Ford Picks 16 Men, Zero Women for WEC Program Despite JAMIE CHADWICK Boom

January 19, 2026

• Ford just announced its 16-driver development roster for the new WEC hypercar program and somehow managed to find zero women despite the talent pool including JAMIE CHADWICK (signed to Genesis Magma Racing for 2026), KATHERINE LEGGE (fresh off NASCAR Cup Series competition), and LILOU WADOUX (Ferrari’s latest signing). That’s not an oversight—that’s a choice.
• When pressed, Ford’s Scott Bartlett essentially shrugged and said they only hire drivers who’ve raced their GT3 cars, claiming no women meet that bar. But here’s the thing: Ford doesn’t control who customer teams put behind the wheel, so this sounds like a convenient excuse for not actively seeking diverse talent or creating pathways for women to access their vehicles.
• The irony is thick considering Ford partners with Oracle Red Bull Racing, and Red Bull’s own F1 Academy features rising stars like ALISHA PALMOWSKI. Meanwhile, SUSIE WOLFF is working overtime to create legitimate development paths through F1 Academy, where top finishers earn Super License points—exactly the kind of forward-thinking approach Ford seems to be missing.

development drivers, fia world endurance championship, ford racing, hypercar