Against the backdrop of Monaco’s legendary car collection, a new kind of horsepower took centre stage. ‘À l’occasion du E-Prix’ has brought together motorsport stars and local students for an empowering exchange aimed at inspiring young women to chase big dreams in a field long dominated by men.
The event, organised by SheCanHeCan Founder and Director Vibeke Thomsen alongside Better Futures Fund, was held at the Collection des Voitures des S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco and featured an impressive panel of speakers, including former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard and inspiring female motorsport figures Catie Munnings, Beth Paretta, Stephanie Ensten, and Marine Prudhomme.
Speaking to a group of enthusiastic students, the panellists shared personal experiences and advice about overcoming obstacles in the motorsport industry.
Extreme E driver Catie Munnings recalled a pivotal moment in her career during a race in Greenland, when she found herself competing against her childhood heroes.
“We’d had some problems in qualifying and ended up in the worst position on the grid,” Munnings shared. “I was starting the race alongside Sébastien Loeb and some of my heroes. Obviously, I’d grown up watching these people race, so it was a massive moment for me.”
She explained how her teammate’s words helped her overcome self-doubt: “My teammate said to me, ‘Catie, you have exactly the same tools as they do. You’ve got a steering wheel and pedals, so you have the same equipment. You just have to believe in yourself and go for it.’” Munnings did just that—she passed first in the opening turn and ultimately won the race.
In an exclusive interview with Monaco Life, she highlighted the importance of boldness for young women: “You have to be bold. You have to go for things before you feel ready for them, and that’s a massive thing. I think, as women, when we don’t see many role models doing what we do, it takes a lot more from us to really put ourselves in those situations.”
Transatlantic perspectives on gender equality
Beth Paretta, known for her groundbreaking work in American motorsport and now active in Formula E, offered a comparative perspective on gender equality progress between the United States and Europe during the event.
“America is a little bit ahead. I feel like Europe right now is where America was ten years ago, which is good,” Paretta observed. “That means there’s a road map, and we can get there. Europe might even get there quicker because we can use these examples.”
Paretta also highlighted the importance of looking beyond driving roles in motorsport: “Although there have been initiatives to get women in as racing drivers, because my experience was not as a driver and was in all these other roles, I knew there were more places for women.”
She added, “Even in a Formula E team, if my team has 30 people, one of them is a driver—29 are not. And those 29 people are critical to getting the car on the track, making it faster, getting it funded, and doing all the things that make it function.”
In a powerful message directed at young women facing criticism, Paretta advised: “Don’t take into account criticism from people you wouldn’t go to for advice.”
Supporting Monaco’s journey to period equality
À l’occasion du E-Prix, jointly organised by SheCanHeCan and Better Futures Fund, comes in the wake of Formula E’s significant €25,000 donation to SheCanHeCan’s Monarègles project, which aims to make Monaco the world’s first period-equal country through free organic period products and inclusive menstrual education.
During the Monaco E-Prix on 3rd and 4th May, SheCanHeCan will host awareness events and participate in Formula E’s FIA Girls on Track programme, with organic period products available throughout Formula E-managed facilities.
The funding from Formula E will enable SheCanHeCan to deliver workshops to all Year 8 students in Monaco over the coming year and expand access to menstrual products and education to more than 1,400 people across the Principality.
As David Coulthard noted during À l’occasion du E-Prix, sometimes staying out of the spotlight can be beneficial: “Sometimes staying back in the order isn’t a bad thing because it keeps you away from the noise and allows you to focus on where you want to be.”
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All photos by Monaco Life
