This British Grand Prix, it’s not only British talent that is being showcased on the track, behind the scenes a veritable community of stewards, marshals and volunteers are turning the cogs in a well-oiled machine.  

Yet this year, it’s thanks to the dedication and talent of increasing numbers of women in motorsport that is shaping the future of female involvement and participation in the sport.  

No more is this better reflected than in Formula 2, with three women heading up stewarding for the championship, ensuring fair play and a safe environment on the track during race weekend. For Silvia Bellot, Adrienne Watson and Tanja Geilhausen it is more than a love of motorsport that has seen them occupy these strategic roles, years of stewarding from grassroots up, hours of training and time trackside has seen them progress to occupy their positions for the pinnacle weekend of British circuit racing, supported by Carol Slenzak, Secretary to the Stewards for Formula 2. 

Silvia Bellot hails from a long lineage of Spanish drivers, having spent hours watching Ayrton Senna as a little girl. Despite wanting to compete as a driver, drawn in by the male-female competition aspect of motorsport, she went on to join the FIA’s training stewards panel in 2009 and was soon invited to attend a variety of global Grands Prix. Currently based in the US, she is involved in the F1 Academy race operations for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.  

On her team this weekend, Bellot said, “I think we approach challenges in a different way and we have a different set of skills that are needed in motorsport, attention to detail and the ability to see things in a different way. It’s great to have more women in the sport, in particular this weekend with my colleagues, I feel that they have been very supportive and we work great together as a group. 

“A few years ago there weren’t many female role models in the sport and not as many in senior positions as we have now. Motorsport needs women, even if you feel that it is a challenging space still. If any of us can do it, so too can the women from younger generations.” 

Watson has taken on numerous roles in motorsport during her 30-year career, having started in the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) before moving into a post as championship co-ordinator for British Touring Cars and Formula BMW both in UK and Europe and World Finals. This saw her move into writing regulations and she soon decided to move into stewarding, becoming a Motorsport UK Steward in 2012. 

“Sometimes there is a perception with Stewards that you begin at a higher level, but it’s always great to start at the bottom so that you can understand the challenges that marshals face and how it works, you get to know all the different roles which is very important. What happens out there then translates through into the Stewards’ room. If you’ve got a good knowledge of all those aspects then I think that helps you as a Steward.  

“When I got my first job here at Silverstone, it was through writing a letter! Be proactive, don’t expect it all to fall into your lap. You’ve got to work for it.” 

Tanja Geilhausen started her career as motorsport CVRally co-driver from 1996 to 2019, mainly in the Germany Rally Championship, before becoming Event Secretary for the WRC Rally Deutschland and the WRC Central European Rally. She also acted as Assistant of the Clerk of the Course during the 24h Nürburgring Race and has been a FIA Steward since 2022. Her extensive experience both behind the wheel and trackside makes her a true asset to the team. 

“If you want to become involved in motorsport, start as a marshal, get involved with racing and motorsport and work hard to get to the top.” 

Since entering the motorsport world in 1990, Carol started as Race Team Secretary for the Spice sportscar team at Silverstone, before going on to work with teams in the BTCC from 1994 to 1998, winning all championships in 1996 with the Audi Sport UK Team. From 1999 to 2004, she was part of teams competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours. With the creation of A1GP in 2005, Carol moved to the organisational side, becoming Operations Co-ordinator looking after around 60 personnel – this involved travelling the world for four seasons. Since 2012, Carol has been Secretary to the Stewards with various motorsport series, and has been in her current role since 2019. 

Her advice too, “A handwritten letter!” This no-nonsense approach has seen her have an extensive international career. 

This 11-21 sees the launch of National Motorsport Week, celebrating motorsport and everyone involved. If you have considered exploring volunteering or fancy yourself as a stickler for stewarding – then now is your chance! Find out more about how you can get involved with our nationwide community.