorsport has had on their lives and the many wide and varied opportunities that exist for anyone looking to work in the industry. All panellists also engaged in an engaging and motivational question and answer session with students in the audience. In addition to the panel discussion, students were also able to find out more about future careers in the motorsport world via special pop-up booths in the ‘Career Corner’ set up on campus, focusing on engineering, marketing, industrial design, and physical fitness roles in the industry. CEO of the Saudi Motorsport Company, Martin Whitaker, spoke afterwards: “I am very thankful to Effat University and its President, Dr. Haifa Jamal AlLail for inviting us here today to welcome F1 Academy to Jeddah and speak to its wonderful student body about the great opportunities that lay ahead for them should they pursue a career in motorsport. By further deepening our commitment to hosting progressive and game-changing motorsport series such as F1 Academy, we remain true to the Kingdom’s Vison 2030 which aims to improve the lives of all Saudis. We are working hard to build a future motorsport legacy for Saudi Arabia where together we will continue unlocking the talent, potential, and dedication of its young men and women. By showing the Kingdom’s young, talented female population that they too can achieve their dreams and reach for the stars, we hope to inspire future generations and help them to develop into the leaders of the future.” The second season of the all-women F1 Academy series will begin in Saudi Arabia on March 7th and finish in Abu Dhabi on December 8th. In addition to the hosts of the opening and closing rounds, Miami, Qatar, and Singapore will all join the calendar for the first time, with Zandvoort and Barcelona returning for a second year.
The pinnacle of motorsport is set to return to the shores of the Red Sea next March for the fourth installment of the FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX, which has to date produced three action-packed, record-breaking race weekends at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
The fun won’t stop on the racetrack though as the F1 weekend in Jeddah will once again be delivering another incredible line up of live music concerts by some of the biggest acts in the world including Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, and Martin Garrix.
For Media Enquiries:
- Saudi Arabian GP Contact: [email protected]
- SMG Contact: [email protected]
- SMG MENA: [email protected]
