Carmen Jorda: Resilience, representation and the future of Formula 1

For Carmen Jorda, motorsport didn’t begin as a statement about representation. It began as instinct. A passion shaped early through weekends at the track with her father and a belief from the very start that this was where she belonged.

For years, the pathway into elite motorsport for women simply didn’t exist in a structured way. Progress relied on persistence and in Carmen’s early career, this saw her regularly competing as the only female on the grid. 

What started as a personal pursuit gradually took on greater meaning.

“I grew up being the only girl competing at the races. That experience drove my dream to become a professional racer to show that women belong in the sport too. I believe that dreams shouldn’t end just because you’re the only one. Sometimes it's hard to be the "only one", but as a child, I was more focused on driving being my passion and learning from my dad. As the years went on, I realised that being the "only one", or one of a few, comes with a responsibility to those watching and hoping to see themselves represented.” - she reflects.

Her journey through single-seaters, sports cars and GP3 required immense determination and resilience.

“There were moments I wanted to give up. But I kept pushing.”

The decision to continue, when it would have been easier not to - ultimately led her to Formula 1, joining Lotus as a development driver in 2015. 

Today, Carmen’s role sits on the other side of that experience. From racing in the system to helping to build one.

As Head of Alpine’s F1 Academy programme, she is now supporting an initiative that simply didn’t exist during her own career: a clear, structured pathway for female drivers to progress.

The evolution of F1 Academy isn’t happening in isolation. It’s being recognised - and backed - at a global level. Major brands are stepping into the series, bringing investment, visibility and credibility.

“It shows there is belief in the female audience and a growing desire to see women succeed in the sport.”

With more role models, greater exposure and structured development, the gap between ambition and opportunity is narrowing. The question is no longer whether women belong in motorsport - but how quickly they can progress within it.

“My hope for the next generation of women in motorsports is for them to just go for it. They can be world champions. They are capable of achieving their dreams. If we don't TRY or believe in ourselves, we see NO movement. Any visibility of women in motor racing will inspire more action and possibility.”

And now, there is a system in place designed to support that belief.

Carmen’s role in that story doesn’t stop on track, she now brings that perspective beyond the sport - offering a real-world view on resilience, pressure and what it takes to keep going when the path isn’t clear.

If you’d like to bring insights from Carmen to your organisation, get in touch to explore speaker availability.