Page 55 of Formula Chance

“It’s well deserved” is all I can think to say.

“And what about you?” she asks.

I stare at her, unsure of what she’s asking. I feel like I’m getting ready to step into a minefield, so I answer cautiously. “I love working here. The challenge, the people. It’s a dream job.”

Brienne cocks an eyebrow. “That sounds rehearsed. How are you really doing?”

I don’t know if she knows something—like my struggles with Matthieu and Hendrik—or perhaps she’s just guessing that as the first female chief strategy engineer, I might have an uphill battle, but I can’t afford to show any weakness. “Like I said… it’s been a challenge but nothing I didn’t expect. I like being kept on my toes.”

“Hmm.” She studies me. “Are you being treated fairly? Given proper respect?”

I’m not about to bring my complaints to her doorstep. I meant it when I declared that I could handle these issues on my own. “I’m asserting myself when needed.”

Brienne smiles, and it’s a little too knowing in my opinion. But she nods, accepting that I’m doing fine enough to suit her. “I’m glad. I have high hopes for you because it’s important to me that we give females an opportunity in this sport.”

“And I very much appreciate your confidence in me. I won’t let you down.”

“I like your surety. I’m certain you’re going to be quite the star. Now, there is one other thing I wanted to talk to you about, and it has to do with what I just mentioned… women in this sport.”

“Okay,” I drawl, my eyebrows knitting with confusion.

“I’m considering bringing Francesca Accardi onto the team.”

My jaw drops wide and I’m so stunned, I can’t even close it. Brienne seems amused. “I imagine that will be the reaction of just about everyone in this company, but I wanted to get your thoughts first.”

“Me?” I exclaim, startling out of my stupor. “What does my opinion matter?”

“Because you are a woman in a male-dominated sport. You’re the only one in your position. You can say everything is fine, but I have a sneaking suspicion you’ve been running into some walls and that you’ve been unnecessarily tested.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because I’m a woman in a male-dominated world of business and sports. I’m questioned every damn day merely because I’m not a man. So I know how hard it is for you even if you won’t admit it, and I expect it would be hard for Francesca. You’ve been in racing your entire life. You worked your way up through the ranks, and I know your history, Bex. You’re a hard worker. So is Francesca and she’s a damn good driver. But as pioneering as it was to bring on a female chief strategy engineer, it’s going to cause shockwaves through the entire industry to promote a woman to FI. I simply want to know if you think I’m crazy to consider it.”

Oh wow.

Holy shit, this is big.

I stare out the small window that overlooks pit lane with the track just on the other side. Brienne remains quiet, allowing me the time to contemplate.

Francesca Accardi is an amazing driver hailing from Italy. She currently races in FI2, one level below FI racing, and if she came up, she’d be the first and only female driver to race at this level. It would shatter the ceiling for females in this sport.

But a thought strikes me hard, and I look back to Brienne. “You already have two drivers here at Titans Racing. Who would you cut?”

Brienne’s laugh is husky and amused. “I can tell by your tone you’d be disappointed if I said Nash was on the chopping block.”

“He’s the best driver,” I say. That’s the truth.

“I would buy out Matthieu’s contract or extend him a position in development driving. But then again, we have to see how the race plays out tomorrow, won’t we?”

My stomach sinks. If Nash has a bad race—and I potentially would be an integral part of such a failure—he could lose his shot in FI.

I can’t let that taint my opinion though. This is too important. “Accardi is a tremendous driver. I’ve been following her closely and I think she has what it takes to compete at this level.”

And that’s saying a lot.

Formula racing isn’t designed with women in mind—not yet, anyway. It’s not about skill because there are plenty of female drivers with the talent to compete at the top level. But the physical demands of the sport are grueling, and the cars themselves are engineered for an ideal driver physique that’s tall enough for leverage but compact enough to fit into the tight cockpit. Add to that the immense g-forces the driver endures, which puts extraordinary strain on the neck and core muscles, and the stamina required to maintain focus at over three hundred kilometers per hour for two hours straight, it requires peak physical strength and conditioning.

It’s not impossible for a woman to handle it—far from it—but the reality is that fewer women are encouraged or given the same opportunities to develop the physical and mental conditioning necessary to thrive in this world. That’s why someone like Francesca Accardi, who’s dominated in FI2 and proven she has the strength, skill and mental resilience, is such a rarity—and why I can’t dissuade Brienne from this idea. I don’t know any other team that would be willing to give her the chance.

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