Salford Racing recently celebrated Women in STEM on February 11, 2025.
Women in STEM Day was the perfect time to celebrate the amazing women in our Formula Student team. Without them, the team wouldn't be able to function in the same way. They've helped push our projects further with their innovations and skills, demonstrating that anyone can make a heavy impact in the male-dominated motorsport engineering industry.
Data from HESA and the UK Government’s census on the 22/23 academic year breakdown of STEM subjects reported that only 30% of women represented the STEM workforce overall, with engineering and technology representing 21%. These statistics aren't very shocking, even if heartbreaking when considering female participation. However, there have been significant improvements in female representation in these fields over the last few decades.
The latest episode of The Car 61 podcast delved into some of the motivating backstories of our current Salford Racing members as well as former team member, Amber Jones [pictured on the left], who is now a motorsport presenter.
Our Dynamics lead, Yousra Loughzali [pictured on the right], also joined the podcast where she shared what inspired her to pursue a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering.
Yousra always loved engineering and maths, going for the hardest career possible.
When asked what drove her, she shared:
I’m very stubborn and I want to do it and want to do it right. This is such a big opportunity for me to be here and I don’t take it for granted at all.
Furthermore, she also shared important advice to young, female engineers.
Just do it. If you really want to do something, do it. Nothing is too silly or too big to do. Do things for the right reasons. It shouldn’t be to please someone else.
The Salford Racing committee currently has three (3) female leads who do an incredible job of gluing their teams together, and ensuring that everyone is thriving in their respective groups.
As the wellbeing and inclusion officer, Sabah Ahmad, ensures that all team members have a positive experience within the team. Sabah is completing a BSc in Adult Nursing.
Yousra Loughzali, as previously mentioned, oversees the design and build of the car’s suspension and the overall dynamic structure.
Serena Akudolu-Peters was recently elected as the Business lead and is studying Aeronautical Engineering. She will manage business administration and produce the business plan presentation for the Formula Student competition.
We'd also like to highlight the women behind our Salford Racing Media team for producing, designing, and showcasing their creativity in our social media posts.
“I think it is good to have women in Salford Racing. I don’t feel a difference between men and women in the team. Salford Racing provides a safe environment for women, where nobody feels like there is a particular difference.”
We hope that the environment that Yousra described will become much more available for Women in STEM.
If you missed our Women in STEM episode, you can check it out on The Car 61 Podcast.
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