Formula E's history began with two women - Katherine Legge and Michela Cerruti - on the first ever grid in Beijing in 2014.
But that didn't last long and four races later both had gone.
Simona de Silvestro is the only female driver to have completed a full FE season, with Andretti, in the second campaign in 2015-16. Results were modest but even at that early stage Formula E was already getting a reputation for one of the most competitive grids outside of Formula 1.
Since that time there has frankly been a dearth of opportunities for women in the series despite W Series and F1 Academy being formed and a former FE team principal - Susie Wolff - being front and centre of the latter of those championships.
That's now changing. Last week's all-female test was a very public starting point for what is likely to be a much bigger plan - one that may involve some form of revival for the W Series brand and an electric all-female junior series.
Seeds were sown for Formula E to host a bespoke test for women really when Jeff Dodds took the CEO role in June 2023 and 18 months later it became a reality in the unlikely surroundings of Jarama last Friday.
Dodds's background in previous roles outside of motorsport included several equality-based programmes and roles which he clearly relished.
"We think it's a sport where men and women should be able to compete equally," Dodds tells The Race matter-of-factly.
"Women haven't had the same opportunities, so the start point is not the same, but in theory, once they get in the car, they should be able to compete equally."
That is a big, layered debate, perhaps fraught with gender stereotyping too, but there is certainly truth that some technical aspects, particularly steering loads, have been problematic. But this is now being addressed for 2026 and the start of the Gen4 era.
"We've subsequently learned there are things in the development of the car that probably we could change that would make that even more equal on track, like power steering and various things that we'll plan into Gen4," adds Dodds.
"I think if they can demonstrate they can close the gap, some of these teams will start to employ them as development drivers, and then they'll get rookie test time, and then they'll hopefully find their way into competing and driving in the main championship."
Jamie Chadwick is already confirmed for another test in the Berlin rookie session next July with Jaguar and The Race understands that at least two other women are being considered for such seats as well.
Outside of that, the likes of Ella Lloyd, Marta Garcia and Jarama Friday pacesetter Abbi Pulling could also fit into teams' plans in similar development roles to those De Silvestro and Alice Powell have filled in recent seasons.
Dodds doesn't scrimp when he talks up the women's test, saying that "18 of the world's best women together in one place, in exactly the same cars that the guys are racing, on exactly the same circuit, with exactly the same infrastructure behind them is a real moment in time".
But more than just a test is needed, and Dodds knows it.
Perhaps the building blocks are hiding in plain sight. Formula E quietly acquired several IP and copyright assets via administrators from the now defunct W Series last spring.
"The brand effectively was lying dormant in administration," said Dodds.
"As we know, commercially it wasn't a viable business, so it closed down. But they have incredible IP, great assets, great recognition around the branding.
"So my view was we have an intention to do more with women in racing and we want to do more with women in Formula E, therefore, acquiring that historic IP, acquiring the asset, acquiring the pre-existing awareness of that championship name, was probably a good thing to do. So, we acquired it.
"We are not exactly sure what we'll do with it. It might be a racing series. It might be a whole package of women's development programme. It might be nothing.
"I just thought it was worth us having in our locker, given we have an intention to do more with women in racing."
In 2026 there will be 22 obsolete Gen3 Evo cars, which for PR reasons at least can't be left to gather dust in a big warehouse like the Gen1 family has for over six years now.
An all-female, all-electric, all-talent feeder for Formula E using those cars might just be as much of a no-brainer as it was to gather the world's most talented female racing drivers at Jarama last week.
The question now is can Formula E, the power of Liberty Global and the support of the FIA create a showcase for them via electric power as well as ICE propulsion?
