Sparking Curiosity at INWED
On International Women in Engineering Day, Driven By Us partnered with Oxford Brookes University to host an unforgettable event designed to ignite the imaginations of young girls in STEM. The campus buzzed with energy as over 50 pupils from from schools including Cheney School and Headington Rye, explored the world of engineering and motorsport alongside mentors, role models and hands-on activities.
Campus Scavenger Hunt at the Heart of Innovation
The day began with a playful twist on learning, a scavenger hunt across Oxford Brookes’ state-of-the-art Headington Hill teaching facility and engineering labs. Pupils discovered spaces where future engineers design, simulate and build racing cars, from VR caves and composite labs to aerodynamics workshops and wind tunnels.
These are the same spaces where the award-winning student team, Oxford Brookes Racing, brings ambitious engineering to life through their participation in the global Formula Student competition, an international challenge where student teams design, build and race formula-style cars.
Creativity on the Grid: Designing Their Own Liveries
Another highlight for the children was the chance to design their own racing car liveries. Armed with markers, templates, and a burst of imagination, they transformed blank outlines of single-seaters into colourful visions of speed and identity. From bold flames to rainbow gradients, every livery told a story of personality and creativity.
This activity not only connected art and engineering, but also helped students picture their own mark on motorsport, showing that design, branding and identity are as much a part of racing as mechanics and speed.
Meeting Motorsports Trailblazers: Iron Dames Panel
The excitement continued with a special presentation by Iron Dames drivers Vanina Ickx and Marta García, who joined us as guests of honour. Through their keynote, they shared candid insights into navigating motorsport careers, from Marta’s championship in F1 Academy to Vanina’s storied Le Mans and Spa achievements, spanning engineering, driving, and leadership positions. Their presence wasn’t just inspirational, it was relatable, showing girls that resilience, vision and diversity all have a place in motorsport.
Vanina Ickx and Marta García of Iron Dames among other aspiring women in engineering share their stories with curious minds
More than just sharing stories, they embodied the powerful truth: “If you can see it, you can be it.” One student remarked, “Before today, I didn’t think motorsport had anything to do with me… now I can picture myself in it.”
A Community-Powered Mission
This day was a celebration of representation and community. With support from Driven By Us, Oxford Brookes and Mission 44. Girls were introduced to role models and possibilities they might not have seen before.
Students also met members of the Oxford Brookes Racing team, who talked about building electric vehicles from concept to track-ready reality, bringing the thrill of Formula Student competition to life. Also on the panel was a Driven By Us member & Mission 44 scholar Gerren, who was able to reinforce the connection between identity, access and ambition.
INWED at Oxford Brookes wasn’t just an event, it was the beginning of something bigger. By creating hands-on, human-centred experiences, we’re unlocking new ambitions and showing young girls that engineering and motorsport are for everyone.
We’re proud of the opportunities this day brought and we’re already planning what’s next. More access, more engagement and more moments to ignite passion and build confidence.
Join the Driven By Us community here and help us drive change through experience and opportunity.
