Alana Gurney and Joanne Ciconte in Australian motorsport

Twelve-year-old Alana Gurney is a karting prodigy driving a red go-kart at speeds of 100km/h on the Oakleigh Go Kart Racing Club circuit. Her achievements include 2023 and 2024 Victorian Karter of the Year, Oakleigh Club Champion and winner of the 2025 Ladies Trophy. Her father, Ben, says her interest began early; the family travels across regional Australia and commits around-the-clock to races and vehicle preparation. Seventeen-year-old Melbourne-born Joanne Ciconte competes in the F1 Academy, an all-female series launched in 2023 intended to provide a pathway to Formula 1. Ciconte had a challenging start to her rookie year but finished eighth in Singapore. Susie Wolff is described as the managing director of the F1 Academy and the last woman to participate in an F1 weekend; the article notes Lella Lombardi was the last woman to compete in a Formula 1 Grand Prix nearly 50 years ago. Women hold over 15 percent of motorsport licenses in Australia.