Suzanne Royce


Suzanne Royce was the Chief Scrutineer in the United States for FIA Formula 1, FIM MotoGP, Formula E, the FIA World Endurance Championship, and other international motorsports events. She was the first woman to be granted an FIA International Chief Scrutineer License in the world, when she received it in 1986. While no definitive list exists, it is believed that she was the only woman to have held this role for Formula One. On 28 November 2020, Royce was honored by the FIA as the Best Chief Scrutineer of the year during its annual Volunteers Weekend recognition. Royce was recognized by COTA and the FIA on 24 October 2021, at the US Grand Prix as she retired from active involvement with international motorsport.
Royce died on 5 March 2022, due to complications from COVID-19. She was fully vaccinated, but contracted the virus while in the hospital for routine surgery.
On 2 November 2025, Royce was posthumously recognized with the Lifetime Dedication Award from the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame

Motorsports career

Royce emigrated from the United Kingdom to the United States in 1970. She began her involvement as a scrutineer with the Detroit Region of the Sports Car Club of America in the early 1970s, serving as Chief Scrutineer for her first regional event by 1976. When Formula 1 came to Detroit in 1982, she volunteered as a member of the scrutineering team. She quickly took on a leadership role, becoming co-Chief Scrutineer in 1985 and taking over the reins independently in 1986.
She served as the sole Chief Scrutineer for Formula 1 in the United States from 1985 through 2021. After the United States Grand Prix moved to the Circuit of the Americas in 2012, she was also asked to serve as Chief Scrutineer for other international motorsports events at COTA, Sebring, and various street circuits throughout the US.

YearsSeries, race and location
1985 - 1988FIA Formula 1 - Detroit Grand Prix
1989 - 1991FIA Formula 1 - United States Grand Prix
2000 - 2007FIA Formula 1 - United States Grand Prix
2008 - 2015FIM MotoGP - Indianapolis Grand Prix
2012 - 2019, 2021FIA Formula 1 - United States Grand Prix
2013Australian V8 Supercars - Austin 400
2013 - 2019, 2021FIM MotoGP - Grand Prix of the Americas
2013 - 2017, 2020FIA World Endurance Championship - Lone Star Le Mans
2015FIA Formula E - Miami ePrix
2015 - 2016FIA Formula E - Long Beach ePrix
2017 - 2019, 2021FIA Formula E - New York City ePrix
2018FIA World Rallycross Championship - World RX of USA
2019FIA World Endurance Championship - 1000 Miles of Sebring

In 2012, Royce co-authored a book entitled Learn & Compete: A Primer for Formula SAE, Formula Student, and Formula Hybrid Teams. The book provides an introduction to the engineering and team management aspects that students may want to consider as they participate in the Formula SAE, Formula Student, or Formula Hybrid competitions.