ALICE Powell has hit back at Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone after he made disparaging comments about female drivers in the sport.

A women has not competed in a race since 1976 when Italian Lella Lombardi started the Australian Grand Prix.

Susie Wolff, now retired, took part in a practice session for Grove-based Williams at Silverstone in 2014.

But Ecclestone, speaking to Canadian network TSN, doubts a female competitor will return to the grid.

He added a capable driver “wouldn’t be taken seriously” and not be given a car “capable of competing”.

His comments have angered Chipping Norton driver Powell, who has been racing in the MRF Challenge series.

The 22-year-old said: “Someone needs to prove Bernie wrong.

“It would be a shame if a team would turn down a female to race in F1 because they would not be taken seriously.

“That is one of the issues though – that people don’t take the chance – as they think it will be a joke.

“We’re not a joke and it is just another factor which makes it harder for females to race at the highest level.”