Ford Italia Unveils the Monza W-Track for Assetto Corsa

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Assetto Corsa Monza W Track.jpg
An initiative aimed to highlight the underrepresentation of women in motorsports is using Assetto Corsa to send a message.

The relevance of Assetto Corsa for PC seems endless. The latest to utilize the platform for a high-profile initiative is Ford Italia, who aim to bring light to the difficulty women may face when entering real and virtual motorsports.

To convey their message, the team behind this project has modified the Monza track in Assetto Corsa and changed the straightaway after the Ascari chicane to form the word "woman". The added complexity of this track section is meant to represent the added complexity of women entering a male-dominated sport.

The track was unveiled as part of a private tournament, with participants testing their skills at both the regular layout of Monza and this special layout. A link for downloading this special version could not be found at this time.

Assetto Corsa Monza W Track 02.jpg


The timing of this project aligns with International Women's Day, and both share a goal of enhancing inclusiveness and gender equality.

If this is released to the public, which car would you use to drive it?
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About author
Mike Smith
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

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B
OverTake
Premium
Like many males I very much welcome more women into our sports and as the nicheleading website we have historic data to actually proof that women are more and more getting involved into simracing.

Here is the current gender split of the total RaceDepartment audience.

1646770105337.png


Source: RaceDepartment Deck 2022
 
Aiden237
When seeing this as a title I thought this was one of the "we changed for a day look" type things. But this isn't that. Its is a really creative way of talking about the challenges women face in motorsport something that while its trying to be "solved" isn't being talked about (W-Series and XE are trying to solve it but aren't dealing with the issue that well (Women not being able to get seats, Girls not wanting to get into motorsport and the gatekeeping of motorsport))

If it gets people talking I'm all for it as with anything of this nature as long as it's not changing a brand's logo for a day/ month to "celebrate" something.
 
Austin Ogonoski
Watching this virtue signalling spiral deeper and deeper into insanity with each passing year is just bizarre.

It is as if people and companies think life is an RPG, and they are trying to farm trace amounts of "good person XP" by shouting from the rooftops how much they care about current social issues. Day after day, month after month. Congrats Ford, here's your 2XP, make sure you post about Ukraine within the hour as well for another 2XP otherwise people might say mean things to you on Twitter if you don't post fast enough.

I grew up primarily a fan of Monster Trucks and Drag Racing. Between Shirley Muldowney, Lori Johns, Shelley Anderson, Angelle Sampey, Kristen Powell, Melanie Troxel, Pam Vaters, Jill Canuso, Debra Micelli, Kathy Winston, and Dawn Creten, there has been no shortage of successful women in motorsports with big money backing. The above had sponsorship from Supershops, Jolly Rancher, Western Auto, Reebok, Exide Batteries, Winston Cigarettes, NAPA, Sobe Energy Drinks, & Checkers Schucks Kragen.

And that's just pre-2002. Let's skip ahead to modern day to twist the knife further; Lizzi Musi, Erica Enders, Angelle Sampey, Ashley Force, Brittany Force, Courtney Force, Brianna Mahon... do you want me to continue?

And this is before you list off international heroes like Michele Mouton, Danica Patrick, Jamie Chadwick, and Sabine Schmitz. There is very obviously not a barrier.

I have family that have been involved in the NHRA and have been racing locally for about 5-6 years. Anytime a racing family has daughters, the question immediately becomes "how do we get them into my race car?" There are no barriers to entry for women. In fact I have personally seen the opposite; men trying awkwardly to "include" their girlfriends by purchasing a provisional racing license, putting them on the grid having never driven a race car before, and then proceeding to watch them junk the field.

What ends up happening, is the daughters or wives/girlfriends just aren't interested in it. The same way men generally aren't interested in makeup or fashion. One of the late model drivers up here is a published model. Another became a realtor. A third moved away from her dad's race shop, moved in with her boyfriend, bought a dog. The men were simply so passionate about it that racing consumed them and they just... kept racing. You ever see those instagram memes about "men really make three friends at 15 and keep them for life?" Yeah it's the same with hobbies.

The sudden ret-conning of 30 years of auto racing history to pretend these female drivers didn't exist, their accomplishments meant nothing, and implying men are bullying women out of racing, and that women are somehow oppressed and "can't make it in motorsports", splitting hairs over meaningless demographics while bombs are currently being dropped in eastern Europe, is just sad.

At this point, any virtue signalling or pandering for these causes is just pathetic.
 
Peppelino
We may start a special project to recruiting more girls and ladies into eRacing with us.
Three women in, and you may Win something. Or being in a lottery...
Whatever.. Yes ?
The selling of hardware may increase.. too. ;)
I've just produced a sparkle here. .
What can we all do ?
 
Aiden237
Austin Ogonoski said:
And that's just pre-2002. Let's skip ahead to modern day to twist the knife further; Lizzi Musi, Erica Enders, Angelle Sampey, Ashley Force, Brittany Force, Courtney Force, Brianna Mahon... do you want me to continue?

And this is before you list off international heroes like Michele Mouton, Danica Patrick, Jamie Chadwick, and Sabine Schmitz. There is very obviously not a barrier.
Click to expand...
Danica Patrick famous for being used a model for GoDaddy (Sex sells I guess). Jamie Chadwick who can’t get a F3 seat. Sabine Schmitz who’s Wikipedia page spends more time talking about top gear than her time on the Nordschleife.

Why is there no women drivers in f2/f3 let alone f1? Why is there no female WRC drivers? Why is there no female NASCAR Cup drivers? Why do series like XE and W-Series if there is no barrier?

Why do pink trophies and women only series exist if there’s no barrier?
 
FlappyTheLegend
Perfect. It looks way more complicated than it should be which makes absolute sense. Nailed it.

All jokes aside that's really really cool. I don't think I've raced with any women but I have and do follow a few female sim racers on YouTube that would destroy 75% of the men in any lobby. If you want to get better and race at your highest level that's the kind of competition you need
 
Jim Layee
Austin Ogonoski said:
Watching this virtue signalling spiral deeper and deeper into insanity with each passing year is just bizarre.

It is as if people and companies think life is an RPG, and they are trying to farm trace amounts of "good person XP" by shouting from the rooftops how much they care about current social issues. Day after day, month after month. Congrats Ford, here's your 2XP, make sure you post about Ukraine within the hour as well for another 2XP otherwise people might say mean things to you on Twitter if you don't post fast enough.

I grew up primarily a fan of Monster Trucks and Drag Racing. Between Shirley Muldowney, Lori Johns, Shelley Anderson, Angelle Sampey, Kristen Powell, Melanie Troxel, Pam Vaters, Jill Canuso, Debra Micelli, Kathy Winston, and Dawn Creten, there has been no shortage of successful women in motorsports with big money backing. The above had sponsorship from Supershops, Jolly Rancher, Western Auto, Reebok, Exide Batteries, Winston Cigarettes, NAPA, Sobe Energy Drinks, & Checkers Schucks Kragen.

And that's just pre-2002. Let's skip ahead to modern day to twist the knife further; Lizzi Musi, Erica Enders, Angelle Sampey, Ashley Force, Brittany Force, Courtney Force, Brianna Mahon... do you want me to continue?

And this is before you list off international heroes like Michele Mouton, Danica Patrick, Jamie Chadwick, and Sabine Schmitz. There is very obviously not a barrier.

I have family that have been involved in the NHRA and have been racing locally for about 5-6 years. Anytime a racing family has daughters, the question immediately becomes "how do we get them into my race car?" There are no barriers to entry for women. In fact I have personally seen the opposite; men trying awkwardly to "include" their girlfriends by purchasing a provisional racing license, putting them on the grid having never driven a race car before, and then proceeding to watch them junk the field.

What ends up happening, is the daughters or wives/girlfriends just aren't interested in it. The same way men generally aren't interested in makeup or fashion. One of the late model drivers up here is a published model. Another became a realtor. A third moved away from her dad's race shop, moved in with her boyfriend, bought a dog. The men were simply so passionate about it that racing consumed them and they just... kept racing. You ever see those instagram memes about "men really make three friends at 15 and keep them for life?" Yeah it's the same with hobbies.

The sudden ret-conning of 30 years of auto racing history to pretend these female drivers didn't exist, their accomplishments meant nothing, and implying men are bullying women out of racing, and that women are somehow oppressed and "can't make it in motorsports", splitting hairs over meaningless demographics while bombs are currently being dropped in eastern Europe, is just sad.

At this point, any virtue signalling or pandering for these causes is just pathetic.
Click to expand...

0/10 happy in that closet little man ?
 
Last edited:
Austin Ogonoski
Aiden237 said:
Danica Patrick famous for being used a model for GoDaddy (Sex sells I guess). Jamie Chadwick who can’t get a F3 seat. Sabine Schmitz who’s Wikipedia page spends more time talking about top gear than her time on the Nordschleife.

Why is there no women drivers in f2/f3 let alone f1? Why is there no female WRC drivers? Why is there no female NASCAR Cup drivers? Why do series like XE and W-Series if there is no barrier?

Why do pink trophies and women only series exist if there’s no barrier?
Click to expand...
A better question, is why does it matter?

Maybe it's cause I grew up in the 90's but we weren't conditioned to split hairs and find racism or sexism in everything. I certainly wasn't taught to play "count the minorities" when watching sports and then go on some international crusade to fix it.

Must be exhausting for those that do. Especially because nobody has actually outlined what step two of this plan for more diversity is: what specific conditions must be met for auto racing to be considered diverse, and for us to move past endlessly discussing it?

Oh right, nobody's ever outlined it.

Because it's a grift. A scam. Slacktivism.
 
Taj Johal
Premium
Austin Ogonoski said:
Watching this virtue signalling spiral deeper and deeper into insanity with each passing year is just bizarre.

It is as if people and companies think life is an RPG, and they are trying to farm trace amounts of "good person XP" by shouting from the rooftops how much they care about current social issues. Day after day, month after month. Congrats Ford, here's your 2XP, make sure you post about Ukraine within the hour as well for another 2XP otherwise people might say mean things to you on Twitter if you don't post fast enough.

I grew up primarily a fan of Monster Trucks and Drag Racing. Between Shirley Muldowney, Lori Johns, Shelley Anderson, Angelle Sampey, Kristen Powell, Melanie Troxel, Pam Vaters, Jill Canuso, Debra Micelli, Kathy Winston, and Dawn Creten, there has been no shortage of successful women in motorsports with big money backing. The above had sponsorship from Supershops, Jolly Rancher, Western Auto, Reebok, Exide Batteries, Winston Cigarettes, NAPA, Sobe Energy Drinks, & Checkers Schucks Kragen.

And that's just pre-2002. Let's skip ahead to modern day to twist the knife further; Lizzi Musi, Erica Enders, Angelle Sampey, Ashley Force, Brittany Force, Courtney Force, Brianna Mahon... do you want me to continue?

And this is before you list off international heroes like Michele Mouton, Danica Patrick, Jamie Chadwick, and Sabine Schmitz. There is very obviously not a barrier.

I have family that have been involved in the NHRA and have been racing locally for about 5-6 years. Anytime a racing family has daughters, the question immediately becomes "how do we get them into my race car?" There are no barriers to entry for women. In fact I have personally seen the opposite; men trying awkwardly to "include" their girlfriends by purchasing a provisional racing license, putting them on the grid having never driven a race car before, and then proceeding to watch them junk the field.

What ends up happening, is the daughters or wives/girlfriends just aren't interested in it. The same way men generally aren't interested in makeup or fashion. One of the late model drivers up here is a published model. Another became a realtor. A third moved away from her dad's race shop, moved in with her boyfriend, bought a dog. The men were simply so passionate about it that racing consumed them and they just... kept racing. You ever see those instagram memes about "men really make three friends at 15 and keep them for life?" Yeah it's the same with hobbies.

The sudden ret-conning of 30 years of auto racing history to pretend these female drivers didn't exist, their accomplishments meant nothing, and implying men are bullying women out of racing, and that women are somehow oppressed and "can't make it in motorsports", splitting hairs over meaningless demographics while bombs are currently being dropped in eastern Europe, is just sad.

At this point, any virtue signalling or pandering for these causes is just pathetic.
Click to expand...
:speechless:
wish we had emojis for banging a head against a wall, this would defo deserve it.
 
Last edited:
Austin Ogonoski
It's integral to their business model, or grift, to keep complaining about "lack of representation" even if representation has already been achieved.

I listed ~20 professional female drivers with big-time sponsorships which very obviously disprove the idea that women "can't make it" in motorsport and somehow people come out of the woodwork to tell you none of these talented ladies count because it's not F1 or that you're sexist/misogynist/whatever.

Very telling.

The moment you say "actually, diversity has been achieved", these people get mad because it means their business model/scam has fallen apart. And that you're onto them.

You can't keep begging for sponsorship money under the guise of being a victim or being oppressed if diversity has been achieved. You can't start the W-Series because your entire schtick, "women are oppressed in motorsport", doesn't exist anymore. You can't hold little charities and funds and competitions and activism campaigns for women only, because there's nothing to achieve - you've achieved it.

So they will complain about lack of representation indefinitely to keep the funds rolling in.

It's quite brilliant. It's also illegal.
 
mantasisg
I'll race any woman, come at me !! I'll beat you, I'll beat more than one at once.

I love women.

We can race with Lotus 98T, Mercedes C9, F40 with any config or Abarth 500... Actually any car, love.
 
Last edited:
Aiden237
Austin Ogonoski said:
A better question, is why does it matter?

Maybe it's cause I grew up in the 90's but we weren't conditioned to split hairs and find racism or sexism in everything. I certainly wasn't taught to play "count the minorities" when watching sports and then go on some international crusade to fix it.

Must be exhausting for those that do. Especially because nobody has actually outlined what step two of this plan for more diversity is: what specific conditions must be met for auto racing to be considered diverse, and for us to move past endlessly discussing it?

Oh right, nobody's ever outlined it.

Because it's a grift. A scam. Slacktivism.
Click to expand...
Why does it matter? Maybe because being full of white rich boys isnt exactly a great look.

And when does it end? When drivers no matter race, sex or background can make it to the top and sponsors aren’t scared to touch them. Or they aren’t used as sex icons. Or racial stereotypes aren’t used against them constantly by fans. Or when black drivers aren’t constantly racially abused. Or when rich boys like Mazepin who don’t have as much talent as others can do what he wants (sexually assault someone) can get a seat over a lad who has talent but needs sponsor money not daddies money.

When women, black and LGBTQ people can get jobs it isn’t they only got it in a box ticking exercise. When them people get jobs people don’t say it’s a box ticking exercise. When people like you who hate the idea of diversity say stuff like this.

That’s when we are diverse.

I find it funny this year is the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the colour boundary in baseball. Peoples views on diversity in sport haven’t changed in 75 years.
 
pumpkineater23
Austin Ogonoski said:
It's integral to their business model, or grift, to keep complaining about "lack of representation" even if representation has already been achieved.

I listed ~20 professional female drivers with big-time sponsorships which very obviously disprove the idea that women "can't make it" in motorsport and somehow people come out of the woodwork to tell you none of these talented ladies count because it's not F1 or that you're sexist/misogynist/whatever.

Very telling.

The moment you say "actually, diversity has been achieved", these people get mad because it means their business model/scam has fallen apart. And that you're onto them.

You can't keep begging for sponsorship money under the guise of being a victim or being oppressed if diversity has been achieved. You can't start the W-Series because your entire schtick, "women are oppressed in motorsport", doesn't exist anymore. You can't hold little charities and funds and competitions and activism campaigns for women only, because there's nothing to achieve - you've achieved it.

So they will complain about lack of representation indefinitely to keep the funds rolling in.

It's quite brilliant. It's also illegal.
Click to expand...
Austin Ogonoski said:
Watching this virtue signalling spiral deeper and deeper into insanity with each passing year is just bizarre.

It is as if people and companies think life is an RPG, and they are trying to farm trace amounts of "good person XP" by shouting from the rooftops how much they care about current social issues. Day after day, month after month. Congrats Ford, here's your 2XP, make sure you post about Ukraine within the hour as well for another 2XP otherwise people might say mean things to you on Twitter if you don't post fast enough.

I grew up primarily a fan of Monster Trucks and Drag Racing. Between Shirley Muldowney, Lori Johns, Shelley Anderson, Angelle Sampey, Kristen Powell, Melanie Troxel, Pam Vaters, Jill Canuso, Debra Micelli, Kathy Winston, and Dawn Creten, there has been no shortage of successful women in motorsports with big money backing. The above had sponsorship from Supershops, Jolly Rancher, Western Auto, Reebok, Exide Batteries, Winston Cigarettes, NAPA, Sobe Energy Drinks, & Checkers Schucks Kragen.

And that's just pre-2002. Let's skip ahead to modern day to twist the knife further; Lizzi Musi, Erica Enders, Angelle Sampey, Ashley Force, Brittany Force, Courtney Force, Brianna Mahon... do you want me to continue?

And this is before you list off international heroes like Michele Mouton, Danica Patrick, Jamie Chadwick, and Sabine Schmitz. There is very obviously not a barrier.

I have family that have been involved in the NHRA and have been racing locally for about 5-6 years. Anytime a racing family has daughters, the question immediately becomes "how do we get them into my race car?" There are no barriers to entry for women. In fact I have personally seen the opposite; men trying awkwardly to "include" their girlfriends by purchasing a provisional racing license, putting them on the grid having never driven a race car before, and then proceeding to watch them junk the field.

What ends up happening, is the daughters or wives/girlfriends just aren't interested in it. The same way men generally aren't interested in makeup or fashion. One of the late model drivers up here is a published model. Another became a realtor. A third moved away from her dad's race shop, moved in with her boyfriend, bought a dog. The men were simply so passionate about it that racing consumed them and they just... kept racing. You ever see those instagram memes about "men really make three friends at 15 and keep them for life?" Yeah it's the same with hobbies.

The sudden ret-conning of 30 years of auto racing history to pretend these female drivers didn't exist, their accomplishments meant nothing, and implying men are bullying women out of racing, and that women are somehow oppressed and "can't make it in motorsports", splitting hairs over meaningless demographics while bombs are currently being dropped in eastern Europe, is just sad.

At this point, any virtue signalling or pandering for these causes is just pathetic.
Click to expand...

Times have changed - internet/social media, I think.
Not so much about actually being good.. rather, giving the appearance of being good.
 
L
Aiden237 said:
Danica Patrick famous for being used a model for GoDaddy (Sex sells I guess). Jamie Chadwick who can’t get a F3 seat. Sabine Schmitz who’s Wikipedia page spends more time talking about top gear than her time on the Nordschleife.

Why is there no women drivers in f2/f3 let alone f1? Why is there no female WRC drivers? Why is there no female NASCAR Cup drivers? Why do series like XE and W-Series if there is no barrier?

Why do pink trophies and women only series exist if there’s no barrier?
Click to expand...
Because for every woman trying to get into the sport, there are like times 100 the amount of males trying to get in.
And above all, the amount of money you need to collect in order to get a seat in any driving category is not easy for any man or woman.
So is logical that even if there is a gap to enter, the competition is very fierce and man in comparison is a better athlete overall. That is quite clear in the top motorsport as F1 with the amount of G forces you have to tolerate not to mention the physical resistance and quick reflexes needed to be nearly competitive.
 
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