Sophia Rehman – Girls On Track

CASE STUDY - Sophia Rehman

I joined D2BD (now Girls on Track) in 2016 when I was 13 years old. At the time I knew I loved cars and that I wanted to work in Formula 1, but I didn’t know what kind of options would be available to me, especially as I didn’t know anyone who worked in F1. It was from meeting the Girls on Track ambassadors that my path into F1 became clearer and gave me an end goal in mind.

I’ve been lucky enough to have spent a week of work experience with the Mercedes aerodynamics department and an afternoon with their Chief Race Strategist. Both of these experiences wouldn’t have been possible without an enormous amount of help from the Girls on Track ambassadors along the way!

Although I haven’t achieved my dream of working in motorsport yet, I’m currently studying Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Southampton and I’m actively involved in the Formula Student team. I still attend community events regularly as everyone continues to support me on my journey into F1.

OTHER CASE studies

Cece Liu

During university, whilst researching possible sustainability careers in motorsport, I stumbled upon the Girls on Track community Facebook group. Through posting some initial questions, Cristiana, as someone working in the field and an Ambassador for Girls on Track, kindly reached out and offered to meet. Staying in contact with Cristiana then allowed me to complete my master’s thesis with her company, Enovation Consulting, which was then converted into a full-time position. The community also allowed me to meet lots of other wonderful people, including other students who were looking to work in this industry as well as an F1 engineer who told me sustainability was the future of the sport. Additionally attending the sustainability and motorsport webinar in 2021 was super helpful in understanding industry trends. Ultimately, the support the community gave me allowed me to solidify my sustainability and motorsport career goals, as well as paved the way for the amazing role I’m currently in.

Jemma Murphy

The Girls on Track community has been alongside me since the day I entered the world of Mechanical Engineering at university. From navigating challenging academic exams to completing a placement year at Williams racing, and now working as an Engineering Graduate at McLaren Racing. Through my role at McLaren, I’ve had the opportunity to develop through experiences that have been pivotal to my early career, including supporting races from Mission Control at our factory and assisting the Drivers and Performance Engineers in the Simulator. Working on analysis projects to enhance performance, collaborating with incredible motorsport experts, and immersing myself in an innovation-led environment has provided depth to my technical skills and allowed me to contribute meaningfully to the team’s success. Remember that the journey is often up and down, but with a strong mindset, persistence, and a supportive network around you, anything is possible.

Ellie Agar-Brennan

From a young age, I was captivated by the world of motorsport and during my second year at university, I discovered the Girls on Track community. Their empowering career advice and the inspiring stories of women in Formula 1 fuelled my passion and solidified my ambition to work in motorsport. In my final year, I led a conceptual rebranding project for Girls on Track. Thanks to this community motivating me, my dream to work in Formula 1 became a reality. Every day, I am surrounded by talented individuals and inspiring women who motivate young girls to explore the world of racing. My role involves everything from layout design to conceptual projects, allowing me to push creative boundaries in a fast-paced environment. My hope is, in the future, to become a role model for girls like me and encourage greater diversity in the sport.

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