Levelling the Playing Field: What Motorsports and Gaming can Learn from Each Other about Representation and Inclusion

When it comes to high-adrenaline and high-stakes competition, few industries compare to motorsports and gaming. Both fuel passionate fanbases, showcase skill, and have historically been dominated by a narrow demographic. Sim Racing is a rapidly growing industry that could be seen as a bridge between the two. But has this younger industry learned from their mistakes or does it deal with the same problem? As conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion gain momentum, both motorsport and gaming are facing critical questions: Who gets to participate? Who gets to lead? And who still feels like an outsider?

While motorsports and gaming have made strides in representation, they also have blind spots. So, which industry is leading the charge and what lessons can they learn from each other? 

Who’s in the driver’s seat? Representation in the industry

Breaking into professional racing has been a difficult hurdle race that is about more than just raw talent. Access to the right resources and opportunities has been a struggle for those who do not fit the traditional image. With sky-high costs for karting, licensing, and sponsorships, the barrier to entry disproportionately impacts women, people of color, and those from lower-income backgrounds. The paddock has long been a boys’ club, with only a handful of women ever competing in Formula 1 and systemic hurdles keeping underrepresented drivers from advancing. Progress is happening with initiatives like the F1 Academy and Iron Dames which aim to bring more women into the sport, but change is slow.

On the surface, gaming appears to have a diversity advantage. Unlike motorsports, you don’t need a fortune to develop a game or play (competitively). Theoretically, anyone with a computer and a passion for gaming can break into the industry. However, systemic issues persist; hiring biases, gender discrimination, and a lack of leadership diversity mean that many underrepresented groups still struggle to find lasting careers in game development and esports. While gaming has a more diverse talent pool than motorsports, that doesn’t always translate to true equity.

What they can learn from each other

Motorsports can take a cue from gaming’s accessibility, creating lower-cost pathways for emerging talent. With Sim Racing gaining more and more traction, one could say the industry is making strides on this front. The true impact of that will need to be measured in how many sim racers are able to take their sim experience to the track. Gaming, on the other hand, can look to motorsports’ structured development programs (like Ferrari, McLaren and RedBull’s driver academies or F1 Academy and Girls on Track) to ensure that once diverse talent enters the industry, they have the support to rise through the ranks.

The Fan Factor – Inclusion in the audience

Motorsports has seen an explosion in new fans, thanks in part to social media and hit shows like Drive to Survive. More women and younger audiences are engaging with the sport, but that hasn’t stopped gatekeeping from some longtime fans who claim newcomers aren’t “real” fans. The presence of sexist and exclusionary behavior in online spaces and at live events shows that motorsports still has work to do in making its community truly inclusive.

Gaming has the numbers; studies show that nearly half of gamers are women, and the player base spans all backgrounds. However, the experience within gaming communities tells a different story. Harassment in online multiplayer games disproportionately affects women and marginalised players, making these spaces feel less welcoming despite the industry’s broad audience.

What they can learn from each other

Motorsports can take inspiration from gaming’s ability to engage global audiences and leverage digital platforms to make fans feel included. Take Baldur’s Gate 3, for example. Its developers at Larian Studios earned praise not just for the game’s inclusive character options, but for actively listening to community feedback during early access, engaging players through livestreams and developer updates, and cultivating a loyal, diverse fanbase in the process. This kind of transparent, interactive approach builds connection far beyond the product itself.

Meanwhile, gaming can study motorsports’ approach to storytelling. Like Williams Racing’s Fan Zone events, which bring the F1 experience into city centres with free access to sim rigs, driver meet-and-greets, and live race screenings. By creating welcoming, accessible spaces beyond the track, they humanise the sport and invite new audiences in. This is something games and esports could mirror through more diverse and community-focused narratives.

By spotlighting personalities across all roles and not just the stars on the podium, motorsport helps fans see themselves in the story. Games and esports could take a cue from this, crafting more inclusive narratives that reflect the breadth of players and communities involved.

Sim Racing – A link between two worlds

Sim racing is where motorsports and gaming collide, and it’s been a game-changer for accessibility. By removing the financial burden of real-world racing, sim racing has allowed drivers from diverse backgrounds to prove their skills. The success of racers like Jann Mardenborough, who transitioned from sim racing to real-world competition, highlights its potential.

However, sim racing isn’t without its barriers. High-quality setups can still be costly, and the culture often mirrors the male-dominated environment of real-world motorsports. For sim racing to truly be a vehicle for diversity, more initiatives are needed to support and elevate underrepresented talent.

In conclusion: The checkered flag is just the beginning

Representation in motorsports and gaming is not a race with a finish line, it’s an ongoing journey. While both industries have made strides, there’s still work to be done. By learning from each other’s successes and challenges, they can create a future where talent, passion, and opportunity aren’t limited by background or identity. Whether behind a wheel or behind a controller, everyone deserves a fair shot at the podium.

Sim racing, in theory, could be the perfect breeding ground for bringing together knowledge, case studies, and DEI initiatives. While improving one industry won’t magically solve the challenges in another, it could spark a powerful, cross-industry effort to learn from each other. Much like the games industry, sim racing’s relatively young and less tradition-bound nature offers a unique advantage. It allows space to test and scale inclusion strategies at a faster pace. Sharing those insights wouldn’t just benefit motorsport or gaming individually, but could inspire a broader exchange of best practices across industries, pushing representation forward in ways that truly stick.

The question now isn’t just how far we’ve come; it’s how fast we’re willing to go to create a truly inclusive future. And that’s a race worth winning.