15 May 2025 • 3 minute read
Empowering women through sport: the Race 4 Women initiative in Saudi Arabia
A few days ago, the second edition of Race 4 Women took place at The Track, a karting circuit near Jeddah. Twenty young women gathered for two days of racing, learning, and exchange in a setting that was both supportive and symbolic. In a country where women were only granted the legal right to drive in 2018, such an image is deeply meaningful and reflects a shift in what is considered possible, acceptable, and worth encouraging.
The Race 4 Women initiative was created in 2021 by four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, just before the first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. At the time, only seven women participated, most of them discovering motorsport for the first time.
The 2025 edition stood out for the diversity and enthusiasm of its participants, and for the expanded programme: sessions included race theory, physical preparation, and driving techniques. The goal was not performance, but access—allowing women to discover, experiment, and find enjoyment in a space that had historically been closed to them.
The event also highlights the role of grassroots initiatives in opening up opportunities where formal structures may not yet exist. By focusing on individual experience and small-scale impact, Race 4 Women contributes to a quiet but meaningful evolution in the sporting landscape.
A symbolic initiative in a changing landscape
Women in Saudi Arabia have only recently gained the legal right to drive: on 26 September 2017, King Salman issued a royal decree lifting the ban of women’s driving, which took effect on 24 June 2018.
In this context, the idea of encouraging women to get behind the wheel, even in a recreational setting, goes beyond sport. It becomes a gesture of visibility and empowerment in a country where, until recently, such opportunities simply did not exist. Race 4 Women responds to that gap by offering a safe and structured environment where women can develop confidence, explore motorsport, and redefine what they believe is possible.
The initiative is privately funded by Sebastian Vettel and is not affiliated with any governmental programme. However, it benefits from logistical cooperation with local organisers, including use of the circuit and support from Saudi female athletes.
While Race 4 Women is not officially part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, it aligns with its broader goals: increasing women’s participation in public life, including in sports.
Conclusion
Through its two editions, Race 4 Women has shown how targeted, small-scale initiatives can challenge norms and expand access to sport in meaningful ways.
Above all, the event highlights how sport can serve not only as a space for competition, but as a tool for visibility, self-confidence, and social integration. By giving women the opportunity to occupy physical space, test their abilities, and support each other, initiatives like Race 4 Women contribute to reshaping both sport and society - from the ground up.
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