"This is a man's world, but it wouldn't mean a thing without a woman" sang James Brown in one of his most famous songs, 'This is a man's world'. The motorsport that Eve Scheer experienced at the end of the 1990s and the beginning of the new millennium was a world of men, but if today there are women involved in different roles it is thanks to pioneers who, like her, have shown that passion does not make gender distinctions.
It all started in Monza, 1989, when Eve was 12 years old and, together with her father, went to watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix: "On the track, there were Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and other legendary drivers. From that moment on, I wanted to become a racing driver, or at least I was sure that I wanted to be part of this environment," says the TV presenter of ServusTV, which broadcasts the MotoGP™ World Championship in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
The plan to become a professional racing driver was not likely to become a reality during her teenage years, so Eve continued her studies and at the age of 20 she got a main character part in a popular German TV series: "For two and a half years I was an actress and I was not allowed to train with racing cars, partly to avoid possible injuries and partly because of the limited time available," she explains. "But I wanted to live in the racing world. Working as an actress gave me the chance to take part in exclusive events and enjoy fantastic experiences, but it wasn't what I wanted, so I chose to give up that secure job to devote myself to my passion, with no guarantees."
With her professional racing license in her pocket, Eve started competing in races and made her debut as a racing driver in 2002. "I started racing and one day the Alfa Romeo called me and asked me to race with them as a test. They liked my professionalism and my passion, so they suggested to do the whole season together. It was fantastic!"
Finally, she raced many years in various series like the Alfa 147 Cup, Porsche Sports Cup, VW Scirocco Cup and as a highlight, 3 times the prestigious 24hours Nürburging.
Given her experience in the TV world, a new opportunity opened up for Eve: "Many companies started offering me to present events such as team launches, new car models, or even to do interviews or report on what was happening during international race events where I was sometimes also involved as a driver."
Her approach to television journalism was gradual and undoubtedly challenging: "Often I was in the car with the cameraman at my side just minutes before the start of qualifying or a race and, with microphone in hand, I explained what had happened up to that moment and introduce the next session. Then the cameraman jumped out of the car, time for me to focus and concentrate on racing!" During these same years, she participated in and presented iconic four-wheel events such as the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and Le Mans.
"At the beginning of the 2000s there weren't many women as interested in motorsport as I was. It's still a man's world, and back in those days I often had the impression that constantly being tested and challenged. So I always had the feeling to be much better prepared than my male colleagues, I had to prove that I deserved the job because of my knowledge and competence," she adds. "The fact that I was a racing driver was a further demonstration of my huge passion for motorsport, and I think that in some ways it gave me a good reputation and support right from the start."
Passion alone is not enough when you want to be a professional, as Eve explains: "Before any event, I always try to study every detail about the drivers, the technology, the teams, and it was my preparation that made me get noticed and therefore more and more jobs as a presenter."
And when she couldn't find the details she needed in magazines or books, she always found support in her colleagues: "I think the way you present yourself is very important. Being polite and respectful has allowed me to integrate myself into this scene and to create a large network of contacts made up of people who, when I needed to ask them for information, never backed down. Of course, there is reciprocity, it's about give and take. I think relationships are very important, as are availability and professionalism."
It was thanks to a rich network of contacts that Eve was faced with a new challenge at the end of 2018: "I got a message from Alex Hofmann, one of the MotoGP™ experts for ServusTV, telling me that they were looking for another presenter besides Andrea Schlager. I was honoured because I had always been passionate about motorbikes, but I had never reported on two-wheel racing."
After a TV casting in Salzburg, Eve was hired to start this new adventure: "I don't want to say I was scared but I think I didn't sleep some nights before participating in the first GP because I was nervous and excited again. But once I arrived in the paddock the first impact was already fantastic! And I was surprised to see so many women in such different roles. Everyone was immediately welcoming and helpful. I remember thinking: 'It's not just a show, it's a family."
Despite her many experiences, the desire to compete hasn't left her, so as well as travelling to report on the MotoGP™ World Championship races, Eve is also involved in classic car racing: "I race a BMW 2002 group 2 from the '60s without traction control, ABS or electronic support, so the control of the car is more challenging especially in wet conditions and at the limit. It’s great fun and some kind of “back to the roots!. And what is also great is that ServusTV allows me to have all this fun as an active driver in addition to my TV job"
Since 2018 Eve has been competing again, finding inspiration and support from her husband, Frank Stippler, a professional AUDI factory driver: "I've never really had any idols but I'm lucky enough to have my husband supporting me, which is very important to me. Sometimes I think he believes in me more than I do myself."
Being a reference in motorsport, Eve often receives messages or is invited to participate in events, mainly online in the last year, where many girls ask for advice and suggestions: "I am amazed by the preparation that 13 or 14-year-old girls have today. They already know what role they want to play and how to move, they are a source of inspiration and motivation".
As her home Grand Prix, the Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, from 18 to 20 June approaches, Eve is ready to grab the microphone to report on another unmissable MotoGP™ event for ServusTV.