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fia women in motor sportofficial NEWSLETTER - Issue 1Representing racersFemale racers elected to newFIA Drivers’ Commission PG 8taking the safe optionRally driver Laura Suvanto joins star racersto promote road safety in Finland PG 10two for threeTwo ladies line up in new FIAF3 European Championship PG14trophyhuntRace begins forETCC Ladies’ prizeAUTOwomen inmotor sport
AUTO WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORTCONTACTS:If you have any commentsabout this Newsletter orstories for the next issue, wewould love to hear from you.E-mail hgallagher@fia.com2AUTO WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORTWelcome to the first edition of AUTO Women in Motorsport, in which we intendto share news and initiatives from aroundthe world involving the exploits of womenin our sport. In this issue we look at the newLadies’ Trophies that have been establishedin the FIA European Touring Car Cup andthe FIA European Rally Championship, twoinitiatives that aim to encourage womento get involved in top-level motorsport.We also look at how women are becominginvolved in motor sport decision-makingat the highest levels with the election oftwo women to the FIA’s new Drivers’Commission, a success that againdemonstrates that equality is at the heartof the Federation’s motor sport agenda.We hope you will enjoy reading aboutthe work of the Women in MotorsportCommission and its support around theworld and, as always, we welcome yourfeedback and input.Your AUTO team3
FIA ETCC driverKsenya Niksand (below)AUTO WOMENIN MOTORSPORTAUTO WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORTS1600 class rival Ulrike Krafft in action.FIA European Touring Car CupThree drivers inthe hunt for ETCCLadies’ TrophyThree women racers are contesting the FIA European TouringCar Cup and will also battle for the series’ recently-launchedLadies’ Trophy.The series’ first event was held last weekend at Monza andsaw Switzerland’s Andrina Gugger, Germany’s Ulrike Krafft,Ukrainian Ksenya Niks battling not just for class honours butalso racing for the new prize. Their results across the five-raceseason will count towards the overall trophy standings.Supported by the Women in Motorsport Commission,the ETCC Ladies’ Trophy aims to create a valid platform forwomen who are already racing in national series, giving themthe opportunity to compete at international level for an FIAtitle, as well as giving them a chance to win a test in a WorldTouring Car Championship machine.All female drivers are eligible to compete for the trophy,irrespective of the category in which they race (Super2000, Super 1600, Single Make Trophy). The trophy will beawarded to the woman who scores the highest number ofpoints in her own category.“In recent years we had occasional female participationsin the ETCC, and this seems to be an upward trend in today’smotor sport,” said Marcello Lotti, WTCC and ETCC generalmanager. “Therefore we have set the goal of increasing our‘pink quota’ by establishing a dedicated trophy.”Krafft has already raced two seasons in the ETCC, finishing4second in the 2011 Super 1600 category and racing to thirdoverall in the same class last year. Prior to her entry intothe ETCC, Krafft spent two seasons in ADAC Pro Cars andfinished the 2010 championship in third place.Niks, meanwhile is a lawyer by education and works inthe Ukrainian city of Kkarkiv. Mother of two Niks only beganracing in 2012, after completing a motor sport school. Shewent on to take sixth place in the Ukrainian Touring CarChampionship. She also recently competed in the Cup ofGeorgia ‘Rustavi International Challenge’ and finished in thesilver medal spot.Finally, 22-year-old Swiss racer Andrina Gugger comesto the ETCC after a 2011 season in which she scored twopodium finishes during a 16-race stint in the EuropeanTrofeo Maserati series. She also contested two events of theBlancpain Endurance series, where she scored a podium inthe GT4 Cup standings. This time out she is racing in theSuper 2000 category for Rikli Motorsport.In the season-opening round at Monza, Gugger finishedrace one in fifth place in the 16-car S2000 class (10thoverall), while Krafft was an excellent third in the nine-carSuper 1600 class. Niks finished race one in ninth place in thesame class. Gugger repeated her fifth-place performance in awet second race, while Krafft was 22nd in her class. Niks tookthe race two chequered flag in 27th place.5
AUTO WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORTVolkswagen Scirocco R-CupCommission tocontinue supportfor Gatting inR-Cup Pro ClassThe FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commissionis to continue its support of Denmark’s MichelleGatting, who won the 2012 WMC-backedVolkswagen shoot-out for young female drivers.Gatting emerged victorious after a gruellingthree-day test series in January of last year andwas awarded a fully funded drive in the JuniorCup category of the Germany-based SciroccoR-Cup series.Gatting finished last season in fourth placeoverall after the 10-race series and will nowstep up to the Pro Class, where she will onceagain receive support from the WMC.“I learned an incredible amount [in 2012]and am feeling confident about the 2013season,” Gatting wrote on her website. “I haveto give a very special thank you to the peopleat Volkswagen Motorsport, [mentor] CathyMuller for helping me at each race, and theWomen in Motorsport Commission for alsohaving faith in me.”The Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup is the firstsingle-make cup with natural gas technology,producing 80 per cent less CO2 emissions.The 2013 series takes in six European roundsstarting on May 4 at Hockenheim.6Michelle Gatting with Women In Motorsport ambassador Susie Wolff.7
AUTO WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORTAUTO WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORTFIA World Motor Sport CouncilTwo women drivers appointedto new FIA Drivers’ CommissionFIA Women in Motorsport ambassador Maria de Villota andWorld Endurance Championship racer Keiko Ihara have beenappointed to the FIA’s new Drivers’ Commission.The establishment of the commission, designed torepresent the rights and interests of drivers across all motorsport disciplines was mandated at the 2012 FIA GeneralAssembly and the announcement of the membership of thebody was made at the World Motor Sport Council meetingin Geneva earlier this month.The commission will be headed by double FormulaOne champion Emerson Fittipaldi, with nine-time WorldRally champion Sébastien Loeb acting as vice-president.Villota joins 1992 F1 world champion Nigel Mansell andformer Formula One driver Karun Chandhok in representingsingle seater racers.“I am very proud to have been chosen to be part of theDriver’s Commission and it will be an honour to sit along sideNigel Mansell and Karun Chandhok in order to represent allsingle-seater drivers,” said De Villota. “I hope to be the voicethat can express the thoughts and concerns of all single-seaterdrivers, as well as representing all females within the motorsport industry.“This role means a lot to me,” she added. “Michèle Moutonbecame the first president of the FIA’s Women in MotorsportCommission in 2010 and has been an inspiration to me so Ihope this will be a chance for me to continue her good work.”Ihara, meanwhile, will have a brief of representing driversfrom a wide variety of disciplines not covered by the maincategories and will sit alongside 14-time European Rallycrosschampion Kenneth Hansen and karting legend Danilo Rossi.“It is a great honour to be selected as a member of the FIADrivers’ Commission and to be allowed to join great names inmotor sport such as Emerson Fittipaldi,” said Ihara.“Carbon monocoque chassis have made today’s racing carsmore demanding in terms of physical strength, which is toughfor women,” she added. “I also faced social and culturaldifficulties in pursuing my motor sport career.“Motor sport is, however, one of the rare sports wheremen and women can participate under the same conditions.As such, motor sport has given me invaluable experiencesand assets in my life. To show my appreciation, I would liketo make as big a contribution as possible to making motorsport a more attractive and popular sport for many people,including women.”Sports cars, GTs and Touring cars are represented byEmanuele Pirro, Yvan Muller and Adrian Fernandez, whilerally and cross country rallying will be represented by NasserAl Attiyah, Marcus Grönholm and Daniel Elena.Maria de Villota, who hasbeen chosen to representsingle-seat racers on the FIA’snew Drivers’ Commission.Ekaterina Stratieva (right) withregular co-driver Carmen Poenaru.FIA European Rally ChampionshipERC Ladies’ Trophy gets underway in Canary IslandsThe Ladies’ Trophy category of the FIA European RallyChampionships kicked off last weekend with its first event,the Rally Islas Canarias.Two crews featuring women took part in the rally andit was Bulgarian Ekaterina Stratieva who took the Ladies’Trophy spoils after local rival Emma Falcón went off road onFriday’s second stage. Stratieva, accompanied by co-driverVeronica Boni, who was a late replacement for CarmenPoenaru, finished 17th overall and is now targeting the RallyAçores as her next event. “I want to go,” said Stratieva. “Idon’t have big experience on gravel but one day I must learn.”The new prize was launched in February and femaledrivers contesting the ERC are eligible for the new accolade,with three points handed to the winner, two to the secondplaced driver and one to the competitor in third, based onthe overall classification of each round, regardless of carperformance. Drivers are allowed to count their best fourscores and do not have to be paired with a female co-driver.The establishment of the trophy was welcomed by Womenin Motorsport Commission president Michèle Mouton, whosaid: “We want to do all we can to encourage more women toparticipate in motor sport. Hopefully this will encourage morewomen on to our rally stages and give a clear message thatmotor sport is open to all.”François Ribeiro, Motorsport Development Director ofEurosport Events, added: “Since the FIA has created theWomen in Motorsport Commission, we felt it was appropriateto do something at a high level in the ERC. While femaledrivers take part on ERC events on an equal footing withtheir male counterparts, an award like this will provide anadditional incentive for women to contest rounds of the ERCand give them the opportunity to showcase their ability.”2013 CIK-FIA Academy TrophyPrudent thechoice of CIKand WMC8Fourteen-year-old Adeline Prudent has been selected for supportby the CIK and the Women in Motorsport Commission. Theyoungster from Saint-Etienne in France will be aided witha 2013 drive in the Karting Academy Trophy.At just 13 years of age Adeline won the “Coupe de FranceFéminine” in 2011. She then achieved fourth place in theIame International Final. However, her biggest results to datehave come on the international stage in the Academy Trophy,in which she took a best result of fourth place in Braga. Shefinished ninth overall and was the leading female driver.9
AUTO WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORTFIA Action for Road SafetyFinnishrallying’sfirst ladyof safetyEighteen-year-old rally driver Laura Suvantohas joined forces with the country’s ASN totake part in a unique road safety promotionfronted by a group of rising stars of Finnishmotor sport.Suvanto, who is currently contesting theFinnish Junior Championship as well asthe Suomi Cup series, was asked by AKKMotorsport to take part in its Turvassa tiellä(Safety on the Road) campaign which hopesto bring traffic awareness education andmoped driving practice to 14 and 15-year-oldpupils across Finland.Along with Williams Formula One driverValtteri Bottas, Skoda rally driver EsapekkaLappi and rallycross star Toomas Heikkinen,Suvanto will be present at educationalhappenings in eight cities around Finland.The initiative, organised in support of theFIA’s Action for Road Safety campaign, willalso be a high profile feature at Finland’sround of the World Rally Championship,which takes place from 31 July to 3 August.Meanwhile, Suvanto’s 2013 season hasbegun promisingly. She finished third in twoconsecutive JRC rounds and scored a numberof fastest stage times driving a VW Golf inthe V1600 class.In the Finnish Championship roundVaakuna Ralli in Mikkeli – the first pacenote event for Suvanto and co-driver ReetaHämäläinen – the girls claimed the third besttime in their class on the first stage, onlytwo seconds behind the fastest time. The joyturned to disappointment on the very nextstage, however, as the duo were sidelined bytechnical problems.10Laura Suvanto and co-driver Reeta Hämäläinen in action in their VW Golf 1600.11
AUTO WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORTAUTO WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORTYoung Driver ProgrammeKarlsson aimsto aid nextgenerationof racersWRC rally star Ramona Karlsson haslaunched a programme to promote thecareers of female motor sport competitorsin her native Sweden.The Young Female Drivers programmewas launched with the aid of Sweden’sNational Sports Federation as part of itsIdrottslyftet programme to encourageyoung people’s participation in sports.Karlsson, in association with the SwedishMotorsports Federation, selected sevengirls aged between 15 and 20 from acrossmotor sport disciplines including rallying,rallycross, stock cars and crosskart toreceive mentoring as they attempt to builda career in motor sport.“I want to share the experiences of mycareer and hopefully to help them savetime, money and energy in their career,”said Karlsson, who currently competes inthe Swedish Rally Championship. “It alsoaims to create a platform for women andgirls in motor sport so that they can meet,share experiences and feel fellowship. It’sdesigned to create motivation, inspirationand to get to know more female driverswith the same interest.”Speaking about her own career in motorsport, Karlsson said: “Since I started inmotor sport when I was 12 years old, Ihave always competed against boys. I havecreated my own team and my own career,without any contacts or money. I wantto inspire these girls and show them thatnothing is impossible, as long as you lovewhat you do, that you are stubborn, thinkpositive and believe in your dreams.“It can be quite special to be a woman ina ‘man’s world’, so I want to help these girlsto keep their confidence, and to feel proudand happy with what they do; not to listento prejudice. I missed out on this kind ofsupport as a young female driver, so I’mvery happy that I now have opportunity tohelp others.”12Ramona Karlsson (front) with her racing protégées.13
AUTO WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORTFIA Formula 3 European ChampionshipCalderon andCerruti chaseEuro F3 gloryMichela Cerruti (left) and Tatiana Calderon (right).Colombian Tatiana Calderon and Italian Michela Cerrutilined up on the grid in Monza last weekend for the openinground of the FIA’s new Formula 3 European Championship.Nineteen-year-old Calderon has secured a seat with theDouble R Racing team and the Colombian, who comes tothe series after taking ninth place in the 2012 European F3Open, admits that the series is the most competitive she hasfaced so far in her career.“The FIA Formula 3 European Championship is a verycompetitive series. You have to give the best of yourself tobe on top,” she said. “To start with it’s hard to be a girl inthe middle of all the men. You have to prove you are able togo fast, and then you are one of them. You have to gain thatrespect. When you are fighting with them, no matter if youare a boy or a girl, you are a competitor.”Perhaps naturally, Calderon got into motor sport throughher support of a famous compatriot.“I followed Juan Pablo Montoya when I was kid. ForColombia that was so huge to have him in F1. Motor sportgrew a lot with him,” she added. “I started racing with mysister. I raced in the USA, then in Europe. I was the firstfemale to win the Stars of Karting championship in the USA.Then I came to Europe to do the Euro challenge in Rotax.“A girl needs to work harder physically,” she said ofsingle-seater racing. “A Formula 3 car is pretty physical, so tobe able to concentrate on all the other stuff, such as gettingthe car balance right, you have to be really well prepared.I’m getting there. I’m working hard.”It’s a story familiar to Cerruti, who is racing with RomeoFerraris this season. The 26-year-old comes to the newchampionship from the 2012 Italian GT Championship inwhich she finished 10th, with three podiums, and the ATSFormel 3 Cup where she finished 15th overall.“The big step for me was to race in the Superstars Seriesin 2010,” she admitted. “The first year was hard, but I wona race in my second year. It was incredible to race againstdrivers like Andrea Bertolini, Thomas Biagi, Johnny Herbertand Gianni Morbidelli.“Romeo Ferraris, my team in Superstars Series, decided togo to F3, with me,” she added. “It’s great to have their trust.We have to work, but we could do something. The first testswere difficult. It’s a new team, so we are facing the usualthings a new team with a new car faces. The team is new toF3 but has huge experience in GT.”Cerruti agreed with Calderon that F3 cars are a physicalchallenge. “A Formula 3 car is much more physical than aGT, so you have to work harder,” she said. “I had to traintwice as hard as the others, as I need to develop more muscleas I start from zero.”Cerruti confessed that having another female competitorin the series is a bonus.“It’s fun to have another girl on the grid,” she reveals.“Tatiana is much more experienced than me in single seaters.She is fast and is one of the most promising girls, so it will begreat to fight with her.”The two women took part in three races over the Monzaweekend, with Calderon faring best overall. The Colombianfinished race one in 19th place from a field of 30 and inthe two wet races that followed finished 23rd and 22ndrespectively. Cerruti, meanwhile, was 21st in the dry openingrace but failed to finish race two. The Italian race finishedrace three in 21st position.1415Michela Cerruti in action for the Romeo Ferraris team.
AUTO WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORTFIA European Rally ChampionshipTaylortargetingeight ERCroundsAustralian rally driver Molly Taylor isaiming to compete in eight rounds ofthis year’s 13-round European RallyChampionship, starting at next month’sRallye Açores in Portugal.“I’ll be driving the same CitroënDS3 R3T in which I competed in someselected ERC rallies last year, so it willbe a great opportunity to take what Ilearned last year and focus on a fullchampionship,” said Taylor, who is alsoa Drivers’ Representative on the FIA’sWomen in Motorsport Commission.“I still have a lot of growing to do asa driver, but we will be targeting the2WD Championship.”Commenting on the launch of theERC Ladies’ Trophy, Taylor said: “I amhappy to hear about the introduction ofthe Ladies’ Trophy. Personally my targetis the overall Championship, however ifthis class can encourage more femalesto take the step into the ERC it can onlybe a positive thing.”A graduate of the FIA’s WRCAcademy in 2011, Taylor competed ina number of series last year, includingundertaking events in the ERC,Intercontinental Rally Challenge andthe World Rally Championship. Sheended last season by being awarded theRichard Burns Trophy as the highestplaced young non-priority driver.16Molly Taylor: “My target is the overall championship.”17
a 2013 drive in the Karting Academy Trophy. At just 13 years of age Adeline won the "Coupe de France Féminine" in 2011. She then achieved fourth place in the Iame International Final. However, her biggest results to date have come on the international stage in the Academy Trophy, in which she took a best result of fourth place in Braga. She
