he second phase of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission’s innovative talent detection and nurturing programme is set to start next week (October 21-27) when the selected young racers from around the globe convene at the Circuit Paul Ricard for the FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars shoot-out and training camp.
Twenty-eight drivers, selected from 71 applications from 28 countries, will take the next step in the FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme next week, marking the start of a momentous journey that could put just two of them in a professional race seat and under the wing of the programme’s partner, the famed Ferrari Driver Academy.
In an exciting development for the second season, the programme has been further expanded and, in collaboration with the Ferrari Driver Academy and Iron Dames, will now provide a long-term development pathway for junior drivers in karting, as well as the more senior drivers qualifying to race in Formula 4. At the end of the gruelling training and selection process, the winning junior driver will participate in an international karting season with the financial support of the Ferrari Driver Academy. And, for the selected senior driver, she will potentially become the second female to have the chance to join the Ferrari Driver Academy – similar to Maya Weug, the inaugural winner – to develop a professional career in the sport and compete in Formula 4 with the FIA Girls on Track main partner, the Iron Dames project masterminded by Deborah Mayer.
The 28 Junior and Senior drivers are:
Junior category: Born between 01.04.2007 – 31.12.2010
Chiara Bättig – Switzerland
Laura Bubenová – Slovakia
Alexia Danielsson – Sweden
Maria Germano Neto – Portugal
Wiktoria Kulesza – Poland
Nea Kytölä – Finland
Meri Levula – Finland
Kiana Naudé – Switzerland
Skye Parker – United Kingdom
Ivanna Richards – Mexico
Milla Sjöstrand – Sweden
Alice Stolcermane – Latvia
Taya Van Der Laan – South Africa
Yinthe De Smet – Belgium
Senior category: Born between 01.01.2005 – 31.03.2007
Julia Ayoub – Brazil
Antonella Bassani – Brazil
Victoria Blokhina – Russia
Bianca Bustamante – Philippines
Laura Camps Torras – Spain
Tania Cirelli – France
Clarissa Dervic – Spain
Jessica Edgar – United Kingdom
Siri Hökfelt – Sweden
Matilde Magalhães – Portugal
Macie Hitter – United Kingdom
Aada Turpeinen – Finland
Emma Wigroth – Sweden
Kinga Wójcik – Poland
Similar to last year, the FIA’s 146 worldwide national sporting authorities were invited to nominate their most talented kart racers in both the junior and senior categories. Following receipt of 71 applications from 28 countries, the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission’s Detection Cell has whittled the applications down to 28 – 14 in both categories. Those drivers will now take part in separate but simultaneous shoot-outs and training camps hosted at the Winfield Racing School, the iconic and historic racing school based at the Circuit Paul Ricard.
Having been assessed on track in identical Praga karts as well as off track in various workshops, just eight of the 14 drivers in each category will be selected to participate in the decisive Ferrari Driver Academy karting and Formula 4 Scouting Camps in November.
Info FIA – WIM