Michael Hill: Building a More Inclusive Future in Motorsports
- alicejukes
- Apr 28
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 28
As conversations around diversity in motorsport grow louder, the need for practical, long-term solutions has never been more urgent. Michael Hill — a prominent figure in the WorldSBK paddock — believes that change doesn’t just begin with who lines up on the grid, but with the systems that support them. From the barriers riders face to the pathways young girls don’t yet know exist, Hill offers a deeply informed perspective on how motorsport can — and must — do better.
Barriers for Women in Motorsports
When asked about the barriers women face in motorsport, Hill takes a broader view — one that expands beyond gender alone. “A lot of people will ask, where are the Americans in MotoGP? Where are the young British or Australian riders?” he says. “The answer often lies in opportunity.”
For years, children in many European countries have been able to start racing on minibikes from the age of three or four. In contrast, places like the UK impose legal age restrictions that prevent young people from riding until they’re sixteen. “And that’s already a massive disadvantage,” Hill points out. “You’re on the back foot before you’ve even begun.” He cites Scott Redding as a rare example — a rider who came through just as the rules were changing, managing to make it into Grand Prix racing at fifteen. For many others, the opportunity simply wasn’t there.
The same logic, Hill says, applies to women in motorsport. “A lot of these athletes — yes, they’re women — but they’ve not been given the same opportunity.” Financial constraints, a lack of guidance, and limited exposure are challenges that affect many young racers, regardless of gender. But for women, the absence of a clear and supportive pathway has historically added an extra layer of difficulty. “Even though now we have great platforms like WorldWCR or F1 Academy, we’re filling them with riders who haven’t had the same experience as their male counterparts,” he explains. “So they’re still playing catch-up.”
Hill agrees that grassroots racing needs more support, but he emphasises that it's not just about the entry points. “There has to be a ladder — stepping stones — so they can actually climb. When I was growing up, you could win a national championship and get a guaranteed ride in WorldSBK. That doesn’t really happen anymore.”
Despite the obstacles, he believes these new female-specific platforms have the potential to make a long-term difference — if they’re promoted with care and long-term vision. “We won’t truly see the impact of WorldWCR for five to ten years,” he says. “And that’s not a reflection of the riders today — they’re talented. But it’s about what comes next. We’re laying foundations now.”
The Double Standard: Judging Women in the Spotlight
When it comes to progressing through different levels of motorcycle racing, the challenges are tough for any rider — but for women, the scrutiny is often far greater. Michael Hill has seen this firsthand, particularly in how the public responded to Ana Carrasco’s return to Moto3. “People were very quick to judge Ana,” he says, referring to criticism over her 24th-place finish after becoming a world champion in World Supersport 300. “But you can’t compare apples to bananas.”
The jump between categories is more complex than many realise. Riders must adapt to entirely different machinery — bikes with more horsepower, new technologies, different tyres — and race against competitors who’ve been in the category for years. “John McPhee was in that championship for ten years before moving up,” Hill points out. “How can you expect someone to step in and immediately be competitive?”
What frustrates Hill most is the disparity in how female riders are treated when they face these challenges. “If a male rider struggles after moving up, no one really notices — but when it’s a woman, suddenly everyone’s watching,” he says. The implication is clear: women are too often held to a different standard, expected not only to perform, but to prove they belong.
And Ana isn’t alone. Hill cites examples like Sean Dylan Kelly and Rory Skinner — talented male riders who also faced difficulties moving into top-tier prototype racing — yet the criticism they receive rarely matches the intensity directed at women. “These riders are competing against the likes of Aron Canet, Remy Gardner, and Pedro Acosta — people with years of experience at this level,” Hill explains. “Yet we’re quick to label those struggling at the back of the grid as not good enough — especially if they’re women.”
Hill stresses that this isn’t just a gender issue — it’s a systemic one rooted in opportunity. “It’s about who gets the chance to develop,” he says. “Many riders — male and female — haven’t had the same access, the same funding, or the same time to grow.” But for women, that lack of opportunity is compounded by a constant pressure to validate their place.
Still, he remains hopeful. “We have to break the stigma and promote the sport in a way that makes it accessible for everyone,” he says. “It’s not just about putting women in the spotlight — it’s about supporting them once they’re there.” As Ana steps into Supersport, Hill hopes she’s given the space to evolve like any other rider. “She’s talented. She’s determined. But most of all, she deserves the same patience and respect as anyone else on the grid.”
Managing Riders
The reality of managing riders in motorsport is often governed by one harsh truth: money talks. “If I had 10 million [dollars] available, I could run a team and pick the riders I want,” Hill says. In an ideal world, that would allow for a level playing field — where the best riders, regardless of gender, would get the opportunities they deserve. But the financial side of the sport remains one of its biggest barriers.
In both motorcycle and car racing, the costs are astronomical. “Some riders in World Supersport 300 are paying upwards of 80 or 90 thousand euros to race on bikes that are worth only 5,000 euros,” Hill points out. That reality shows that grassroots development is only part of the challenge — access to financial backing is equally crucial. Riders from countries or backgrounds with fewer resources often struggle to get noticed or supported. “If you didn’t race at seven or eight years old, nobody knows who you are,” Hill says. “So who’s willing to take a chance?”
This is where the business side of motorsport becomes even more apparent. Teams aren’t just looking for talent — they’re also looking for financial backing. “The first question they ask is, what are your results? How much social media following does the rider have?” Hill says. He recalls a conversation where a team showed interest in a rider — but only if they could bring substantial funding. “If you don’t have 400,000 euros, we’re not willing to talk to you.”
The entire process can feel like a transaction, with riders essentially paying for their spots. “I understand the business side, but there has to be a cap,” Hill says, advocating for more accessible opportunities for riders who don’t come from wealthy families. “You could be the fastest female — or the fastest male — but if you don’t have the budget, it doesn’t matter.”
This financial reality is why Hill started his own promotions business — to help riders, especially those from ordinary families, gain a foothold in the sport. “If your mom’s a hairdresser and your dad’s a welder, you’re not going to have 100,000 pounds to spend on a social media strategy,” he says. His aim is to level the playing field by offering more affordable options for riders to promote themselves and get noticed.
Yet the systemic financial barriers persist. “There are likely female riders out there right now — maybe in Germany or Austria — who are as fast, if not faster, than Ana Carrasco, but they’ll never get the opportunity because they don’t have the money,” Hill says. That brings the conversation full circle: it’s not just about grassroots. “It’s about how riders can afford to enter championships in the first place.”
Motorsport in Schools: The Next Step
One of the key ways to help more young girls feel included in motorsport is by introducing the sport into schools at an early age. As Hill points out, there’s a significant gap in how motorsport is recognised in education: “There are so many areas in motorsport where people can get involved, but it's not even recognised as a sport in schools.” While traditional sports like football, rugby, and tennis are prioritised, motorsport is often overlooked — leaving girls, who may already feel out of place in a male-dominated industry, without a clear path into the field.
This lack of exposure prevents many young girls from even considering motorsport as a viable career. “My nephew is studying sports science, and they don’t even mention motorsport,” Hill explains. “It’s not recognised as a potential career path, which is a missed opportunity for both boys and girls.” Yet many of these opportunities — whether in data analysis, suspension technology, or aerodynamics — are directly related to skills being taught in schools.
Hill advocates for making these career paths more visible. “It’s not about turning schools into motorsport academies,” he says. “It’s about making sure students — especially girls — know that these roles exist and are accessible to them.”
It’s not about changing the curriculum entirely but simply highlighting the connections between what students learn in maths and science and how those skills apply in motorsport. This visibility could help ensure more young girls see motorsport as something they can be part of, just like any other industry.
Without that awareness, motorsport may continue to feel out of reach. “If they don’t know these opportunities are there, they won’t be interested in pursuing them,” Hill says. Early awareness could help change that narrative, encouraging more girls to enter the industry — and more importantly, feel like they belong there.
For Hill, grassroots initiatives go beyond just finding new talent. They’re about building an environment where anyone — regardless of gender — can see themselves in motorsport. “In ten years' time, I won’t want to be bouncing around on stage anymore,” he says, reflecting on his future in the sport. “But who’s going to replace me? The next generation of motorsport professionals needs to be in the paddock now — watching, learning, and building the passion and skills necessary to carry the sport forward.”
Ultimately, it's about creating an inclusive culture within motorsport — one that encourages girls to follow their interests without hesitation. “It doesn’t matter whether they’re male or female,” Hill says. “As long as they’re passionate and can tell the story of the sport, they should have a place in motorsport.”
In the end, inclusion in motorsport isn’t just about placing more women on the starting grid — it’s about creating an environment where they can thrive at every level, from the classroom to the paddock. Michael Hill’s perspective serves as both a reality check and a call to action: opportunity, visibility, and investment are essential if motorsport is to evolve. Whether it's through grassroots racing, education, or changing the financial model of the sport, the road ahead is long — but with sustained commitment, it can lead to a future where talent, not gender or background, defines success.
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