Editing British Racing Drivers' Club (section)

==Membership status==
In the modern era full membership status is offered only to those who are judged to have been successful at an international level for a number of seasons. Full membership has been awarded to every British or Commonwealth Formula One World Champion. Associate status is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to motor sport. Honorary membership may be awarded in special cases, such as a notable World Champion who may not otherwise qualify. Membership is only open to British or Commonwealth drivers however Irish drivers who were born in the [[Irish Free State]] or the [[Republic of Ireland]] before 1950 would be considered British by the club and eligible for membership. This rule allowed for [[Eddie Jordan]] to join the club.<ref>{{cite book | first =Eddie | last =Jordan | title =An Independent Man: The Autobiography | publisher = Hachette UK | year = 2011 | isbn = 978-1409105558 | chapter = 10}}</ref> Once invited to join, prospective members must be proposed and seconded by existing members, then in turn, approved by the existing membership, board of directors and BRDC President.

The BRDC's membership was initially restricted to experienced and successful male drivers, and was by invitation only. When Le Mans-winner [[John Duff]] joined the club in 1935 he was proposed and seconded by existing members.<ref>Noted in the Club's general Committee Meeting held on 28 January 1935. He was proposed by L. G. Callingham and seconded by H. D. Parker.</ref> However [[James Robertson Justice]] was a member of the club,<ref>''Autosport'', 29 March 1957.</ref> with a limited track record.

In 1946 eligibility was described thus: "It is pointed out that, normally, membership is confined to gentlemen who have competed in an open motor road-racing event or taken a first, second or third place award in a [[British Automobile Racing Club|Brooklands Automobile Racing Club's]] Meeting. Every candidate must be proposed by one and seconded by another member of the club, to both of whom he is personally known."<ref>''Motor Sport'', December 1946, Page 288.</ref>

Women have been elected Honorary Member of the Club since 1928 (when [[Jill Scott (racing driver)|Jill Scott]] was inducted<ref name="chws">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xL1wAwAAQBAJ&pg=180 |pages=180–181 |title=A Contemporary History of Women's Sport, Part One: Sporting Women, 1850-1960 |first=Jean |last=Williams |year=2014 |isbn=9781317746669 |publisher=Taylor & Francis}}</ref>), however it was not until 1994 that they were able to become Full Members. As a consequence, the [[British Women Racing Drivers Club]] was founded in 1962 by Mary Wheeler.<ref name="Teleg12">{{cite news|title=Female racers aiming for the top|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=19 April 2012|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorsport/9162612/Female-racers-aiming-for-the-top.html}}</ref>