The significance of allowing women in Saudi Arabia to drive cannot be underestimated

In 2017 Aseel was appointed as a board member of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) as the first women board member. Aseel is currently FiA's Saudi Arabia Representative of Women Motorsport. In the wake of Saudi Arabia's lifting of a ban on women driving on 2018, Aseel drove a celebratory lap in a F1 car prior to the opening of the 2018 French Grand Prix.

As Chief Executive Officer Aseel has overall responsibility for the institutional relations of the Dragon Girls, including strategic direction, marketing and commercial development. In her role Aseel has direction and involvement in the motorsport team, as well as developing synergies at a regionally and internationally level.

Aseel Al-Hamad

The significance of allowing women in Saudi Arabia to drive cannot be underestimated. The lifting of the ban, on June 24, 2018, was not only a celebration for the automotive industry, but also a significant step forward in Saudi Arabia’s acceptance of women’s role in society, legitimising our aspirations, hopes, and dreams and allowing us to articulate and carve out identities for ourselves separate from our families and husbands.

While society considers motorsports to be a male arena, it is important that we remember that there are no actual rules forbidding women to compete on the track. We want to show that with spirit, determination, and by dreaming big, we can redefine what is considered ‘normal,’ and encourage more women to step forward into roles in the world of motorsports.

We work tirelessly to inspire our fellow women to express themselves clearly and take ownership of their limitless and true potential. We must believe in ourselves and never lose hope. No matter what challenges a woman faces, if she can meet them head on and gain strength from every aspect, she will grow. By never giving up and remaining faithful to both the values of our nation and our personal ambitions, we can show women that anything is possible with hard work and ambition. I encourage women to do what they love, to follow their dreams, and to really push themselves to become the truest articulation of their personality. We gain nothing by acting small. Life is like a race. We must always look to achieve our goals and, ultimately, become a champion.

Dragon Girls Racing Team CEO

One of Aseel's role is to champion the voice of female drivers in the kingdom.

Aseel Al-Hamad, Dragon Girls Racing Team CEO on the future of women drivers in the region.

The moment when true and unique talent is discovered is emotionally unparalleled

Since 2011 Borja has been involved in motorsport series. In 2018 Borja directed McLaren’s World’s Fastest Gamer including Zak Brown, Mika Häkkinen, and Lando Norris.

Borja has directed unscripted films and series for the BBC, Discovery Channel, Red Bull, FOX, ESPN, WSL, SailGP, and others.

Borja Cantera

The way motorsport is broadcast never appealed to me. I didn’t grew up watching races. I’m not a super-car fanatic, I don’t even like driving. My aim has always been to appeal to the broadest of the audiences. Whatever the subject matter may be, I've always fallen for characters undergoing transformation. In 2011 and to my surprise I found all those ingredients in the most inconspicuous production.

Nissan GT Academy was born under a simple strap line; From virtual to reality. The aim was to transform gamers into professional racing drivers. In 2011 I was brought-in to work on the TV series narrating the challenges in which the gamers had to drive real racing cars in real racing circuits. After several seasons I directed the last ever GT Academy in 2017. What I discovered during that period transformed my approach to live-action unscripted series, narrative and at large entertainment.

A driver’s academy contains all the ingredients to bake the finest Greek drama. But it also involves something I couldn’t anticipate back in 2011. However much it has been exploited, the moment when true and unique talent is discovered is emotionally unparalleled. Those moments are not for the motorsport fans to admire. They are for all to rejoice in the potential of youth, to admire the luck and predisposition of unique individuals, to give us hope for a greater future.

The women in our Academy series are daring and brave women. They all have that special grace, that special spirit that says, “give me a challenge and I’ll meet it with joy.” The few have the light of geniuses, the ability to inspire a generation. For us It’s all part of the process of exploration and discovery. These women are pulling us into the future, and we’ll continue to follow them.

Founder of P1 Entertainment