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Grid girl Carolyn Mooney insists the racy motorsport models play a more important role in F1 than providing ­glamour on the track.

New Formula 1 chief Chase Carey has thrown their future into doubt after ­taking over from former ringmaster Bernie Eccleston.

Critics have claimed having scantily clad young women as part of the sport is sexist and should now be stopped.

(Image: David Glover)

And F1 managing ­director Ross Brawn has insisted the use of grid girls who hold umbrellas or driver name-boards before a race is a “delicate topic” that is “under strong review”.

But promo model ­Carolyn, 41, from Kilsyth, Lanarkshire, wants bosses to put the brakes on plans to ban the models, ­claiming there’s much more to the job than simply looking good.

The marketing graduate, who has worked as a grid girl in F2 races, said: “It’s about interacting with fans.

“A grid girl is not just there to stand pretty and be in pictures. Good ones can talk about the races and get down to younger kids’ level by asking them what they love about motorsport and chat about races.

(Image: PA)

“It just brings everything together rather than the public just standing in a line at an autograph signing ­session ­waiting their turn. Our job is to make people feel part of the team.

“A lot of teams expect their grid girls to have a large social media following before they’re even invited to join the team so that’s another interaction.

“I have a degree in marketing and there are girls I work with who work in the legal ­profession. This isn’t our main career – it’s just a fun sideline.

“This is just about adding to the ­entertainment of the day. But nothing is more important than the racing.”

(Image: UGC)

Carolyn has worked at tracks across the UK, including the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, for more than 15 years.

But the role has increasingly ­come under fire from those who blame grid girls for the lack of female drivers.

Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg has expressed ­disappointment at the threat to grid girls. Former world champ Niki Lauda – now a team boss at Mercedes – and Scottish female racer Susie Wolff have also come out in support of them.

(Image: PA)

As well as doing promotional and ­hospitality work for F1 teams including Red Bull, Carolyn has been a grid girl at Moto GP, A1 GP and superbike races. She’s hired via ­Elpromotions Agency.

Carolyn – whose main job is as an events co-ordinator – added: “I fell into this in my 20s. My brother was an F1 fan but didn’t get the thrill.

“But from working in the industry, I discovered my love of the sport.”

Carolyn believes grid girls still have a future. She said: “If there were more women drivers, there would be more grid boys and we probably wouldn’t be having this debate.

“There are more female engineers and mechanics in motorsport – but there needs to be more female drivers or riders.

“The skimpy outfits are going to go. I’ve worn catsuits, lycra dresses and hotpants on the grid and those days are numbered.

“You can see the changes. We’re ­moving away from lycra catsuits and they are wearing tailored dresses. Some of the grid girls wear racing suits now and that’s part of that team’s branding.

“The last couple of years they’ve had grid boys on the grid with us and the fans have taken it all in their stride.”