Girls on Track alumni kickstart their journeys in motorsport.

Two alumni from the FIA Girls on Track programme have transformed their enthusiasm for motorsport into professional roles with Harri Jones, a driver in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, at Jones Motorsport.

Queenslanders Emily Stone and Jemma Warburton have secured positions with the two-time Porsche Carrera Cup Champion and team principal, Harri Jones, to support the family-run team in both the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge and the Porsche Carrera Cup Championship.

Emily is taking on the role of junior engineer in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, where she will assist the team in gathering data to enhance racing performance.

For Emily, her love for motorsport ignited during her university studies.

“I got involved in motorsport by joining a university club, and I’ve been a member for four years,” Emily shared.

“I then heard about the 2023 Girls on Track programme at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, where I first met Charlie Barlow [Development Manager, Motorsport Australia].”

“After the programme, I reached out to Charlie to explore any opportunities for work experience with a motorsport team, which led me here.”

Jemma is now a full-time apprentice mechanic at Jones Motorsport, fulfilling her ambition of working in a motorsport environment.

“I initially started gaining experience by working with smaller teams,” Jemma explained.

“Earlier this year, I noticed a post from Charlie about Jones Motorsport looking for a full-time apprentice mechanic, so I got in touch and was fortunate enough to be accepted.”

Initially interested in motorsport media, Jemma later realised she was deeply passionate about motorsport mechanics.

“I’ve always had a flair for photography,” Jemma noted.

“When I decided to pursue a career in motorsport, I saw a female mechanic working on a car at an event and thought, ‘That’s awesome, I want to do that instead.’”

Similar to Emily, Jemma’s journey into motorsport began with the Girls on Track programme.

“I started by attending a Girls on Track media session I found on Facebook,” Jemma said. “Whenever there was an event in Sydney, I made it a point to go, meet people, and gain as much experience as I could.”

Emily and Jemma both underline the importance of actively pursuing opportunities for young women aspiring to enter the motorsport industry.

“I joined my university motorsport club and the Girls on Track programme on a whim,” Emily said. “When an opportunity arises, you should seize it.”

“My advice would be to start small,” added Jemma. “Work with smaller teams to gather experience before moving up to larger teams.”

Harri Jones expressed his appreciation for Emily and Jemma’s dedication to the Jones Motorsport team.

“Over the past few years, observing the Girls on Track programme and the enthusiasm of many young women wanting to enter motorsport, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to provide these girls with experience within a motorsport team,” Jones remarked.

“We had a pressing need for staff, and these girls were eager for roles, so it felt like a perfect match.

“Having Emily and Jemma on board has been an absolute pleasure, and they’ve quickly become vital to our operations.”

Jones has been impressed with how seamlessly the girls have adapted to their new roles.

“What they bring is a passionate approach to their work, coupled with a strong initiative,” Jones stated.

“They handle tasks independently and consistently deliver exactly what we request. Both have genuinely elevated the team’s performance, contributing to our results on track. They’ve been a fantastic addition.”

For those inspired to follow in Emily and Jemma’s footsteps, Jones advises to be proactive and seize opportunities.

“For anyone interested in motorsport, regardless of gender, don’t hesitate to reach out,” Jones encouraged. “There are numerous teams in Australia looking for staff, with a variety of pathways available for mechanics, engineers, and media roles, even within grassroots motorsport.

“Starting small can lead to fantastic opportunities, including progressions to Supercars or even Formula 1.”

The Girls on Track – Empower programme offers an ideal pathway for those aiming to build a career in motorsport.

This initiative is aimed at young women aged 18-22, offering exclusive insights into the teamwork, event coordination, and innovations that power the motorsport industry.

If interested, you can join the Girls on Track mailing list for updates on upcoming events in your area.