Ever heard of Racing Pride? Because it’s coming to North American Motorsports.
Racing Pride is an organization Co-Founded by British race car driver Richard Morris in 2019 alongside other ambassadors for the initiative and partners based in the United Kingdom. Their mission? To bring LGBTQ+ inclusion into motorsports everywhere. To achieve this goal they actively create, support and promote visible LGBTQ+ role-models and bring in new allies across all areas of motorsport: both on the track and off it. In June 2021 the quickly growing organization partnered with the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team. And since then has worked with the team and others on providing workshops, guidance and resources involving LGBTQ+ inclusion. These efforts proved successful as multiple Grand Prix events in 2021 showed displays of LGBTQ+ solidarity, such as Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.
Richard Morris
Richard Morris says of his organization, “Since we started Racing Pride there has been a lot of interest and support from North America. I’m absolutely delighted that we are now able to launch this expansion of Racing Pride with a terrific line-up of inspiring ambassadors and carefully selected partners who both believe in and will be able to further our core mission to positively promote LGBTQ+ inclusion through motorsport from grassroots to elite professional level internationally.”
This morning the organization announced that it would be expanding its movement of positivity from Europe all the way over to North America with new partners and ambassadors alike. These partners include: You Can Play (which already has an existing connections with NASCAR), Athlete Ally, GRIDLIFE, FCP Euro, and Out Motorsports. You can read more about Racing Pride’s partnerships further down in the article. But first let’s talk about the new ambassadors.
The new ambassadors for the movement include an exciting lineup of drivers such as NASCAR/ARCA Menards drivers Devon Rouse and Zach Herrin, Travis Shumake who is a New York based drag racer, Canadian pro-licensed drift racer Zandara Kennedy, and 2x Pirelli World Challenge Champion Tom O’Gorman. Alongside the drivers two more North American Industry Ambassadors will be joining the lineup. Ryan Hines, Senior Public Relations Manager at NASCAR Team David Gilliland Racing, and Jameson Jones, a flag marshal for clubs and pro events across America who also works internationally.
Racing Pride is going to work with their new partner You Can Play to increase its training program around LGBTQ+ inclusion in racing leagues and various motorsports leagues. Racing Pride’s ambassadors will help bring their own special brands of knowledge and experience to this and future collaborations with the company. David Palumbo, Vice-Chair, Executive Board at You Can Play, said: “LGBTQ+ representation and visibility in motorsport here in North America is so important. As the sport grows so must its commitment to diversity. That’s why we’re excited to be working with Racing Pride.”
Both European and North American pro driver ambassadors for Racing Pride will become ambassadors for Athlete Ally. They will join other professional athletes such as Olympian and Paralympians from across many sports to advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion. Athlete Ally has more than 45 Campus Charters across the United States and they work closely and directly with students to engage them in new ways. In this instance working directly with people who have an interest in motorsports and automotive technology. Hudson Taylor, the Founder and Executive Director of Athlete Ally, is stated as saying “Athlete Ally is proud to partner with Racing Pride to further our joint missions of championing LGBTQI+ inclusion in and through sport, and particularly in motorsport. By expanding our network of Athlete Ally Ambassadors in motorsport and providing support to the next generation of motorsport athletes, we are working together to ensure that more motorsport athletes can be celebrated for who they are, and that more allies are inspired to speak out for inclusion.”
GRIDLIFE is a company that puts together different motorsports events and festivals across North America to combine on track competition with car-culture. The main point and features of these events are to be inclusive at every level, and that means they often work in promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion. Two of Racing Pride’s new ambassadors, Kennedy and O’Gorman will be competing in a handful of these events. GRIDLIFE and Racing Pride will also be collaborating both online and in person activities to continue to celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Zandara Kennedy
Tom O’Gorman
Racing Pride will also be receiving support from auto parts business FCP Euro and it’s FCP Euro Motorsports team. The company will host Racing Pride at events at their headquarters in Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, while also supporting and giving visibility to Racing Pride through its motorsports program and posts on social media.
Out Motorsports is an auto community that includes motorsport competitors in the LGBTQ+ community and auto enthusiasts alike. The group organizes a bunch of different events from road rallies and track day events to participating in fun virtual meetings. They will have some of these virtual meetings with Racing Pride as well as other LGBTQ+ inclusive events.
These new partnerships and ambassadors in North America will give an impactful presence to Racing Pride’s events across the country as they spread their message of positivity and inclusivity. With both their European network and the announcement of their North American expansion, Racing Pride is taking a meaningful step in creating an LGBTQ+ motorsports movement that spans the globe. And they’re always looking for more individuals or organizations that are willing to help out Racing Pride.
