Racing for Women uses the Ligier Test Days to open the track to five female drivers
On October 27-28, 2026, during the Ligier Test Days held on the Magny-Cours Grand Prix Circuit, the Racing for Women initiative, supported by L'Écurie Française, gave five female drivers the opportunity to discover the Ligier JS2 R free of charge in a professional environment. It marked another initiative for the project, created in 2025 to support the fight against breast cancer and promote greater representation of women in motorsport.
A commitment launched in 2025 with a long-term vision
Created by Alexia Ortega and Marc Bonnet for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 2025, Racing for Women was designed from the outset to go beyond a one-off campaign.
Its objective is to use motorsport as a platform to raise awareness, support research and take concrete action in the fight against breast cancer, while creating more opportunities for women in motorsport.
During its first campaign, Racing for Women enabled three female drivers to take part in an endurance race at Magny-Cours free of charge thanks to the support of its partners. Passenger rides were also organized for patients and healthcare professionals, while L'Écurie Française's cars carried the project's colors to help raise funds.
In 2026, the initiative expanded to cover the entire season.
€12,000 donated and broader support
Racing for Women continues to support the Jeune et Rose association, which assists young women affected by breast cancer, and Persévérance, which supports research into triple-negative breast cancer.
A total of €12,000 was donated in 2026, with €1,000 going to each association for every race on L'Écurie Française's calendar. Prevention and awareness initiatives were also carried out throughout the season.
Another key focus of the program is increasing the presence of women in motorsport, with particular attention given to technical roles.
Two young women, Jade as a mechanic and Camélia as an engineer, joined the team during the season. The aim is to allow them to learn trackside, benefit from L'Écurie Française's experience and gradually develop their network and skills.
Racing for Women also continued to support drivers, notably through a mixed-gender crew competing in the Ligier JS Cup France with the #64 L'Écurie Française Ligier JS2 R.
Five drivers discover the Ligier JS2 R during the Ligier Test Days
For the second edition of its day dedicated to female drivers, Racing for Women chose to take advantage of the Ligier Test Days held on October 27-28 at the Magny-Cours Grand Prix Circuit.
Emma Ferstler, 22, who competes in Clio Cup; Aurélie Estienney, 40, with a background in Caterham racing; Sarah Cayrolle, 27, who competes in Lamera; Chloé Ebel, 28, who races Porsche cars; and Alexandra Hervé, 20, from a single-seater background, all had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Ligier JS2 R.
The day was not intended to select or rank the participants. The main objective was to offer them a new experience and support them in their development.
With its accessibility and genuine race-car characteristics, the Ligier JS2 R provides Racing for Women with a particularly suitable platform for this type of initiative. The participants were able to discover the car in a comprehensive environment, surrounded by the team and the various stakeholders attending the Ligier Test Days.
Beyond the track time, they received coaching from Marc Bonnet, communications guidance from Alexia Ortega, and opportunities to connect with teams, media and content creators present at the event.
Creating opportunities beyond the track
For Racing for Women, this broader approach is essential. The ambition is not simply to offer a few laps on track, but to provide participants with tools and contacts that can support them over the long term.
“Today, we can see that this project really resonates with many people around us in motorsport, and some would like to get involved but do not necessarily know where to start or how to contribute with the resources they have available. To those people, I want to say: every one of you can make a difference, and we are here to help, advise you and act as an intermediary if needed. Our door is always open! Because it is by working together that we can truly change things.” — Alexia Ortega, founder of Racing for Women and communications specialist.
A philosophy also shared by Marc Bonnet, co-founder of Racing for Women, driver and coach:
“The greatest victory we could achieve would be to have a lasting impact, at our own level, on motorsport. Above all, it is important to change mindsets in a sincere and lasting way, because I truly believe that this is the future of our sport.”
Building on the foundations laid in 2026
For 2027, Racing for Women intends to continue developing the project progressively, with the objective of consolidating the initiatives already in place.
Support for drivers is expected to be strengthened in particular, with more regular and long-term follow-up. The initiative also intends to continue its work around mixed-gender crews and explore the possibility of entering an all-female crew with the #64 L'Écurie Française Ligier JS2 R.
A merchandise range could also be introduced to further support fundraising efforts.
Through these different initiatives, Racing for Women and L'Écurie Française intend to continue using motorsport as a concrete way to support women, contribute to research and drive lasting change within the paddock.
To learn more about Racing for Women:
https://marcbonnet.fr/racingforwomen
To support Racing for Women:
https://www.helloasso.com/associations/association-always-ahead-of-the-curve/formulaires/2
Photo credit: Alexia Ortega