Just found out that one of the drivers who will be competing in the formula woman competition works in our office.

Just been talking to her and she says the race cars will be arriving here in March.

One of the organisers will be getting one of the first RX-8's delivered to use as his private car and he has promised to take her for a test drive when it arrives. I of course told them to bring it round to my house if he's bringing it here as she only lives 4 miles from me.

According to her there were two RX-8 (winning blue and velocity red) at the Autosport show that was held very recently (Birmingham I think).

She even had a sit inside!

Now thats the sort of information we could have done with from Mazda UK, it would have answered quite a few questions for all of us.

Dammit. Now *that* is irritating. I went to the autosport show last year and would certainly have gone again had I known an RX8 would be there !

As an aside - anyone else think the formula woman thing is a bit odd ?
Firstly it is quite dangerous in this day and age to promote anything using one sex or the other.
Secondly - anyone concerned it may actually take away from the RX8 as a serious car ?

Rightly or wrongly there does exist gender-stereotyping in the automotive world and I am not sure I want my RX8 to be labelled as a 'girls car'.....

Thoughts ?

Not something I had thought about until now but 'yes' it is possible that it will be considered a girls car especially if the womens car race is widely advertised (which may be the point of the exercise).

Very odd way to go.

rael.

Look on the bright side it may well attract the women too!

I think they've made a major error by doing this. If they were using an established car then it wouldn't be an issue and I'm all for more women racers but to use a totally new car and use this to promote its first appearance in the UK is insane. The car will be inextricably linked to this high profile TV series in the public consciousness and therefore predominantly considered to be a woman's car. To see my Winning Blue RX-8 with 'Formula Woman' slapped on the side of it is mildly irritating (see the press launch photos). I don't feel like I'm being sexist here because if the RX-8 was a two year old vehicle then I'd be all for the series, it's just that this will dictate the INITIAL perception and I fully expect to be constantly asked if I've borrowed the Mazda from my wife or girlfriend (at best). Typical Mazda marketing madness!

I tried to convice my Mum to enter!:o