LONDON: Formula E has announced that the first all-women test session of an FIA Championship will take place on Nov. 7 at Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, as part of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s pre-season testing schedule.

The first-of-its-kind test in the all-electric championship gives elite women racing drivers the opportunity to drive the Season 11 (2024-25) GEN3 Evo car, which is capable of 0-60 mph in just 1.82 seconds — 30 percent faster than a current Formula 1 car. The vehicle will also be tested during the same week by the 11 race teams and 22 drivers currently competing in the series.

Each of the race teams in the championship will be required to field at least one woman driver for the half-day test, but encouraged to field two, who will drive in current-season cars.

With all the women on the track at the same time, the session will create a tangible platform for a wide pool of elite drivers who would not otherwise get an opportunity to drive machinery at this level.

The test will aim to provide the women not only with a destination, but also a pathway to develop their careers and skills using current technology.

The drivers will take part in multiple media opportunities at the Valencia track, including press conferences, briefings and interviews, while content will be captured for broadcast and social media on behalf of Formula E and its respective teams.

This is to raise the drivers’ profile within elite motorsport and the wider sports industry, along with encouraging those involved at grassroots level and aspiring to work in motorsport. The full lineup of women drivers participating in the test will be announced in the coming weeks by each Formula E team.

Despite motorsport being one of the few sports in which men and women can compete together, it remains predominantly male, with only 3 percent of current top-tier racing licenses worldwide held by women.

Formula E is proactively launching this initiative as part of a broader long-term strategy to remove barriers and expand opportunities for women within the all-electric championship. It is not just about creating a one-off opportunity; it is about analyzing and actively dismantling the structural inequalities that have limited women’s participation and progress.

Jeff Dodds, CEO at Formula E, said: “We know there isn’t a simple solution for greater diversity in motorsport. If we’re going to truly give women equality, opportunity and visibility in our series, however, conditions for all need to be the same to aid their development and test themselves against those already on the starting grid.

“Unlike other series where women drivers have to use old or restricted machinery, they’ll be using the state-of-the-art GEN3 Evo car that accelerates 30 percent faster than an F1 car, just as our championship drivers do.

“We also recognize that one test will not solve the longstanding issue, but we have to start somewhere, knowing there is a long way to go and making sure we’re making proactive, consistent steps that continue to make forward progress.

“As a motorsport with an almost-equal split of male and female fans, as well as within Formula E including my exec and director teams, we believe it’s only right that our drivers and wider ecosystem is representative of those that follow and support the sport.”

DUBAI: The captain of Bangladesh’s women’s cricket team said her team will remain professional during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup despite their disappointment about the last-minute relocation of the tournament from their home country.

The decision to move the competition, which begins on Thursday and continues until Oct. 20, to the UAE was taken in August because of political violence in Bangladesh. All 23 matches will be played at two venues in Dubai and Sharjah. Bangladesh, who remain the official hosts, will get the tournament underway against debutants Scotland in the opening match.

The captains of all 10 competing teams gathered at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday for a pretournament press conference.

Bangladesh’s captain, Sultana Joty, acknowledged the challenges her team have faced as a result of the unrest in their home country and the resultant change in venue for the competition but said they maintain a positive outlook.

“It was disappointing but we are professional,” she said. “More than us, this is about everyone there. We are fortunate to be here and will provide some cheer for the fans.

“I’m expecting a lot of spectators because in Sharjah there are a lot of Bangladeshis there. And playing in this kind of event, I think more people will come watch us and support.”

Scotland are playing in their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup. Captain Kathryn Brice emphasized her team’s familiarity with the host venues and hopes their previous experience with conditions in the UAE will give them a boost.

“I think we just really want to compete in this competition,” she said. “We’ve played some fantastic cricket in the qualifiers and leading up to it, so I think we just want to go out there and do ourselves justice on that stage and put in some good performances against these teams.”

The tournament begins with a group stage, with the top two teams from each of the two five-team groups progressing to the knockout phase. The top team from each group will then face the runners-up from the other group, with the two winners contesting the final.

In one of the most eagerly anticipated group-stage matchups, India will take on Pakistan on Oct. 6. Adding to the excitement is the fact that tickets are very reasonably priced, starting at just 5 dirhams ($1.36), and children get in free.

India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, a veteran of all eight previous T20 World Cups, said it is important to remain composed under pressure.

“I think learning is something which is never going to stop,” she said. “Every day is a learning day. I’m going and learning and getting experience from every game.

“I think people around me, they are helping me, they are working hard to make our team go at that level where we want to be. I am happy with where our team is. I like how our team is working hard to achieve small, small things.”

Fatima Sana, the captain of Pakistan, emphasized the importance of self-belief, saying: “The best advice that management gave me is to express and back myself. They told me to take a brave decision in the field.”

The team with the best record in the tournament, six-time champions Australia, are led by Alyssa Healy.

“Ten teams, we all have a shot. You don’t come to defend a ball, you come to win,” she said.

“Our pool is quite a tricky one. We’ve got to get past a lot of these teams to be able to lift the trophy and it’s a challenge we’re excited for.”

A new feature for this year’s event is the first all-female team of umpires and referees, marking a historic step toward gender equality in officiating major sporting events.

With the possibility that dew might influence matches played under floodlights, and teams having taken the opportunity to play warm-up games to help adapt to conditions in the UAE, this edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup offers a chance for the next global superstars of women’s cricket to shine. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine highlighted the importance of nurturing emerging talent as the women’s game continues to develop.

“In terms of the quick bowlers, you’ve seen the girls become more professional, and what they’ve been able to do in the gym is starting to see bowlers hitting 120 kph and more, which makes for a challenge,” she said.

“It’s always exciting to be coming up against that but I think it just shows the development of the women’s game, that those sorts of skills continue to improve.

“We’ve got a number of young fast bowlers coming through. And again, their development has been massive the last 12 to 18 months, so certainly I’m looking forward to seeing what sort of bowlers they can turn into.”

Following the opening match between Bangladesh and Scotland, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka on Thursday. Both games are at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.