Local girls '˜Dare to be Different'at the Circuit Festival 2017

The Circuit of Ireland Rally team and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council are delighted to announce that as part of STEM@The Circuit, 100 girls aged 8 '“ 11 years from schools across Northern Ireland, including pupils from the Mid Ulster area, will be taking part in the exciting and high profile initiative, Dare to be Different.

Dare to be different girls learning how to wheel change.

The rally festival event is sponsored by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

Commenting the Mayor, Councillor Audrey Wales MBE said, “This inspirational motorsport project for girls is about increasing female participation, not just on the track, but in all aspects of the sport and other perceived male-dominated industries. Dare To Be Different is not preoccupied with finding the next female F1 driver – it is about inspiring women of all ages and backgrounds to break the mould and shatter perceptions.”

Local pupils will be flocking to Ballymena Showground on Aprul 5, when the lucky participants will take part in a variety of activities, including kart racing, fitness instruction, a pitstop and wheel change, and other STEM challenges, as well as media training with Sky News presenters.

Accompanying the Dare to be Different team will be a Formula 1 Ferrari showcar courtesy of Shell, which will be on show for the day, and the girls will also be engaging with local STEM businesses in the STEM marquee.

Event Director Bobby Willis said: “We are delighted to offer this exciting opportunity to young girls, encouraging them to take part in rallying and motorsport, as well as giving them the awareness and confidence that they can aim to follow education and careers in STEM subjects.”

The Dare to be Different initiative was conceived and launched by F1 driver Susie Wolff in collaboration with the Motorsport Association.