{"id":2632,"date":"2017-12-16T06:59:50","date_gmt":"2017-12-16T11:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=2632"},"modified":"2026-02-12T17:16:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T22:16:21","slug":"carmen-jordas-appointment-to-fia-commission-causes-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2017\/12\/16\/carmen-jordas-appointment-to-fia-commission-causes-controversy\/","title":{"rendered":"Carmen Jorda\u2019s appointment causes controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The appointment of former GP3 driver Carmen Jorda<\/strong> to the FIA\u2019s Women in Motorsport Commission<\/strong> has been met with great controversy.\u00a0 Jorda has expressed opinions regarding women racing separately from men and having a women’s only racing series in the past. The Spaniard’s appointment has led to a backlash from other female drivers across motorsport.\u00a0 Her appointment has been viewed as a step in the wrong direction for women in motorsport, causing many people to question the FIA\u2019s view of women racers.<\/p>\n

Carmen Jorda\u2019s appointment causes controversy<\/h1>\n

Carmen Jorda\u2019s questionable appointment<\/h3>\n

Carmen Jorda has raced three seasons in GP3.\u00a0 In those three seasons, she has never finished above 25th<\/sup> place. Jorda was also the development driver for the Renault F1<\/strong> team (formerly Lotus team) for 2 years (2015-2016). Jorda has a poor track record in racing. Jorda has frequently expressed opinions that women are not capable of racing against men.\u00a0 She has stated, on several occasions, that even she is not capable of being competitive against the men.\u00a0 Jorda has gone so far as to express the opinion that the FIA<\/strong> should have a league, similar to Formula 1, for women only.<\/p>\n

It is these opinions, along with her lack of success on the track, that has raised questions as to how and why Jorda was appointed to sit on the FIA\u2019s Commission. Several drivers, such as IndyCar<\/strong>\u2019s Pippa Mann<\/strong>, have expressed their concern that Jorda\u2019s appointment will, in fact, set women back in racing, not propel it forward.\u00a0 Motor racing is one of the few sports in which men and women compete together and Jorda\u2019s opinion that the sexes should be separated causes much dissension among male and female racers and fans alike.<\/p>\n

Will Carmen Jorda\u2019s appointment unite or divide women in racing?<\/h3>\n

Perhaps the largest concern regarding Carmen Jorda\u2019s appointment is the unification or division of women within motorsports.\u00a0 While the FIA maintains that Jorda\u2019s appointment will unify women, the initial response has been one of division and frustration.\u00a0 Jorda\u2019s controversial opinions and actions have not helped the situation. This has caused several female drivers to question not just the appointment, but also the attitude of the head of the Commission, Michelle Mouton<\/strong>.\u00a0 Mouton\u2019s legacy in racing is unquestionable, however, this appointment has thrown her into the spotlight regarding her future place in motorsport.\u00a0 Mouton declined to comment regarding the situation.<\/p>\n

Carmen Jorda\u2019s appointment has created a whirlwind of controversy.\u00a0 Her opinion regarding men and women racing separately, as well as the need for a separate series for women, has made her appointment a questionable one.\u00a0 What remains to be seen is if the appointment will prove to be something that helps build a future for women in motorsport or unravels the possibilities so carefully created by those that went before. Only time will tell. The quest to see a women driver in Formula 1 continues.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/strong>
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>