Pilot or Pilotess? Good or hot? Thanks to the interview with Marcella Bianco we asked ourselves some reasonable doubts about the pink quotas of motor racing

Together with Luigi Bianco we met Marcella, his wife, press office, navigator. A whole life shared in the narrow sports cockpits, a solid bond and a beautiful story to tell. We didn't know that she also had a past as a pilot... or pilotess. That's how our reflection began...

Pilot or Pilotess, let's ask the Academy of the Crusca

The declination of the term is equal to that of other terms of Greek origin in -ota (e.g. idiot and patriot). In the singular it comes out in -a for both male and female(pilot, but 19th century dictionaries also attest the piloto form), while in the plural it comes out in -i for male (pilots) and in -e for female(pilot). The pilotess form is attested only in very recent years and is modelled on other terms in -ess, see the title "From war pilotess to prophetess of drones", Dronezine. The first magazine on drones, 21.10.2013. It is therefore an unnecessary neologism, given the possibility of using the female pilot form.

Much has been done in recent years to improve the combination of women and engines, but we think there is still a lot to be done. For example, giving space to female motoring stories, telling their story because they are "fierce, have a heavy foot on the accelerator and, often, are also beautiful, attractive and sensual", but simply because they are good. The interview with Marcella Bianco gave us the opportunity to leaf through a history of female motoring.

Marcella Bianco tells herself

Marcella, how did your story start? 

I was a track and field athlete. I was a sprinter. In '69 I met Luigi, he wasn't my husband yet and he asked me to navigate a pure regularity race, for the first Coppa del Salento. Then we started rallying with a mini 850 that was the car I used to work in.

Then we did national and international rallies and switched to bigger cars. I stayed with him for 8 years and then I sailed with other people. With a girl I did the centre-south by winning the Italian Championship in 1985. Later I took part in uphill races and at the time I was the only woman, then other ladies joined me.

In the environment I remained there, first as a race official now as a fan and I have seen many girls enter especially in the rellystic sector. This sport is slowly expanding also in the women's sector.

The new promise...
Giorgia Scalone, for years has ignored the automotive world, even though her father has participated in many rallies. It's two years that Giorgia is in full swing, she's making a great career. And informed about everything, she knows the rules, she is very prepared and very good. I see in her the enthusiasm I had when I left.