Black women in motorsport have come a long way from the dark days when “women drivers” was a derogatory term.
Today, the term symbolizes determination, strength, and the relentless pursuit of equality on the track.
However, despite the considerable progress, representation in fields like Formula 1 still needs to be improved.
The absence of women in sports like Formula 1 is notable because they make up a sizable portion of the sport’s fanbase–and Black women have it especially tough.
However, stereotypes and underrepresentation have formed invisible barriers that we only now see being addressed.
The launch of the F1 Academy, a women-only racing series, in 2023 was a significant step forward for women in motorsport.
With that said, let’s look at the iconic Black women in motorsport who shattered glass ceilings.
These fearless Black women faced insurmountable odds but overcame them to put their names in motorsport history.
Melissa Harville-Lebron
Melissa Harville-Lebron is among the most fearless Black women in motorsport.
She is a team owner in the white male-dominated NASCAR.
Her team, E2 Northeast Motorsports, got licensed over a year ago but is still trying to qualify for a NASCAR Truck Series race.
In an interview with WFAE 90.7, Harville-Lebron addressed her challenges as one of the few Black women in motorsports.
“I am an African-American woman going into a Southern male sport. So I don’t expect to be embraced. I expect to earn, you know, the respect, the same way everyone else earns respect. And that comes with being competitive. And the only way to be competitive in this industry is to have the financial backing, to be able to produce, you know, excellent races.”
As a Black woman from New York, Harville-Lebron’s mere presence in NASCAR is unheard of.
She’s up against infinitely more challenges than her competitors, but she remains optimistic.
“When people told me I was crazy for even wanting to get into the sport, I would have never went for it. And I’m in it for the long haul.”
That’s what we like to hear!
Brehanna Daniels
Brehanna Daniels started in basketball as a point guard for the Norfolk State women’s basketball team.
Daniels never thought she’d become one of the few Black women in motorsport, but here she is: NASCAR’s first Black woman pit crew member.
According to ABC, Daniels joined NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program in college and realized her skills matched the needs of a NASCAR pit crew.
After training for several months, Daniels became NASCAR’s first Black woman, over-the-wall tire changer in 2017.
Later that year, she made history again as part of the first female duo in a NASCAR pit crew.
Daniels proves that Black women in motorsports should be the norm instead of the exception.
Tia Norfleet
Tia Norfleet is the daughter of racing legend Bobby Norfleet.
She has raced since childhood and is the first (and only) Black woman licensed by NASCAR.
According to The Washington Post, Norfleet started with racing go-karts, where she earned many wins.
When she’s not racing, Norfleet mentors students on overcoming adversity in motorsports and has a child-literacy program called “Driven 2 Read.”
She also wants Black kids to see Black women in motorsports because it’s easier to identify with them.
“I think actually seeing someone that they can identify with would be a stepping stone toward that goal. A lot of people don’t pay attention to things they don’t identify with.”
Dr. Jennifer Satterfield-Siegel
Dr. Jennifer Satterfield-Siegel is doing a lot to empower Black women in motorsport.
She co-owns Rev Racing, NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity’s competitive arm.
Dr. Satterfield-Siegel has been part of NASCAR since 2009 with her husband, Max Siegel.
Dr. Satterfield-Siegel joined the NASCAR Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2021.
But she’s only about sport.
Dr. Satterfield-Siegel is a board-certified pediatric dentist who runs her own practice.
Stephanie Travers
Stephanie Travers is a member of the Mercedes Formula 1 team.
In 2021, she made history when she joined Lewis Hamilton on the podium when he was the Styrian Grand Prix–becoming the first Black woman to do so in Formula 1 history.
In an interview with CNN, Travers shared what she felt at that historic moment.
“I still can’t put it into words for you. It was such a surreal moment for myself and a momentous occasion for myself and my family. I didn’t have time to inform my family beforehand, but my parents love the sport, so they were there from home watching, screaming.”
The Zimbabwe-born Travers is now the Deputy Team Principal of Lewis Hamilton’s Extreme E team X44 Vida Carbon Racing.
Cheryl Linn Glass
Cheryl Linn Glass paved the way for Black women in motorsport.
She was America’s first Black female professional driver, competing in over 100 professional races.
Even though her life was cut tragically short at the age of 35, Glass remains one of the most important Black women in motorsport.
Gladys Mae West
Gladys Mae West is responsible for something we all use in our daily lives: the GPS.
But GPS is also essential in motorsports as GPS trackers are crucial components of disciplines like rallying.
Gladys West is one of the key mathematicians who developed the GPS at a time when she faced incredible adversity–as you can see in the film Hidden Figures.
What Next For Black Women In Motorsport?
Despite glacial progress for Black women in motorsport, we are finally taking necessary strides.
The drive for motorsport quality reflects today’s push for diversity and inclusivity–something we must all commit to.
