MotorSport New Zealand, through its Women in Motorsport Advisory Commission, is seeking applications from female motorsport officials for its annual trans-Tasman exchange programme designed to expand the knowledge, skills and understanding of the successful applicant.
Now in its fourth consecutive year, the exchange is organised by New Zealand’s Women in Motorsport Commission in collaboration with their Australian counterparts, the Australian Women in Motor Sport Commission. The exchange is supported by the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship with the New Zealander participant hosted at October’s Gold Coast 600 in Queensland and the Australian participant hosted at the ITM Auckland SuperSprint in September.
MotorSport New Zealand President Wayne Christie says the trans-Tasman female official exchange continues to offer value on both sides of the Tasman.
“The opportunity to see how other event officials work is valuable, no matter what sport you participate in,” says Christie. “Feedback from previous exchange participants – Timaru’s Cate Paddon, Christchurch’s Shelly McSaveney and Masterton’s Tracey Stringer – highlights how much they benefited from the experience. They brought back new ideas for ways to communicate with fellow motorsport volunteers and organise big groups of people at these major events. They also get to consider our New Zealand motorsport regulations from a fresh perspective.
“We’re very pleased that the trans-Tasman female official exchange is continuing again this year. It’s fantastic recognition for one of our valued female licenced officials.”
Tracey Stringer attended last year’s Gold Coast 600 with the exchange programme and said: “This trans-Tasman exchange certainly showcases that we are indeed recognised for our contributions and also that we perhaps bring something to the table that makes our sport somewhat better because of it, as we all know that men and women are indeed different. Our sport is a place where we are treated as equals and have just as much opportunity as any one and the exchange certainly celebrates this. To meet the women helping to bring the V8 Supercar Championship to the world was amazing and, gee, although they have very demanding positions, I think it’s a dream job!”
Key details for the 2019 exchange:
- Applications open date: 1 July
- Applications close date: 16 August
- Applicants must be available to attend the Gold Coast 600 event 25-27 October 2019
- Applicants must be a licenced official under MotorSport NZ regulations or hold an MSR (formerly RSR).
- Previous participants are not eligible to apply again.
The application form is available online at www.womeninmotorsport.co.nz. Women in Motorsport NZ is also on social media channels Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
New Zealand’s Women in Motorsport Advisory Commission stems from a similar initiative at global level when the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) launched its Women in Motorsport in 2009 with the aim of showing that motorsport is open to women in all of its aspects, whether as competitors, officials, team managers, engineers, mechanics, and media. There are around 100 female licenced officials registered with MotorSport New Zealand.
