Girls on Track UK brought motorsport and STEM to life for more than 150 girls during a two-day activation held ahead of the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally at the home of Ulster Girlguiding, the Lorne Estate in Holywood.
Taking place on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 August, the event welcomed Brownies, Guides and Rangers aged between 8 and 18, giving them the opportunity to discover the exciting world of motorsport through a range of engaging, hands-on activities designed to educate, inspire and build confidence.
Participants enjoyed an action-packed programme featuring some of Girls on Track UK’s most popular activities. The famous Pirelli Pit Stop Challenge put teamwork and communication skills to the test, while a series of reaction-based games helped demonstrate the quick thinking and concentration required in motorsport.
Combining motorsport with STEM learning, the girls also worked with local charity Sentinus to design their own racing circuits before building and coding robots to navigate their creations. The activity encouraged problem-solving, creativity and introduced coding skills in a fun and accessible way.
To learn more about rallying, participants stepped into the shoes of broadcasters through a rally presenting challenge. Working in teams, they imagined they were reporting live from the event, interviewing female drivers and co-drivers before delivering their own television-style reports.
The girls also explored one of rallying’s most unique skills – pace notes. Just like professional navigators, they learned how pace notes are created and interpreted, using the sport’s distinctive language to follow routes and create their own coded instructions.
Adding to the immersive experience, local competitors brought along both two-wheeled and four-wheeled competition vehicles, allowing participants to get up close to the machinery used in the sport.
Drivers and riders shared their personal experiences, giving the girls valuable insights into the many opportunities available within motorsport and the passion that drives competitors to succeed.
The Girls on Track UK activity in Northern Ireland continued on Friday, bringing together more than 20 members of the Girls on Track UK Community from across the region. The gathering gave participants the opportunity to meet fellow motorsport enthusiasts, build new connections and gain a deeper understanding of the sport.
Community members learned about the vital roles that take place behind the scenes of a rally event, took part in a guided paddock tour and enjoyed watching the ceremonial start together. The experience provided a unique insight into rallying beyond the competitive action, with many attendees planning to continue their motorsport journey by spectating at stages across the Ulster Rally weekend.
Jenny Fletcher, Girls on Track UK Programme Manager, said:
“It was fantastic to bring Girls on Track UK to Northern Ireland and to work with more than 150 Brownies, Guides and Rangers in the lead up to the Ulster Rally and then with our Northern Irish hub at the Ballymena Showground on the Friday. The enthusiasm, energy and curiosity shown by the girls and women throughout the week was incredible.
“Our aim is to inspire the next generation by showcasing the wide range of opportunities available within motorsport, whether as drivers, navigators, engineers, broadcasters or officials. Through activities focused on teamwork, communication, problem-solving and STEM skills, we hope to demonstrate that there is a place for everyone in our sport.”
“I’d also like to thank the 2 & 4 Wheel Club, Ulster Girlguiding, our inspiring role models, Sentinus and our fantastic volunteers, whose support, enthusiasm and dedication made this event possible.
Bringing Girls on Track UK to Northern Ireland has been a real team effort, and together we have created opportunities for hundreds of girls to discover new skills, build confidence and see what is possible through motorsport and STEM.”
The Ulster Rally activation forms part of the wider Girls on Track UK programme, which is dedicated to inspiring and empowering young women through motorsport while highlighting the many educational, recreational and career opportunities available across the industry.
