The world endurance championship , whose annual highlight is the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar classic , is getting rid of the grid girls . In a move that will be applauded by many , and is sure to dismay those accustomed to seeing scantily-clad beauties posing next to cars before a race , the FIA-backed series is adopting a more progressive stance . 'From Silverstone next week , you will see that for any race we will do - no grid girls like in the past , ' WEC chief executive Gerard Neveu said after a presentation on Thursday for the opening Silverstone six-hour race . The world endurance championship have announced that there will be no more 'grid girls ' before races . The decision by the FIA is seen as a progressive one by those in a male-dominated sport . 'For me that is the past . The condition of women is a little bit different now , ' he said . The use of models , also referred to as 'race queens ' or 'umbrella girls ' , to stand by cars with flags or placards displaying drivers ' numbers has long been a feature of Formula One . It has also been a bone of contention for those seeking more equality and less sexism in a male-dominated sport , although in some series where women racers have joined the grid the 'umbrella ' role has been taken by a man . The Hawiian Tropic Girls arrive on the grid before the start of the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 2001 . Toyota 's world champion Anthony Davidson said it was about time things changed . ' I talk about this with my wife quite a lot , and we both agree it 's actually pretty backward , ' the Briton , who has also raced in Formula One , said . 'It 's old school to have such a concept as grid girls . Surely the world 's moved on ? And motor racing should follow quite closely what the rest of the world 's doing in that respect . ' I think that 's a really nice touch , a modern touch as well , from the WEC to take that aspect of racing away . It is a bit sexist . ' Neveu said the cars would line up diagonally opposite the pit wall and grandstand as if for an old-style 'Le Mans start ' . Current world champion Anthony Davidson has backed the decision to remove grid girls for equality . In Le Mans of old , before safety concerns stopped the practice , drivers would run across the track to the cars but at Silverstone there will be a rolling start . Neveu said the changes were all part of catering for a new audience . 'The sport is sport , but around it we can do many things , ' he said . 'We will have a DJ , entertainment , many things on the grid . The show will start from the grid ... but the star at the end is the sportscars and the drivers of the car . '
World endurance championship begins at Silverstone on April 12 . Scantily-clad beauties traditionally pose next to cars before races . 'Neveu girls ' decision has been welcomed for those seeking gender equality .