Bhoomi Gadhiya's Impact at Box Box Club: Empowering Women in Motorsport

Motorsports isn’t just about the drivers on track; it’s also about the people working behind the scenes – engineers, developers, and designers (to name a few) who bring the magic to life. And women belong in every part of that world!

Meet Bhoomi Gadhiya, an Android developer at Box Box Club – a popular Formula 1 widget and app. Bhoomi is not your typical die-hard motorsports fan but her passion for technology has made a huge impact on the app and the sports tech community. Thanks to her work, the app is now faster, smoother, and more user-friendly – all without her needing to know every detail of the racing world! 

Bhoomi in Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024

What makes Bhoomi’s journey special is her drive to break stereotypes and make tech accessible to everyone. She’s on a mission to ensure women feel empowered to take up space in technology and enjoy the process while doing it.

Her journey with Box Box Club and motorsport started with a bang - literally. In 2024, shortly after joining the team, Bhoomi had the opportunity to visit the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. Watching the race live was a turning point for her. 

“It was a life-changing experience,” she tells Females in Motorsport. “I had goosebumps! The cars flew by in the blink of an eye, and it hit me how intense and dangerous the world of motorsports really is. I came back determined to give my best and make my mark in the community.”

Coming from a non-motorsport background, Bhoomi faced unique challenges. “Motorsport has its own language, and to build something meaningful, you need to understand it,” she says.

Although she didn’t grow up watching Formula 1, her love for Android development kept her going. She began learning the basics of the sport and how fans engage with it, which helped everything fall into place. 

“It’s not just about fast cars - it’s about how people experience the excitement through technology,” she says. “That’s where I knew I could make a difference.”

Bhoomi showcasing Box Box Club logo on an F2 car

One of her most demanding tasks was rewriting the Android widget code from scratch. With over 19,000 Android devices to consider, ensuring smooth performance across all platforms was no small feat. 

“It took many late nights and a lot of trial and error, but it paid off,” she says. Her hard work resulted in a massive improvement - when she joined, the app had a 3.3-star rating, and now it proudly stands at 4.5 stars. 

Her advice for anyone looking to break into the motorsport tech community is clear. “Just start, don’t overthink it,” she says. “Take time to learn the sport and find resources that help. For me, following a Formula 1 education blog made a huge difference. Be patient with yourself and trust that your skills are valuable.” 

But there’s much more to Bhoomi than her work at Box Box Club. She is also a public speaker, a Hackathon Best Mobile App award winner, and has even judged the NASA Space Apps competition. She serves as a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google, sharing her insights through talks and blogs many of which are featured in the Google Developers Library. She’s deeply involved in community events and continues to inspire others with her work.

As someone who’s been following Formula 1 closely, stories like Bhoomi’s feel incredibly important. It’s not just about her personal success, it’s about what it represents. When women break into motorsport technology, it chips away at the idea that only certain people "belong" in this world. And honestly, motorsport is all about pushing limits, and the best ideas come when people from different backgrounds bring their perspectives to the table.

Bhoomi’s journey shows that you don’t need to grow up around motorsport to make a difference. It’s a reminder to every woman out there - if you’re passionate and willing to take the leap, there’s space for you. With dedication and a bit of courage, you can make your mark - whether it’s on the track or working behind the scenes!