(Motorsports news) Extreme E is taking two female STEM student ambassadors to all five races on its Season 4 calendar. Supporting the championship’s logistics, operations and partnerships functions, Jessica Brito and Santhiya Chandrakumar joined the series ahead of the Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia.
The students were recruited via the McLaren Racing 60 Scholars Programme, an initiative McLaren launched in 2023 to encourage and support the next generation of female leaders in STEM . Named to mark the team’s 60th anniversary last year, the programme recruited 60 aspiring female leaders of tomorrow for an accelerated course of learning and mentorship, with the aim of opening pathways to a career in motorsport.
The role includes directly supporting the Hospitality and Partnerships team and will give the students exposure to the wider team producing and running each event. This helps to develop an intimate understanding of the race format and different responsibilities needed to execute each X Prix.
This role also leads on the guest experience within the Explorer Lounge (the Extreme E on-site hospitality), which helps the students grow into subject matter experts on Extreme E and the key partners, sponsors and teams that make up the series.
A key responsibility involves running the Paddock Tours for VIP guests giving them a behind-the-scenes look into the teams, engineering partners such as Continental Tyres, Spark Racing Technologies, FOX suspension and broadcast experts.
This provides the ambassadors with fantastic exposure to the racing teams and suppliers who are operating at the highest level of motorsport, and offers the platform to elevate their career in the industry.
Ali Russell, Managing Director of Extreme E, said: “Supporting the next generation is a key part of Extreme E’s ethos and we are delighted to welcome Jessica Brito and Santhiya Chandrakumar to the championship, who were both extremely impressive in their first event in Saudi Arabia.
“Supporting educational development is incredibly important to Extreme E and we’re excited to have identified individuals from the McLaren 60 Scholars Programme to help give females in STEM the invaluable hands on experience of working in motorsport.
“As the students will become a vital part of the operations team, the knowledge and experience they will gain over the 2024 season will hopefully aid them in their goals of a career in motorsport.”
