In motorsport, data is everywhere. Engineers can track tyre temperatures, throttle application, and braking zones down to the millisecond. But a screen full of squiggly lines only tells half the story. The real tension on the pit wall comes down to a constant choice: when do you trust the cold telemetry, and when do you lean entirely on human intuition?

For Eimear O’Connor, Race Engineer at PREMA Racing, striking that balance is the job. Speaking with us behind the garage during the last Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, she unpacks her distinct philosophy.

Now in her third year as a Race Engineer in F1 ACADEMY, she approaches the paddock with a clear mindset: a driver is more than someone executing a pre-planned strategy. “They are part of the car, and ultimately they are the best sensor you probably will have in the car,” she shares. Extracting peak performance takes more than a flawless setup. It requires absolute trust, knowing how to read a driver, and putting in the invisible work long before the cars ever reach the glamour of the starting grid.

Life As A Race Engineer In F1 ACADEMY

The race weekend starts back at the workshop with a post-mortem of the previous race, auditing mechanical health, analysing setup choices, and running drivers through simulator sessions. Even when teams are not returning to the same track, some data carries over.

“We normally get the drivers to come to the simulator, so we would prepare some setups for them to run,” Eimear explains. “It’s mainly just track learning, but we might test some setup items as well, depending on whether there’s something that we could consider doing.”

By the time the team arrives at the paddock, time is the enemy. Since teams do not have their cars in the workshop to prepare setups, they operate entirely out of freight boxes. With only one Free Practice (FP) session each race weekend, there is a narrow window to install everything on the first day “Beyond setting up the car, it’s just getting into the race weekend and trying to win,” she notes.

Having only one FP also means teams must find ways to maximise limited track time. This turns the track walk into a strategic tool rather than a simple bonding exercise. In Zandvoort, Eimear combines physical track conditions with F1 ACADEMY historical data from the past three years to give her drivers a head start, especially important in a track where the weather is unpredictable.

“We have the video from the onboard of the wet from 2024,” she notes, pointing out where puddles typically form. “Because they only have a limited time in FP, getting them into the right headspace to try and get the maximum out of the car immediately from the off is really important.”

This intense, hands-on environment demands engineers who can manage every aspect of the machine and the driver. It is exactly why Eimear is in no rush to climb the ladder to Formula 1 (F1).

While she acknowledges F1 as the ceiling of motorsport and would take the opportunity when it presents itself, she prefers the autonomy of junior categories, or even other series such as Formula E, IndyCar, or the World Endurance Championship.

“Because the teams in F1 are so big, you get very streamlined very quickly,” she says, reflecting on her career trajectory. “Keeping my options open and progressing technically is really important. Moving up the ladder to regional F3, F2 is ultimately the goal for me, and then if at some point in that career F1 comes knocking, I would probably go for it.”

Translating Trust into Lap Times

As a Race Engineer with three seasons of F1 ACADEMY under her belt, Eimear knows what a winning partnership looks like. Her first two seasons paired her with formidable talent: Maya Weug, the 2025 Vice Champion, and Nina Gademan, who recently secured a memorable double podium at her home race in Zandvoort.

Working with Maya set an immediate benchmark. Eimear remembers her as one of the most committed drivers she has ever partnered with. That relentless drive created a foundation that forced Eimear to raise her own game to match the intensity.

“Honestly, I think I got a bit spoiled with her being my first driver,” she shares. “It set a very good foundation and a benchmark for the standard you have to work to. When you have a driver that committed, you need to step up as an engineer too.”

Their shared motivation proved invaluable, but it also reinforced a hard truth about motorsport: human intuition requires adaptability. Not all drivers operate in the same way. Some want their data to arrive to them in a certain manner, while others have their own communication style.

Managing a rookie, though, presents a different challenge. Teaming up with Mathilda Paatz in the #8 Aston Martin car, the partnership has already delivered results in Montreal with the German racer bringing home her first podium in the Opening Race, followed by her maiden win in the Reverse Grid Race later on the same day.

“It’s been quite good working with Mathilda,” she says. “I think the main thing when it’s your rookie year is to take it step by step, get the fundamentals right, and try to adapt as much as you can.”

This measured approach serves as a vital shield against the unique environment of F1 ACADEMY. With direct ties to F1 teams and tremendous media visibility, external pressure can easily overwhelm drivers the moment they enter the paddock.

By framing year one purely around foundational growth, Eimear helps her driver filter out the noise, building the resilience needed to truly deliver when year two arrives. She adds: “Coming into a team like PREMA Racing, we have a lot of good references, especially historically from the past three years for us. It’s a good place to be learning.”

Different Times For The House of Champions

Since the start of F1 ACADEMY, PREMA Racing has been the undisputed powerhouse. They claimed the Teams’ Championship for the first three seasons and housed drivers like Marta Garcia and Doriane Pin, who went on to become Drivers’ Champions.

But 2026 presents a new reality. Currently sitting fourth in the standings, the Italian outfit is navigating a different challenge: fielding an entirely rookie lineup. This shift has required a complete recalibration of what success looks like.

“We have performed in some events; we haven’t performed in others. That can happen,” she explains, pointing out the steep learning curve for rookies tackling new tracks.

Moving away from the expectation of guaranteed sweeps, the focus has shifted to laying solid foundations and managing morale. The pressure to perform in a team like PREMA Racing remains intense, but Eimear shields her drivers by tempering the immediate demand for wins.

“We’ve had to adapt our mentality a little bit for having drivers who are newer to the championship,” she notes. “I think we’re on the right track now to level out the points a bit and try to fight for a few more podiums.”

Fostering A Genuine Bond With Drivers

The mental side of race engineering is often invisible, and Eimear’s approach stems from an unexpected place: a decade of coaching in volleyball. That background, alongside mentorship courses, gave her the tools to read, relate, and empathise with people from different backgrounds.

That relationship continues outside of the boxes and paddock. While there is a level of professionalism race engineers have to maintain, the line is never set in stone as everyone spends so much time together racing from the start of the season.

What that looks like in practice for a race engineer is maintaining a set of personal standards and expectations. Empathy dictates Eimear’s rhythm, right down to post-session debriefs. “I always chat with the drivers at the start of the season and my rule is normally: After a session, I’m not coming to you. You come to me when you’re ready.”

Handing the driver control over when they process a rough qualifying run or when things do not go their way on track gives them freedom to internalise any emotions they may be feeling before heading into a debrief.

Eimear’s protective instinct over her drivers also extends to the systemic hurdles they face. Reflecting on Maya Weug’s struggle to find a full-time seat in single-seaters, Eimear points to a broader frustration.

The upside is that F1 ACADEMY graduates have gone on to achieve remarkable feats: 2025 Drivers’ Champion Doriane Pin became a Development Driver for the Mercedes F1 Team, 2024 Drivers’ Champion Abbi Pulling became the first woman to win a race in GB3, and 2023 Drivers’ Champion Marta Garcia received a fully funded seat to race in the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship.

Still, the traditional pipeline to F3 and F2 remains heavily restricted. “Seeing people progress to FRECA or to GB3, which is a more technically demanding, high-powered car, is a step in the right direction, but it’s the sustainability of keeping them there,” she adds.

“Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of support from external sponsors at the moment. I don’t know what we can do to change it honestly, but it does need to change. We need to see girls getting to F3 at a minimum.”

Finding The Final Tenth

Eimear has come a long way since her days with Imperiale Racing as a Data Engineer. Now in her third season as a Race Engineer in F1 ACADEMY, she knows her job is an exercise in duality.

Telemetry provides the undeniable facts: where a driver is losing time, how the tyres are degrading, or what setup changes are needed. It gives you the baseline to build a fast car.

But extracting that speed requires something a screen can never show — human intuition. And once the racing starts, control shifts to the cockpit. Eimear has to trust that the mental foundation she builds in her drivers is strong enough to handle chaos.

Montreal proved exactly why that matters. A radio failure severed her connection to Mathilda Paatz during a late Safety Car period, forcing the German rookie to navigate the restart purely on gut feel. It was only later that O’Connor managed to restore contact and relay the decisive update about Rafaela Ferreira’s penalty.

As Eimear puts it: “You need to understand your driver quite well to know what they want.”

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In 2008, the feeder series to IndyCar was re-branded as Indy Lights and with that rebrand came the first woman to race in this series - Ana Beatriz. While she was the first, she wouldn’t be the last woman to race in the series before its most recent rebrand in 2023. A number of women competed over the years in the Feeder Series, all with the hope of making it into IndyCar - one of which did.

Here then are the women who competed in Indy Lights.

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Ana Beatriz

Making her Indy Light debut in 2008 with Sam Schmidt Motorsports, Ana Beatriz hit the ground running in the series. A seventh-place finish at the season opener at Homestead in Miami was followed by a maiden podium at the first of two races held in St. Petersburg. These wouldn’t be her last as Beatriz would go on to finish on the podium a further five times that season. One of these was her inaugural win in the series as she crossed the line in first place in Nashville, coming off the back of another third-place finish at Watkins Glen.

Beatriz only finished five of the sixteen races that season outside of the top ten and ended her first year in Indy Lights in style with back-to-back podiums in Sonoma and at Chicagoland with a P3 and P2 finish, respectively. Her efforts were good enough for third place overall with 449 points to her name.

In 2009, she returned for her sophomore year, finishing in fourth place at the opening round in St. Petersburg. Beatriz’s second year would prove to be more difficult with fewer trips to the podium for the Brazilian. She had to wait until the seventh round of the season to claim her first podium of the year - but it would have been worth it as she won the race around the oval at Iowa. Her second and final podium that year came when she finished in third place at the Kentucky Speedway four races later. Beatriz finished the season in eighth overall in a year that saw future IndyCar drivers such as J.R Hilderbrand and James Hinchcliffe ahead of her in the standings.

While it may have been Beatriz’s final year in Indy Lights, it wasn’t the end of her IndyCar journey as she would make the step up to IndyCar itself in 2010 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Cyndie Allemann

Also competing in Indy Lights in 2008 was Cyndie Allemann. It was a tough season for the Swiss driver as she struggled to break in and remain within the top ten on a regular basis. St. Petersburg was an early location for success for Allemann as she was able to achieve back-to-back top ten finishes in both races held there.

But a string of lowly results over the next four rounds meant that she would have to wait until the eighth round of the season at Watkins Glen before getting back into the top ten. Finishing in ninth on that occasion, she’d endure a tough set of races before achieving her highest finishing position of the season four races later at Mid-Ohio.

Allemann came home fourth on that day just behind Richard Antinucci in third. It would be her last top ten appearance of the season and Allemann would finish the year in fourteenth overall. She would step away from single-seater racing after this and pivot instead to endurance racing.

Christina Orr-West

Making her Indy Lights debut alongside Beatriz and Allemann in 2008 was Christina Orr-West. She came in for the final four races of the season held in Kentucky, Sononoma and Chicagoland. Her best finish from these was P16 in Chicagoland.

These would be her only four appearances in Indy NXT. The New Zealander also raced in the Castrol Toyota Racing Series and the Bridgestone GR86 Championship, the latter occurring in 2024.

Pippa Mann

The British driver made her Indy Lights debut in 2009 where she raced for Panther Racing. Like Allemann, she would find her first foray into the series challenging as she only managed to get into the top ten on three occasions that year, in Milwaukee, Chicagoland and Homestead. She finished in P14 overall in what was a very competitive season for the series.

Mann switched to Sam Schmidt Motorsports in 2010 and went on to have a very strong second season in the series. Multiple top ten results came her way with the first being at round three at Long Beach. She’d also make two trips to the podium in 2010. The first of these came at Chicagoland where she finished in second place behind James Hinchliffe. Next time out at the Kentucky Speedway, Mann went one better and won her first race in Indy Lights. Hinchliffe and that year’s Champion, Jean-Karl Vernay joined her on the podium.

Pippa finished in fifth place overall by the end of the season, ahead of now Formula 3 Team Owner Adrian Campos Jr.

Carmen Jorda

Carmen Jorda joined Pippa Mann on the grid for the 2010 season of Indy Lights. The Spanish driver would only compete in five of the thirteen rounds that season though. Making her debut at the season opener in St. Petersburg, she finished in a solid P11. P17 came her way next time out in Alabama before her sole top ten result of the year, tenth place, achieved at the third round held at Long Beach.

Jorda missed the next three rounds before returning for back-to-back rounds in Toronto and Edmonton where she finished in P15 and P13 respectively. She ended the year in sixteenth overall and wouldn’t return to the series.

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Indy Lights was rebranded into Indy NXT in 2023 and with this rebranding came a host of new women into the sport. Keep your eyes peeled for the next article in this series talking about those here on It’s Race Week!

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IndyCar has a long and storied history and the path to it has had a great many variations to it over the years and decades. Indy Lights and Indy NXT are household series names now but before these came into being, there were a number of other series and precursors that individuals could enter as they attempted to get into one of the pinnacles of racing. In this first part of The Road to IndyCar, we take a look at the women who competed in these series from the 1970s onwards.

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Nancy James

Nancy James made her debut in the then precursor to the IndyCar series, the USAC Mini-Indy Series at the final race of the four round 1977 season. This was held at the Phoenix Raceway with Herm Johnson taking the win on that occasion. Nancy would finish in twenty-fourth place.

At the penultimate round of the 1978 season, Nancy James returned to the series for her second and final appearance. The race took place at the Trenton Speedway in New Jersey and James finished in twelfth place out of twenty-eight drivers competing and scored an appropriate twelve points for her efforts.

Desiré Wilson

Desiré Wilson was the next woman after Nancy James to make an appearance in IndyCar’s Feeder Series. This happened almost a decade later in the 1986 season of the American Racing Series - the successor to the USAC Mini-Indy Series. The South African driver competed at Phoenix Raceway where she after starting in tenth, she ran for much of the race in fifth place. But it wasn’t to be thanks to contact with the wall.

“It was my first ever oval with no prior testing of the car. With the help of Tom Bagley – I had a great qualy, and an interesting race doing well – around 5^th position, but then I “pinched” the car into the corner with a bit of understeer, - and oops, the rear broke loose and I went into the wall. Overall though I enjoyed the one off event!” - Desiré Wilson

Five years later, Wilson returned to the series, then called Indy Lights, where she competed for a sole round held in Denver. She finished in twelfth place and picked up a single Championship point as a result.

Cathy Muller

Between Wilson’s two appearances in the series, Cathy Muller came onto the scene. She first appeared in the 1989 Season of the American Racing Series. Competing for McNeill Motorsports, she finished in ninth place after starting in eleventh at the final event of the year held at Laguna Seca.

Muller came back for the 1990 Season of the American Racing Series. She competed once again for McNeill Racing but only for the first two of eight races that she competed in that year. For the remaining six, she switched teams to Stuart Moore Racing. Her best results were a P7 finish at the second round of the year in Long Beach and then back-to-back P5 finishes later in the year in Toronto and Denver. Muller finished in sixteenth place overall in the Championship out of thirty drivers that competed that season.

Cheryl Glass

Nazareth Raceway was the setting for the penultimate round of the 1990 American Racing Series and it was there that Cheryl Glass made her first start in the series, finishing in P7 having started in P9. Her final appearance in the series came a round later at the season finale at Laguna Seca where she qualified in P17 for Glass Racing. However, she didn’t make the race start. 12 points overall was what she managed to accumulate from her dual appearances in the series and Glass is also remembered as one of the first African American women female racing drivers in the United States of America.

Her story extends far past this and is worthy of further exploration so keep your eyes peeled here on It’s Race Week! for that in the future.

Mishael Abbott

It would be quite a while before the next woman made an appearance in an IndyCar Feeder Series. It wasn’t until 2005 in the Infinite Pro Series that it happened when Mishael Abbott took to the track. She competed for four races at Homestead, Phoenix, Indianapolis and the IMS Road course with a highest finish of P8 at Homestead in Miami - a venue where Formula E raced in 2025.

Abbott returned to the series again in 2006 for a further three races at Homestead, Indianapolis and Watkins Glen. She had a highest finish of P12 from those appearances which came at her final race in Watkins Glen.

Veronica McCann

2006 also saw one other woman competing in the Infinite Pro Series, albeit for a one off appearance. Veronica McCann competed at the final round of the year in Chicagoland where she finished in P11 driving for Brian Stewart Racing.

Sarah McCune

In 1996, Sarah McCune ran her first full season in Midget Racing. By the end of the season, Sarah had scored twelve top-ten finishes in fifteen races and won three of them. As a result, she was invited to attend the Lyn St. James Driving School that November. This is significant because Lyn had previously competed in the top tier of American single seater racing - IndyCar - and was the first woman to do so. McCune then made her Infinite Pro Series debut also at Chicagoland in 2005 for Sam Schmidt Motorsports where she finished in ninth place. It was her sole appearance in the series.

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Check back soon here on It’s Race Week! for the next in this series that will take a look at the women who competed over the years in Indy Lights.

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The circuit at Zandvoort was first opened in 1948 as part of the wave of renewed interest in motorsport following the Second World War. Originally, the track was made up of a mixture of permanent track and public roads that made their way through the sand dunes of the Zandvoort resort town. The Dutch Automobile Racing Club then brought in 1927 Le Mans winner Sammy Davis to consult on the layout and the rest, as they say, is history.

The first Formula 1 Grand Prix was held in 1952. On that occasion, Alberto Ascari won the race from Pole Position and achieved the fastest lap of the race too. Giuseppe Farina finished in second place with Luigi Villoresi in third. A further thirty four Grand Prix have been held since then with this year’s thirty-fifth edition marking the end of an era as Formula 1 won’t be returning to race there for at least the near future.

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F1 Academy

The all female racing series has competed here in every single season of its existence so far. Three races were held in 2023 with Hamda Al Qubaisi winning two of them - her lap record of 1:35.926 still standing in the series to this day. Carrie Schreiner won the other race held in that event while Marta Garcia, Lena Buhler and Nerea Marti made up the rest of the podium places for those races. Abbi Pulling and Doriane Pin took the honours of victory in 2024, closely followed on the podium by Maya Weug and Nerea Marti.

Last year saw Maya Weug then take Pole Position - which she converted into victory for Sunday’s Race. Alisha Palmowski and Doriane Pin finished behind her on the podium.

Home hero Nina Gademan, herself a wild card in the series in 2024, won Saturday’s race in style, bringing together a wonderful full circle moment in her own motorsport story. Lia Block finished in second place, claiming her maiden podium in the series with Weug in third.

Now full time driver Esmee Kosterman will be back competing at Zandvoort this year too, having followed in Gademan’s footsteps last year and becoming a Wild Card Driver for her home event. With Max Verstappen competing for Red Bull in Formula 1, Dutch fans will have three of their own to support across the two series when racing gets underway in late August.

Lewis Hamilton holds the lap record of 1:11.097 around the 2.6 mile circuit which he set back in 2021. The circuit itself is known for its nineteen degree banked corners at T3 and T14, providing a unique and memorable challenge for all drivers who race there. Held in August this year, the weather could be anything from beautiful blue skies to stormy clouds that threaten to make the race weekend a wash out - we’ve seen both in recent memory.

Last time out, F1 Academy went racing in Silverstone as part of the British Grand Prix weekend. Alisha Palmowski and Emma Felbermayr won the two races that weekend with the former leading the latter in the Championship heading out of the weekend and into Zandvoort by thirty points. Home hero Nina Gademan sits a further twenty-eight points back from Felbermayr in third with fifty Championship points to her name.

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The Dutch Grand Prix is one of the most distinctive F1 weekends in the calendar, but after this year, there won’t be another one. Zandvoort’s return to the calendar in 2021 gave the sport one of its most beloved fixtures: a compact, sand dune circuit on the North Sea coast, wrapped almost entirely in orange. Over one million fans have passed through the gates since then to watch Max Verstappen race in front of his home crowd, and the “Orange Army” atmosphere is unlike anything else in motorsport. But rising costs and F1’s European rotation system have made the event financially unsustainable beyond this year.

That makes the 2026 edition a genuine farewell weekend, with the first Sprint ever held in the Netherlands and Round 4 of F1 ACADEMY. Amsterdam is barely thirty minutes away by train, so if you have a few extra days, the “Venice of the North” is ready to be explored before, during or after the race weekend.

Zandvoort, racing between dunes and an Orange Army

Circuit Zandvoort has hosted Formula 1 on and off since 1952, but its modern era began in 2021, when it returned to the calendar after a 36-year absence and quickly became one of the sport’s most distinctive stops. The circuit’s banked corners, built into the dunes along the coast, are unusual by modern F1 standards and give the track real character. It’s also a track F1 ACADEMY knows well, as the category has raced at Zandvoort every year since its first season in 2023. The Netherlands has been well represented on the grid throughout, not just with Max Verstappen, but also with Maya Weug and Emely de Heus, who competed in earlier seasons of F1 ACADEMY, and Nina Gademan and Esmee Kosterman, who are on the current grid.

To get a real sense of the weekend, on and off the track, we turned to Reilly Menchaca, founder of Grid Girls Club, who organises group trips for women to attend Grands Prix around the world and is bringing eleven women to Zandvoort for her second consecutive Dutch GP trip. And Chelsey Emma, a Dutch motorsport content creator and founder of Her Racing Club, an international community for women who love F1 and motorsport, who knows Amsterdam and Zandvoort inside out.

“Amsterdam has two sides, so there’s truly something for everyone,” Reilly says. “There’s beautiful architecture, iconic canals, beautiful museums, as well as techno parties if you want to rave all night. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure city.”

For Chelsey, Amsterdam is also a natural extension of race weekend. “You have the canals, beautiful architecture, museums, great food and nightlife, but you can also just rent a bike and explore the city like a local. For a Dutch GP weekend, I think it’s also a great base because you can combine the race with a proper city trip.”

What’s happening at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix?

The final Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix runs from 21 to 23 August at Circuit Zandvoort, and for the first time, it includes a Sprint weekend. F1 ACADEMY is back for Round 4, with its regular schedule alongside it, and the Porsche Supercup completes the on-track lineup.

F1 ACADEMY has raced in Zandvoort since the series’ first season in 2023, and the Dutch round has quickly built a history of its own. Last year, both races went to Dutch drivers. Nina Gademan took race one, a maiden win at her home race, on her own birthday, and not her first Zandvoort victory either: she’d already won here as a Wild Card back in 2024, the first driver ever to do so. Race two went to Maya Weug, who went on to finish the season as championship runner-up.

Gademan currently sits third in the standings and will be looking to close the gap on the leader with a strong result on home ground.

Entertainment inside and outside the circuit

Beyond the racing, F1 ACADEMY is hosting Discover Your Drive on Thursday, 20 August, a workshop connecting fans with women working across different roles in motorsport, including a paddock tour and career-path talks. They will also have an open paddock, so you can get a close-up look at the all-women series and maybe even get to speak to the drivers or take a selfie with them.

The official entertainment of the circuit includes a giant Ferris wheel, a pit stop challenge, driving simulators and live driver Q&A sessions, along with a full music lineup: Afrojack, Snelle, Flemming and Kraantje Pappie playing across the weekend, with Martin Garrix closing it out as the grand finale act. Compared to some of the bigger stops on the calendar, Zandvoort stays very focused on the racing.

“The Dutch GP is a relatively compact and straightforward Grand Prix experience,” Chelsea says.

“Compared with some of the bigger F1 events, such as Silverstone, there isn’t an enormous amount happening around the circuit. You have the standard fan zone, food and drink areas and the usual F1 activations, but the experience is quite focused on the racing itself.”

Don’t expect much beyond the circuit gates, either. Unlike Grands Prix where brand pop-ups spread across the host city for a full week, Dutch GP activations stay concentrated entirely at Zandvoort, there’s nothing tied to the race happening in Amsterdam itself.

Where to stay: Amsterdam or Zandvoort

If it’s your first time, Amsterdam is the safest bet. Reilly recommends De Jordaan, a neighbourhood close to the canals and conveniently near Centraal Station, where trains to Zandvoort depart. Her personal favourite neighbourhood is De Pijp, for its cafés, shopping and generally trendy feel. On hotels, she suggests SUPPER for something memorable and a bit unconventional, or Hotel Alexander near Vondelpark and Museumplein if you’d rather be close to the museums.

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Staying in Zandvoort itself is possible, but it comes with real logistics to plan around, Chelsey warns. “Accommodation in Zandvoort tends to sell out very early for the Dutch GP, so if you want to stay there, booking as early as possible is essential.” And crucially, the town restricts car access during race weekend: only residents, guests with confirmed Zandvoort accommodation, or people with specific exemptions can drive in. Because of that, most fans stay in towns around Zandvoort or in Amsterdam and travel in daily. Her main tip for anyone struggling to find accommodation in Zandvoort: don’t stress over it.

“Staying further away can actually be a much more practical option, just plan your transport in advance and remember that driving into Zandvoort itself is heavily restricted during the GP weekend.”

She also warns that leaving the circuit at the end of the day means thousands of people moving at once, so it’s worth avoiding plans immediately after and allowing extra time to get back.

Where to eat, drink, and explore

Amsterdam’s food scene has range. Chelsey recommends starting with the classics: stroopwafels, bitterballen, poffertjes and Dutch fries, and herring if you’re feeling brave (”that one definitely isn’t for everyone,” she admits). For a proper local food experience, De Pijp and its Albert Cuyp Market are hard to beat. Reilly adds Madre for vegan Mexican and Mama Makan for what she calls the city’s best Indonesian food, a legacy of Dutch colonial history, plus SUPPER for something more theatrical, a three-hour dinner on low couches with acrobats overhead.

One thing worth knowing: a café and a coffeeshop are not the same in Amsterdam; coffeeshops sell weed (which is legal in this city), cafés serve coffee, and mixing up the two makes for a very different afternoon.

For nightlife, Reilly’s techno picks are Nyx, Paradiso and Radion, while Rembrandtplein covers the more commercial tourist bars, still worth a night if that’s the mood, and SkateCafe in Amsterdam Noord is her local favourite. Chelsey steers people toward Jordaan or De Pijp for drinks, and specifically toward a traditional Dutch “brown café,” a cosy, old-fashioned neighbourhood pub.

For sightseeing, the Rijksmuseum comes recommended by both, with Chelsey adding the Van Gogh Museum and a canal cruise, and Reilly the Moco Museum for its Banksys and the Anne Frank House (book six weeks ahead, slots fill in minutes). Beyond the obvious, Chelsey suggests wandering Jordaan, De Pijp and Vondelpark, or heading to Amsterdam Noord’s NDSM Wharf, a former shipyard turned creative hub. Renting a bike is her top tip for feeling like a local, just stay out of the bike lanes. “Dutch cyclists take their bike lanes very seriously, and you will definitely hear a bell if you’re standing in the wrong place,” Chelsey highlights.

Once you’re in Zandvoort itself, the town transforms for the weekend, Chelsey says: “The whole town has a completely different atmosphere, with F1 fans everywhere.” Beachfront restaurants tend to be average and overpriced, though Reilly makes an exception for Bandai Thai nearby.

Getting to the circuit

Circuit Zandvoort sits about thirty minutes from Amsterdam by train, making it one of the most convenient “old school” circuits on the calendar, but getting there isn’t quite as simple as hopping off and walking in. Public transport is heavily reinforced for the weekend, including a special “Max Express” train service and extra buses, but driving is heavily restricted during race weekend: only residents, guests with confirmed Zandvoort accommodation, or people with specific exemptions are allowed to bring a car into town.

Chelsey recommends the train overall, though it comes with a long, winding, if scenic, walk once you get off. As a local living 2 hours away from the circuit, she personally prefers Park & Ride: driving to a designated lot outside the restricted zone, in her case in Amstelveen, and taking a bus straight to the circuit entrance, which she finds far easier than trying to get near Zandvoort by car.

Another option is getting there by bike. Not for everyone, but you can’t get any more local than that. According to circuit data, more than half of Dutch GP attendees arrive by bike, which says a lot about how central cycling is to the whole event.

Reilly organises shuttles for her group specifically because, while the trains themselves are quick, boarding queues get seriously backed up, especially heading out on Sunday and returning on Saturday. There are also official buses organised by the Grand Prix that take you from and to Amsterdam city centre. If you get stuck waiting, there are a few beachfront restaurants nearby to sit out the crowds. Even if the food isn’t the highlight, the scenery definitely is.

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Last chance to experience the Dutch Grand Prix

After this weekend, the Dutch Grand Prix will sadly disappear from the calendar, closing out a five-year run that turned a small dune circuit on the North Sea into one of the most distinctive stops in the sport. If Zandvoort has been on your radar, this is the year to stop putting it off. Tickets are, at the time of writing, still available through official channels, but given this is the farewell edition of a race that has sold out consistently since its return, waiting is a gamble.

Part of what makes the weekend worth the effort is the country itself. Dutch social culture runs informal and relaxed and people generally value being themselves over performing formality. Locals respect personal space and won’t necessarily pull you into conversation the moment you meet, but show up to someone’s home and a small gift, flowers, chocolate, a bottle of wine, goes a long way, and don’t be surprised when the bill lands split down the middle. It’s called “going Dutch” for a reason.

Formula 1 and the F1 ACADEMY may not be coming back to Zandvoort, at least not for now, but that doesn’t make the dunes or the canals any less worth the trip. Whatever happens to the race, the town and the city it borrows its crowds from aren’t going anywhere.

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Grid Girls Club, founded by Reilly Menchaca, hosts girls' trips to F1 races across North America, Europe and Asia, perfect if you want the GP experience without planning it solo. Readers of Its Race Week! get $100 off when they mention us on the sign-up form. Check out upcoming trips on their website or TikTok.

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A lack of financial backing has become a defining hurdle in motorsport, regardless of gender. As 2025 F1 Academy Vice Champion Maya Weug puts it: “Motorsport is a beautiful sport, but without the money you cannot get far.”

Data from Go Drive Line backs this up. In 2010, a credible junior career leading to Formula 3 cost roughly €3.5 million (about $4 million USD). By 2026, that same trajectory demands closer to €7.5 million ($8.5 million USD). Three main forces are responsible:

• Equipment inflation: A competitive OK kart package has tripled in real terms since 2012.

• Calendar expansion: Formula 4 and Formula 3 regional series now run 7 to 9 rounds across multiple continents, doubling logistics.

• Engineering arms race: Telemetry, simulator hours, performance coaches, and physios are no longer optional—they are table stakes.

But you don’t need to look far up the single-seater ladder to see this problem firsthand. Meet Farah Irdina: a law graduate currently pursuing her Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP). She balances the gruelling demands of law school with a fierce drive to kickstart her career in motorsport.

The kicker? She is navigating her motorsport journey almost entirely on her own.

“I believe a big part of it is because motorsport is an expensive sport — it’s not easy to make a career out of it. My parents are still not supportive about it as we speak and mentioned it was a waste of time, even though it makes me happy. Not to mention that they still think it’s a ‘boy sport’. Hence why I am mostly doing it on my own.”

From sourcing sponsors to navigating the challenges of being a late joiner to the sport, this is the story of how Farrah balances her life as a law student, racer, and everything in between.

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How A Former Equestrian Discovered Her Passion For Motorsports

Before racing, the Malaysian spent over a decade as an equestrian. It was a defining part of Farah’s childhood and the only sport she knew. Having outgrown her horses and knowing she would soon head to the United Kingdom to complete her law degree, she made the difficult decision to sell them four years ago.

“Losing my horses was really hard for me, and I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere — until I tried karting.”

Farah fell in love with motorsport when a friend encouraged her to try fun karts at Sunway X Park in July 2023. The seed had been planted long before, though; as a kid, she used to watch Formula 1 with her Dad during the Michael Schumacher era.

As it turns out, equestrian and karting don’t differ too much in terms of discipline.

“Equestrian was all about mental preparation, focus, being able to see and calculate distance between jumps, and having a fast reaction. I would often wake up every morning to drive to the stables and train to be better. I did the same thing for racing.”

Still, to reach the pinnacle of professional motorsport, most drivers start karting between the ages of four and eight. Farah entered her first kart race in her late twenties. Despite the daunting prospect of competing against drivers who had been racing for years, she knew she had the drive to make the most of her circumstances.

She found a strong support system, too. Her teammates at Maverick Karters took her under their wing to teach her the art of karting—and the results speak for themselves.

Since her debut in June 2023, Farah has dedicated a year to building her karting portfolio. She competed in the Sodi World Series, Asian Endurance Series, and Maverick League Sprint Race, consistently securing podium finishes along the way.

Transitioning To Open Seaters and Circuit Racing

In 2024, Farah earned the chance to graduate to circuit racing. She began testing in a Proton Saga with Axle Motorsports—the brainchild of Malaysia’s only Formula 1 driver, Alex Yoong—despite never having driven a manual car before. Just a month later, she secured a top-ten finish in Round 1 of the Saga Cup at the Malaysia Speed Festival.

“If it wasn’t for them, I would not be lucky enough to race in the circuit. I knew I wanted to be a racing driver at that point, and I took the chance knowing the hurdles I will be going through to continue racing.”

While studying in the UK, Farah qualified 16th in a Radical SR3 XXR at the Dubai Autodrome for the Formula Woman Nations Cup, despite it being her first time in a Radical. It marked one of the biggest milestones of her young career: her international debut against a grid of highly experienced drivers.

When asked if she prefers a specific class of machinery, Farah notes that while she enjoys open-wheelers like the Radical and Formula Renault, she ultimately favours touring cars. This preference stems from her recent campaigns in the Thailand Super Series 2025 Super Touring Category and the Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) Merdeka 111 Lap.

“I believe adaptability is one of the most important factors for growth in this sport. There are times when your car feels completely different from the last race, and as drivers, we need to know how to handle those situations and make the best of it.”

Racing With A Purpose

Farah is clear on why she races. As a late entrant to the sport, she wants to see more women on track and hopes to inspire others to chase their motorsport dreams.

She draws inspiration from drivers who took unconventional routes into motorsport and sim racers who built successful careers — think names like Samantha Tan, Jem Hepworth, and Laura-Marie Geissler.

“As someone who entered motorsport later than most drivers and without a large budget behind me, those stories resonate deeply. They remind me that there isn’t just one pathway to success in racing. What matters is making the most of every opportunity, continuously improving, and staying committed to the process even when the odds seem stacked against you.”

The Iron Dames racing team and F1 Academy serve as another major source of inspiration. Watching an all-female team and fellow women succeed at the highest levels of racing provides a powerful boost, especially in the early stages of her career.

To drivers like Farah, they prove women belong in motorsport—not because of a quota or special treatment, but through pure talent, professionalism, and on-track results.

“Their success shows that motorsport is becoming more inclusive and that there is space for women to compete, lead, and succeed at the highest level.”

But racing demands everything: financially, mentally, and physically. This reality shapes how Farah approaches sponsorship. Striving to succeed in a financially brutal sport takes a heavy mental toll, particularly without existing financial backing.

At one point, she was pitching to 10 to 15 companies a day before she could even focus on her studies. Of those, only a handful ever replied to schedule a meeting. Her struggle echoes that of Doriane Pin, whose progression from karting to car racing stalled in 2020 when rising costs outpaced her family’s support.

“Sponsors want visibility, engagement, and a return on their investment. I have found that authenticity works best. Rather than approaching every company for funding, I focus on partners whose values align with my own and with motorsport.”

The Next Steps For The Law Graduate

Studying in the UK was not just an important step in her legal education; it was a gateway to opportunities previously out of reach. A major milestone was her acceptance into the McLaren Cohort Programme in 2025.

What stood out most was the chance to interact with staff across the Woking-based facility, gaining a deeper understanding of everything that happens behind the scenes before a car hits the track.

“Visiting the McLaren Technology Centre allowed me to see how the entire operation comes together. From engineering and aerodynamics to performance analysis and driver preparation, it was fascinating to learn how the McLaren Formula 1 cars have evolved over the years and hear directly from those responsible for designing, developing, and continuously improving the car.”

Another highlight was meeting her cohort. Many aspired to become engineers or to take on technical roles within motorsport. Seeing their shared ambition and passion for engineering reminded her that motorsport extends far beyond the drivers, reinforcing the need for diverse talent across the industry.

Since returning to Malaysia, Farah has focused on her Certificate in Legal Practice examinations — the next hurdle in qualifying as a lawyer. The postgraduate qualification carries a reputation for a brutally low pass rate, typically hovering between 10% and 25%, despite a slight upward trend in recent years.

“It is not an easy decision because it makes me feel like I am behind and I am not moving forward in racing, but I often remind myself that I am on a different path from others.”

It’s a harsh reality check for any racer forced to put their career on hold, but Farah is working toward a reality where she can balance being a full-time lawyer and a professional motorsport athlete. Once her exams are over, she plans to refocus on securing sponsors and meeting potential partners to get back on track.

As for her future plans, Farah is open to exploring an alternative route to the traditional single-seater ladder: GT racing. Unlike the Formula series, where open-wheelers are built purely from the ground up for racing, GT cars are heavily modified, race-ready versions of high-performance road cars.

“GT racing appeals to me because it combines everything I enjoy about motorsport — endurance, strategy, teamwork, especially at an international level. Some may say it’s impossible and hard since I would need millions to be able to race in GT, but I would not give up until I know I have tried every possible way there is.”

Her short-term goal is to continue building experience in circuit racing and endurance events while progressing through increasingly competitive championships. Competing in events like the Malaysia Speed Festival, Malaysia Championship Series, Formula Woman Nations Cup, and the Thailand Super Series has been part of that journey.

Long-term, the Malaysian aims to gain more seat time in touring cars and GT-style machinery, while securing the partnerships needed to compete consistently at the highest level.

Beyond chasing every tenth on track, she races to drive change off it by using her platform to make motorsports more visible and accessible, especially for women at any age who may never have considered it a realistic career path.

“If I can help even one young person believe that they belong in this industry, then I am contributing to a stronger and more diverse future for the sport.”

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The dust may be well and truly settled on the 2026 edition of the Dakar, but here at It’s Race Week! we’ve still not gotten over some of the remarkable stories that we got to witness.

With the recent announcement of the 2027 W2RC calendar, which kicks off with next year’s edition of the Dakar, we thought it would be the perfect time to look back at this year’s epic event.

It’s Race Week! have picked nine women who really stood out to us at this year’s fantastic motorsport spectacle. We want to highlight their achievements and either remind you of their impact or introduce you to them for the first time.

Puck Klaassen

Puck Klaassen originally made her debut at the legendary event in the Dakar Classic back in 2024, alongside her father, Sebastiaan. This year, however, Puck teamed up with Argentinian Co-Driver Augusto Sanz for her third Dakar outing.

Little did she know that this third time, it would indeed prove to be the charm, as it was the Dutch driver’s most successful outing to date. By the end of the event, Klaassen became just the fifth woman in history to win a stage of the Dakar – doing so at the end of Stage 3. In doing so, Puck follows in the footsteps of Jutta Kleinschmidt, Cristina Gutiérrez, Sara Price and Dania Akeel.

But Puck wasn’t done just yet. Another victory followed for the Dutch race after Stage 8. A further two trips to the podium came her way too. At just twenty three, Puck is still very much at the start of her motorsport career - especially when you see the longevity of drivers such as the aforementioned Kleinschmidt and Dakar legend, Carlos Sainz Sr. If Puck continues as she has been performing so far, there’s a real chance that she could not only finish overall on the podium one day - but win the infamous Dakar too.

Sara Price

In the years to come, when people look back at the Dakar of 2026, it’ll be synonymous with a handful of names. Sara Price is one of those who immediately come to mind. Competing in the Stock Class with a Land Rover Defender alongside her navigator, Sean Berriman, Sara barely put a foot wrong all Dakar.

Over the course of the event, Sara accrued four stage wins and nine more podium finishes. It was a monumental performance from the American driver and felt like the culmination of the first part of her career so far, which has seen her compete in various Baja Events and the Extreme E Championship, amongst other things.

After two weeks in the Saudi Arabian desert, Sara Price finished P2 overall in her category. It’s an incredible achievement that perfectly encapsulates why she’s caught the attention of so many in recent times while also giving us a great tease of what we might be able to expect from Price in the years to come – both at the Dakar and elsewhere.

Rebecca Busi

Rebecca Busi is an incredible breed of driver. Having made her racing debut at the Dakar Classic in 2022 (with an all-or-nothing mindset), she’s continued to scrap away and forge a career in motorsport ever since.

But her time in the racing world so far hasn’t been plain sailing, and Busi’s Dakar experience in 2026 could be easily described as a continuous case of character building.

Plagued with car trouble every other day, any progress she made up to each respective point would then be essentially undone, and Rebecca would find herself back at square one.

But, as you might have guessed, the Italian Stallion didn’t let this deter her from fighting on, regardless of the physical and mental challenges that the Dakar kept throwing at her. On the days when there weren’t major issues with the car, Rebecca embodied her motto of “Eat Pasta, Drive Faster” by overtaking what can only be described as an insane number of cars (often sixty to seventy a day) – multiple times across the thirteen stages.

P28 overall in the Challenger Class doesn’t then reflect what Rebecca is truly capable of. But for those who enjoy diving into the details of motorsport, there’s plenty to love about Busi’s 2026 Dakar performance. That fact, combined with Busi’s never-say-die fighting attitude, is a perfect example of why she belongs both in off road racing – and the Dakar itself - and why she’s someone who stands out from the pack in 2026.

Cristina Gutierrez

Cristina Gutierrez has been a staple of modern motorsport for much of the last decade, having competed in the World Rally Raid Championship, Extreme E and, of course, the Dakar. She became only the second woman in history, and the first ever from Spain, in 2024 to win the Dakar - competing in the Challenger category - after Jutta Kleinschmidt.

In 2025, she moved into the cars category for the Dakar and finished the race in 40th place overall. This was due to significant mechanical issues and a subsequent shift to support her Dacia teammates after losing too much time. The aim then for 2026 was simple - improve. Gutierrez did just that this year as she finished multiple stages inside the top ten with a best result of P5 at the end of Stage 3. Come the end of the Dakar, she finished in P11 overall - a whopping twenty-nine place higher than the year before.

In motorsport, drivers who either don’t win or finish on the podium, or even in the top ten, can and are often overlooked. But Gutierrez is proof of why it’s wrong to look only at the simple end result on a piece of paper and why it’s important to delve into the details. It was clear from her Extreme E days that Gutierrez was a force to be reckoned with, and her Dakar result in 2026 reaffirms this.

Lucie Baud

2026 marked Lucie Baud’s third time competing in the Dakar, racing in the classic category as a co-driver alongside her father, Lionel. Die-hard fans love the classic edition of the race, and it’s where many of the truly awesome stories from all of motorsport originate.

“We’re going to the Dakar with my father to live a human adventure alongside a great team.” - Lucie Baud

The daughter-father duo were consistent throughout their 2026 Dakar campaign, never finishing further back than P44 overall and with a best result of P27, which came at the end of the second stage. Their story stands out because it’s a journey that both Lucie and Lionel have been on together for a number of years. They’ve competed in many other races together, each giving them essential experience needed to take on a race like the Dakar. It surely won’t be the last time the pair compete together in this race, and it is one to keep abreast of in the future.

Dania Akeel

The Saudi Arabian driver has been going from strength to strength ever since she first began on her motorsport journey, and it was no different at the Dakar in 2026.

Akeel meant business from the word go as she finished on the podium immediately at the end of Stage 1 with a P3 result in the Challenger category. What’s more, there were another six visits to the podium for Dania after that opening-stage podium. Frustratingly, winning a stage of the Dakar did elude her in 2026.

However, P8 overall by the end of the Dakar was still enough to impress everyone, while also reaffirming her status as both a driver and one of the Middle East’s best ever spotting exports.

Laia Sanz

Laia Sanz’s transition from two wheels to four in the Dakar continued in 2026. It hasn’t been easy for the Spanish driver in the last couple of editions of the race, with last year’s race providing Laia with her first (and hopefully final) Dakar DNF. With prior best result of P23 overall, Laia will of course have been looking to better that this year - but first and foremost, to just take on and complete the full race.

Despite some more setbacks at points, Laia had a quietly understated Dakar, which deserves some attention. She had a highest finish of P13 and went on to beat her previous Dakar best overall result by finishing in P20 in the car category.

Helen Tait Wright and Marcella Kirk

For anyone following the Dakar in 2026, it will have been very difficult to avoid hearing about the dynamic duo that is Helen Tait Wright and Marcella Kirk.

This year, Helen and Marcella became the first British women’s team to compete in and complete the Dakar in history. The pair competed in the event with a Land Rover 110 Td5, which was built in-house, in the classic category of the Dakar Classic. While they’d received sponsorship in order to go racing, we all know that motorsport is still an expensive sport and sometimes, that’s not enough. To ensure that they got to the Dakar, they sold £114,000 worth of their own possessions to help guarantee their needs during the race and to make sure the car was built to their needs on time.

“I’ve sold my jewellery, lots of things really - anything that moved but not my husband.” - Helen Tait Wright

They soon became fan favourites thanks to clips of them appearing on social media and their relatable personas, both in and out of the car.

The pair, both in their 50s, finished consistently in P70s and P80s in their class and completed the Dakar in P83 overall. While this was their first time at the Dakar, many will be hoping that it’s not the last time. Don’t be surprised either when tuning into the Dakar in 2027 to find new entrants taking part after having watched Helen and Marcella competing this year.

Motorsport is as rich as it is because of brilliant stories such as theirs and demonstrates why results do matter, but aren’t always everything.

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17-year-old Payton Westcott entered her second Italian Formula 4 campaign this season as one of the leading female talents in junior single-seater racing. After missing out on the Women’s Trophy title to her now teammate Emily Cotty in 2025, the American has her sights set on going one better in 2026.

Westcott has a packed schedule in 2026 as she is also making her full-time F1 ACADEMY debut competing for PREMA and Mercedes alongside her F4 commitments. As the teenager makes huge strides in her career this year, can she balance the two and achieve some level of success in one or the other, or even both?

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Payton Westcott’s Journey So Far

Westcott began karting at six years old and quickly built an impressive résumé in the United States, earning success in the United States Pro Kart Series, California Pro Kart Challenge, and Challenge of the Americas. Her performances led to selection for the inaugural F1 ACADEMY Discover Your Drive programme, paving the way for her move into single-seaters.

Her maiden F4 season, racing for Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR), showcased her versatility across the Formula Winter Series, Italian F4, and the UAE F4 Championship. She claimed the Formula Winter Series Female Trophy, secured multiple Women’s Trophy victories in Italian F4, and became the first female driver to win outright in the UAE Trophy, converting pole position into victory in Dubai.

Alongside her F4 commitments, Westcott impressed in F1 ACADEMY. After topping the Rookie Test, she earned a Wild Card entry in Las Vegas and scored points on debut before securing a full-time 2026 seat with PREMA, backed by Mercedes. She has also benefited from the mentorship of reigning F1 ACADEMY champion Doriane Pin.

F1 ACADEMY Round 1: Shanghai (13-15 March)

In the opening round of the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season, Westcott kicked off her maiden campaign with a strong P6 finish on Saturday. The Mercedes junior then returned on Sunday to claim her maiden F1 ACADEMY podium with an impressive P3, behind Emma Felbermayr and Alisha Palmowski.

The American was one of only two rookies to score points in both races during the opening round in China, making an encouraging start to her rookie campaign.

F1 ACADEMY Round 2: Montréal (22-24 May)

It was another podium finish for Westcott in Canada, who had a quietly successful weekend. In the Reverse Grid Race, she was promoted to the final step on the podium, marking two podiums in the opening two rounds of the season. She then completed the weekend with a respectable P4 in the Feature Race, further strengthening her impressive start to the campaign.

F1 ACADEMY Round 3: Silverstone (3-5 July)

Last time out, at F1 ACADEMY’s first-ever visit to Silverstone, Westcott and PREMA endured their most challenging weekend of the 2026 season. After only managing 10th in Qualifying and missing out on the reverse-grid positions, the Mercedes junior was handed a five-second penalty for a false start in Saturday’s race, dropping her to 14th in the final classification.

A slight improvement followed in Sunday’s Feature Race, where she crossed the line in 11th, narrowly missing out on the points to end a 2026 F1 ACADEMY weekend empty-handed for the first time this season.

Up Next: Zandvoort (21-23 August)

Despite disappointing results at Silverstone, Westcott remains firmly in contention as the Championship battle begins to take shape. Following Round 3, she sits on 36 Championship points, placing her sixth in the Drivers’ standings. Despite dropping two positions, she remains one point ahead of teammate Mathilda Paatz.

However, the season has only just reached its halfway mark, and with a lengthy summer break before the series returns for Round 4 at the iconic Zandvoort Circuit, everything remains to play for as the midfield battle continues to tighten.

Can Westcott return to the podium? Or, even better, can she write her name into the history books by producing a drive worthy of her maiden F1 ACADEMY victory?

2026 Italian F4 Championship

Alongside F1 ACADEMY, Westcott has returned to Italian F4 for 2026. Joining Emily Cotty at R-ace GP, Westcott looks to build on her growing experience and establish herself as a regular contender in one of the world’s most competitive junior championships.

After the opening three rounds, let’s see how her 2026 Italian F4 campaign is unfolding.

Italian F4 Round 1: Misano (May 10th)

Westcott faced a challenging start to her campaign at Misano. Results of P17, P16 and P21 reflected the strength of the field, but also provided a solid foundation for her to build on as the season unfolds. After the opening round, the American occupied P32 in the Championship standings.

F4 CEZ Round 2: Salzburgring (29-31 May)

Rather than competing at Vallelunga in Italian F4, Westcott temporarily shifted her focus to the F4 CEZ Championship, a single-seater series based across Central and Eastern Europe. Making her debut with CRAM Motorsport during the second round of the season at Austria’s Salzburgring, the American gained valuable experience against a different group of competitors, many of whom she could encounter again as she progresses through the junior single-seater ranks. Competing on a circuit that was largely unfamiliar also provided another valuable learning opportunity, helping Westcott continue to develop her adaptability and broaden her experience.

Despite a disrupted weekend that ended with the final race being cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, Westcott made an encouraging debut in the F4 CEZ Championship. A second-place finish in the Women’s Trophy in Race 1 was followed by a respectable P8 in Race 2, adding another positive chapter to what has already been a busy and impressive 2026 campaign for the teenager.

Italian F4 Round 3: Monza (June 21st)

rReturning to Italian F4 for Round 3, Westcott continued to build momentum in the Women’s Trophy battle with a series of determined performances at the Temple of Speed. Despite receiving a three-place grid penalty after Race 1 and finishing P26 in the final race, the American impressed with a strong P15 finish in Race 3, missing out on the Women’s Trophy victory by just 0.073 seconds to Felbermayr. She also completed the Women’s Trophy podium in the final race, crossing the line less than three-tenths of a second behind Rosanne den Drijver.

Up Next: Mugello (July 26th)

Following Round 3, Westcott sits third in the Italian F4 Women’s Trophy standings with 134 points, firmly in contention as the season progresses. In the overall Drivers’ Championship standings, she occupies P44 with a single point.

However, Felbermayr’s hat-trick of Women’s Trophy results at Monza moves the PHM Racing driver above Westcott by six points, meaning the American faces pressure to outperform the Austrian and regain second place next time out on track at Mugello.

The Women’s Trophy battle is beginning to really heat up after just three rounds. If you haven’t already made your predictions, now is the time to do so. All five women competing this year are worthy winners of the Women’s Trophy for their achievements in the sport so far.

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When you picture a Grand Prix weekend, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the glamour of it. The grid walk, the paddock club, the drivers stepping out under the cameras like the whole thing was built around them. Behind the scenes, it looks like something else entirely.

There’s a reason Formula 1 has been called “the big circus” for decades, and it’s not only about the entertainment. It’s a travelling sport, a small city that gets built, run, and taken apart in the same four days, over and over, on five continents. F1 ACADEMY runs on the same logic, just at a very different scale. As a single-make series built around junior driver development, the outfits are far more condensed than a Formula 1 team. Fewer people, doing more, in less space.

For Round 3 of the F1 ACADEMY calendar, the all-women series landed in Silverstone for the first time. It’s an iconic and historic track that drivers and fans love. The British Grand Prix was busier than usual, as they were not racing alone — Formula 1, Formula 2, and Formula 3 also had their rounds throughout the weekend. With so much happening at once, and it being the series’ first time on this circuit, what does it take for a weekend like this to run smoothly? We headed to the paddock and asked around.

Getting ready ahead of the race weekend

Because it was a new circuit, a new paddock, and a busy schedule with long hours between sessions, the teams had nothing to fall back on from the year before. Everything needed extra attention. Luckily, the weekend offered fairly comfortable and warm summer conditions.

Neus Santamaria is Deputy Race Director for F1 ACADEMY, working alongside Silvia Bellot. With no history at Silverstone to draw on, they have to go back through F2 and F3 records at the same track instead, mapping out what could go wrong before it does. They arrive on Tuesday, and because racing alongside Formula 1 and the supporting categories means being first on track and last to leave, the mornings start early.

On Wednesday, they run through everything with the local team — getting all the ideas in sync, like how transfers work, schedules, and any track-specific procedures, so they can settle in and get their bearings before things start. Wednesday is also time for the trackwalk with everyone from the FIA, which helps them get a proper look at the track and flag anything that needs identifying. That way, by Thursday — well ahead of the drivers’ briefing — there’s enough time to organise all that information and spot any problems that need solving.

“Thursday is always the longest day, because it’s the last day of preparation, and it always feels endless. Then, on Friday, we’re straight onto the track, and unfortunately, racing alongside F1 means we’re always the first to start and the last to finish. So Friday always means we’re here very early and without breakfast, and we’re the last ones to leave,” Neus told us.

It’s just her and Silvia running it, alongside a local director and two operators. If one of them can’t carry on, the other has to be able to take over everything without a gap. “In China, one year Silvia got sick, this year it was me,” she said. “It’s about being able to say, this one’s yours, I’m getting up and I’m leaving, and the other person just keeps going.” They’ve worked together since F1 ACADEMY’s first season, and it’s the years of shared routine, she said, that make a handoff like that possible without anyone outside race control ever noticing.

Preparing the drivers

The procedures deliberately mirror Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3, because the drivers and teams here are heading into those categories next, and teaching them a completely different system now would only cause confusion later. That consistency sits alongside a lot of patience with drivers who are new to all of it: a full day of what Neus calls Sporting Training before the season starts, repeated for every Wild Card who joins for a single weekend, and an informal round of every garage after each session, specifically so nobody has to go looking for an answer.

Before the season starts, they dedicate a full day just to Sporting Training, during the academy’s test days and also when they run the rookie test. “Poor things, I always tell them it’s my ‘nagging day’, because I spend the whole day there explaining regulations and procedures, and going through incidents with them — things that happened in previous seasons that we didn’t like, even if they weren’t penalised at the time, but things we don’t want to see,” Neus said.

The goal is to get them to recognise what they’ve done wrong, or things they don’t want happening again. “We’re pretty relentless about it,” Neus told us. They even have what they call a Brief Presentation for each calendar event, which means the drivers can always go back and review everything, and they run that same training with every Wild Card who joins the grid for a race.

“It’s a paddock that’s very close-knit, both with the drivers and with the teams. Whenever they have any kind of doubt, they always show up at the office to ask, or we do a round of all the teams once each session ends,” Neus told us. “It’s always very easy for them to ask anything. There’s always a lot of communication, and that’s something we really appreciate.”

For Neus, communication is precisely what makes the weekend go smoothly, no matter what happens on track. And that starts from the day they arrive and do the briefings, through to free practice and race day.

Preparing the cars

While Neus is juggling briefings, procedures, and the race itself, Nekane Muros and Adriana Gallardo are elbow-deep in one of the cars on the grid. As first mechanic and second mechanic for Rafaela Ferreira at Campos Racing, they’re responsible for the car — keeping it in good condition, fixing any problems, and making sure everything functions. They also arrive early in the week so they can build the box and prepare it.

They have a couple of days to service the car, review what’s most important, and then prepare it — and the team — for the race weekend. Their paths cross with Neus’s during meetings to discuss alternative routes for moving the cars, how to get to the paddock, and even which equipment they have access to, like a buggy or a trolley.

The staffing behind each car is more layered than it looks. “Right now, the structure at F1 ACADEMY for each team is three first mechanics, two second mechanics, a head mechanic, three engineers, and then the team manager. At the end of the day, with an F4 car, which is fairly straightforward, you can manage with one mechanic, but it always helps to have a second one for when you need a hand, or simply because four eyes always see more than two,” Nekane told us.

Fans know qualifying as one of the defining moments of a race weekend, but it’s just as high-stakes on the other side of the pit wall. For Nekane and Adriana, it’s one of the most stressful parts of the job too.

“Qualifying is where you put everything on the line,” Nekane told us. “In a race, you can always make up ground or lose it, but qualifying, at the end of the day, is what determines where you start. And that’s pretty important when it comes to knowing whether you’ll be at the front or the back of the grid.”

For Adriana, pit stops to switch to wet tyres are also quite stressful. “If it starts raining and all the cars have to come in to switch to wet tyres, we end up doing pit stops for three cars back to back, and that’s when it gets complicated. We’re short on hands,” Adriana told us.

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Working while everyone watches (and touches)

The British Grand Prix is closer to a festival than a race weekend, and it showed. Fans were on site from Thursday, which meant the F1 ACADEMY paddock had waves of visitors and curious kids from the very start. Thursday, specifically, was Discover Your Drive day, the series’ initiative for bringing young girls into motorsport. Dozens of them moved through the paddock that morning, asking questions, meeting drivers, looking at the cars up close. Over the rest of the weekend, hundreds of fans also had free access to the paddock. This can sometimes be troublesome for the teams.

“A lot of people aren’t aware that, at the end of the day, we’re there working, and it’s great that they come, that they visit us, that they ask us things — I love it,” Nekane told us. “I’m someone who, if you ask me something, I’ll answer, no problem. But that’s if I’m in a calm moment. If I’m under pressure... beyond the work itself, it’s also about respecting the work the mechanic is doing.”

Nekane compared this issue to how you wouldn’t go to a hairdresser and touch the scissors while they’re cutting someone else’s hair. “Earlier, we were setting up the car, with the scales checking the weights, and there were people removing the foam where the steering wheel sits. And in the end, if for whatever reason we’re looking at the scale and someone’s touching the car, we might not even notice.” The risk is that the mechanic might assume something’s wrong with the car, throwing off the whole process. On top of that, there are people within the teams who aren’t allowed to touch the cars at all, so an innocent gesture like that can turn into a sanction.

A recent example happened at Spa, where F2 driver Noel León was disqualified from the Belgian Feature Race after a Campos guest mistakenly picked up a headset during a red flag period. The Mexican driver was stripped of his race result, and Campos received a suspended 25-point championship deduction.

Despite it all, there’s one principle Nekane and her team never let go of: staying calm.

”If you work fast but calmly, you’re always going to do things better and with a clear head. So I think that for a weekend to go smoothly, it’s about keeping things under control and being aware of what you’re doing,” Nekane told us.

The drivers’ job before the job

What Neus, Nekane, and Adriana work for is to make things go smoothly so drivers can compete. And while competing is a very important part of their job, what’s easy to forget when watching from the stands is that getting there is its own job entirely, separate from the driving.

Across Thursday and Friday, especially, F1 ACADEMY drivers move through media commitments, content shoots, brand appearances, autograph sessions, and an open paddock that puts them in direct, sustained contact with fans, creators and journalists for hours at a stretch. None of that is incidental in the job. It’s part of what the series is built on. But it does mean a driver shows up to race already having spent full days doing everything the job requires except actually driving.

Some drivers had other things pulling at their attention that same weekend. Nina Gademan, for one, had her seat fitted only days earlier for an F1 car she was due to drive at the Goodwood Festival of Speed — a rare opportunity most drivers her age never get, and the kind of thing that’s hard not to think about. However, when her team offered to walk her through the procedures for it, she asked them to hold off. “Tell me after the weekend,” she said. And that’s not a driver overwhelmed by everything stacked on her calendar. It’s the opposite: a driver making a deliberate call to protect her own focus, choosing exactly what to let in and when, so that nothing due later in the week could pull her attention away from the job in front of her at Silverstone. Not even driving a Formula 1 car.

As the week progressed, things ease off slightly. On Saturday and Sunday, there are fewer commitments and a sharper focus, both days building toward the races. And during the British Grand Prix, the stands were packed: not just with fans in general, but with people who’d shown up specifically for F1 ACADEMY, despite session times squeezed into some fairly unglamorous slots around a jam-packed weekend. It says something about both how far the series has come and about a country that has always taken its racing seriously.

Watching it all happen at once, Neus and Nekane’s words made sense: none of it felt hectic. Underneath the noise — the fans, the people building the paddock, the people running the sessions, the people keeping the cars alive, the drivers themselves — was the same thing, over and over: calm and communication. That’s the part fans never see, and what actually makes an F1 ACADEMY weekend run smoothly.

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What were you doing on the weekends at 16? Like most teenagers, you probably spent time with friends, hung out at the mall, or watched a movie. For Kareen Kaur, weekends look a little different. Recently, the 16-year-old tested two completely different machines in a single weekend at the iconic Sepang International Circuit: a Formula 4 car and a Mazda MX5.

But that’s the reality of racing. As Singapore’s first female driver to compete in Formula 4 — a milestone she has been working towards since she started karting at nine — she represents a promising wave of young talent charting a course to Formula 1.

From discovering her love for racing at a local karting track to outlining her plans for climbing the single-seater ladder, we had the privilege of speaking with Kareen about her journey in motorsports.

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Love At First Sound

Kareen’s passion for racing started even before she set foot into a go-kart. As a child, the young Singaporean would follow her dad Kuldeep, a sports car enthusiast, to test drives at car showrooms. The hum of the engines was always music to her ears. According to her, that was really where it all started.

But she didn’t discover the racer in her until she tried karting at the age of nine. During lunch at Turf City in Bukit Timah, her dad introduced her to fun karts.

“My dad didn’t expect much, but I came in fourth out of twelve on my very first run in a fun kart, and second on my second attempt. On the same day, he brought me to another track at Jurong, and an Italian racing team spotted me and signed me on that day.”

Like many great racers, instincts are part of what separates the good from the great. From the first time she sat in a kart, she felt free. Kareen instinctively knew where the brakes and accelerator were — a natural aptitude that surprised even her dad. That gut feeling cemented her passion and identity as a racer.

“The speed, racing against others, (and) pushing myself, it just felt like the most natural thing in the world. I can’t imagine not racing now. It’s become a big part of who I am.”

Honing Her Racecraft in Karts

It wasn’t long before her career in karts took off. Along the way, the young Singaporean karter achieved several major milestones.

Kareen placed fourth overall in the junior category of the ROK Cup Singapore 2024 Championship and was recognised as the series’ top female driver.

After securing second place in the opening round of the ROK Cup Malaysia, she finished fourth overall in the 2025 ROK Cup Asia Championship. Kareen also made history by becoming the first Singaporean female Sikh to compete in the prestigious ROK Cup Super Finals.

The Champions of the Future Academy (COTFA) was another pivotal series for her single-seater ambitions. Founded in 2023 by the RGMMC Group in official collaboration with F1 Academy, she has competed in COTFA races in Spain, Italy, and the UAE.

Racing in karts, however, still has its challenges.

During the ROK Cup Super Finals in October 2023, Kareen experienced one of the scariest moments of her career. In a practice session, a competitor drove over her kart, throwing her from the vehicle and causing her to black out upon hitting the barrier.

Despite sustaining arm injuries and her father’s advice to sit out the rest of the weekend, she was back at the South Garda Karting track the very next day.

Another tough moment came in the Philippines, where Kareen was disqualified from the ROK Cup Asia Pre-Finals during a wet night race because her mechanic fitted the wrong tyre. Refusing to give up, she continued racing even though her championship points were severely compromised.

The result? Kareen fought back to finish as the first runner-up female driver of the race.

Climbing The Single Seater Ladder

After securing her success in karting, Kareen made her single-seater debut in 2025.

Her first stop was the Formula 4 Indian Championship. There, she managed a top-10 finish in the season opener at the Kari Motor Speedway, becoming the youngest Southeast Asian female driver to score points in an FIA-sanctioned Formula 4 race on her very first competitive weekend.

Following her debut in India, she made a one-off appearance in the Southeast Asia Formula 4 Championship at Sepang, giving her early exposure to the series and the circuit.

This year, Kareen was also selected for the 2026 Formula Global Shootout Programme. Racing against 10 other participants for a fully funded scholarship for the 2026 FIA F4 Indian Championship, she was eventually edged out by 15-year-old Singaporean Aaron Mehta.

Beyond Formula 4, Kareen has also raced in other machinery. This June, she joined Evans GP Academy for Round 2 of the Asia Classic Car Challenge at Sepang, driving a Mazda MX-5. Her touring car debut made an immediate statement: she qualified on pole in her class category, secured a class victory, and finished fifth overall.

When asked how well her karting skills aided in her single-seater campaign, Kareen shares:

“You quickly find which things carry over and which things don’t. The racecraft that was built in karting — from reading a race, knowing when to attack, staying calm under pressure — translates well. But the physical and technical demands of a single-seater are completely different.”

She adds:

“You’re suddenly dealing with aerodynamics and downforce, which totally changes how the car behaves through corners. In karting, there are no gear shifters. In Formula 4, you’re managing clutch control, launching off the line, pressing on brakes so hard you’re almost standing on the pedal. The cockpit is surrounded by carbon fibre, so it gets really hot, and the G-forces through long corners feel like it’s pulling your head sideways.”

In an interview with The Straits Times, Kareen also revealed that she trains nearly every day to build strength and stamina against her male peers who are sometimes more than twice her age.

Navigating the Fast Lane: School, Racing, and Pressure

Even without racing, the 16-year-old keeps a tight schedule. During non-race weeks, a typical day starts as early as 5:30 a.m. Between classes and extracurricular activities, Kareen is usually at school until 6:30 in the evening.

If she isn’t karting after school, she heads home to shower and complete her homework. Meals are often eaten in the car on the way to various commitments — be it the track, the gym, or her oxygen therapy sessions.

“In the lead-up to a race weekend, there’s also gym work, neck strength, core, reflex drills, simulator sessions. Since Singapore doesn’t have a Formula 4 circuit, proper track testing means travelling to Zhuhai in China. That usually happens during school holidays. After a race weekend, I sometimes land back in Singapore with assignments due the next day. I finish homework on flights (or) study in between races.”

Simulator work is just as vital. Whether she’s training at Full Focus Sim Lab or using her home setup, logging virtual laps helps Kareen get comfortable with the nuances of Formula 4 machinery before she even steps into the cockpit.

“The simulator is where I learn a track before I’ve driven it in real life. I use it to understand layouts, car setups, and how the car responds to different configurations. It also helps with the mental side since you would arrive at a circuit already having driven it hundreds of times. That matters, because when you’re in a real Formula 4 car you can focus on executing rather than learning.”

Then, there is the undeniable pressure that comes with representing a nation on the world stage.

“There’s pressure, but I use it positively. It reminds me that I’m not just driving for myself — I’m representing a whole new chapter for Singapore motorsport. We’re all drivers and we’re all there to win. I don’t want to be defined by my gender on track. When you’re fast, professional and authentically you, people’s preconceptions quickly fade away. They stop seeing you as a female driver and just see you as a competitor. The best way to tackle any assumptions is with performance: I let my driving do the talking.”

That said, Kareen admits there have been times when male peers weren’t thrilled about her overtaking them on track or beating them to a win. But she refuses to be intimidated. If anything, it’s motivation.

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Finding Strength Outside The Track

Given that her schedule revolves mostly around studying and training, she recognises the demanding reality of becoming a professional racing driver. Still, Kareen never feels like she’s missing out on a “normal” teenage life.

“During the off season, I do get to spend time with friends. My friends also support me in my races which I am appreciative for. Regardless, I’ve chosen this and I don’t feel like I’m missing something because racing is what I want. When I put on my helmet and get in the car, everything makes sense.”

Her family has also been a massive source of strength — a factor that makes it easier to balancing life as both a teenager and a racer. From logistical to emotional support, they stay by her side through the highs and lows of her career.

“My dad is closely involved in the racing ride. He travels with me, he is in the paddock, and he helps [me] stay focused and motivates me. My mum keeps the academic side of my life in order and grounds me emotionally. My sisters come for my races too, especially my youngest sister who follows me everywhere. ”

Beyond this, Kareen acknowledges how quickly expenses can mount up and is deeply grateful for the sacrifices her family continues to make, both financially and otherwise.

Aspirations for Formula 1

Kareen hasn’t been shy about her goal to reach Formula 1, but she remains pragmatic about her plans to climb the single-seater ladder.

Her immediate target is securing a Wild Card entry in F1 Academy.

“I’m keen to secure a wild card entry into F1 Academy in the coming year and hopefully, with the right support and opportunity, I hope to represent Singapore on a global stage like F1 Academy, which runs alongside the main Formula 1 season as a support series.”

Her experience in COTFA also places the Singaporean directly in the conversation to step into the all-female, Formula 4-level championship founded by Formula 1.

“The top female drivers in the senior category get invited to an official F1 Academy test, so it’s a very direct route. Racing in that series meant I was already being seen by the people who make those decisions. It put me on the F1 Academy radar. Combined with my Formula 4 results, it’s all part of the same picture that shows that I belong there.”

The Singaporean is also exploring options in Grand Touring (GT) racing, which involves two-seater enclosed-wheel cars. She is also keen to understand her control over different types of racing vehicles — the Porsche GT4, in particular, is on her radar.

Regardless of the series or machinery, her ambition is to build a successful professional career in top-tier motorsport. That means staying open to opportunities and continuing her development as a driver.

Inspiring The Next Generation of Racers

As a young female driver rising through the single-seater ranks, Kareen hopes the pathway becomes clearer and less expensive.

Beyond funding, she hopes young girls see that there is a place for them on the grid. Kareen notes that even if her presence inspires just one girl to convince her parents to let her try karting, that alone is a massive win.

“There have been girls who texted me saying, “You inspired me and I’m taking motorsport now.” That is what I want this to become — a path that’s recognised with more support structures so the next girl doesn’t have to start from zero.”

She’s even had the chance to meet one of her racing idols: Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy. They crossed paths when Kareen was racing in COTFA. Kareen highlighted how inspiring Wolff has been in promoting women in motorsport. Seeing an icon like her makes Kareen’s goal of entering the series feel like a realistic possibility.

Then there’s Max Verstappen, who has been the Singaporean’s racing idol for a while now — and that hasn’t changed.

“What I admire about him is his focus and his mentality, he never gives up. That’s something I genuinely try to learn from watching him. When things go wrong on track, you don’t panic, you don’t give up, you keep going. He embodies that.”

While the road to Formula 1 seems like a far stretch, Kareen can be proud of how far she has come since her days racing in a fun-kart at Bukit Timah.

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The Kyojo Cup returned last weekend for the second round of the 2026 season. With the series’ first return to Fuji Speedway after the season opener, everything was still very much all to play for and that became immediately apparent across every session over the course of the weekend. From Championship shakeups to super overtakes and on-track clashes, the all-female Japanese racing series had a little of everything going for it this time around.

Saito Takes Pole in Qualifying

Qualifying in the Kyojo Cup is unlike that in most other series because the entire Championship is held at the same venue. While conditions naturally change from one round to the next and the circuit itself is constantly evolving, the fundamentals do not and so the teams and drivers are able to hone in on the particularities of the circuit and measure their progress in a substantive way.

Aimi Saito qualified in Pole Position for the second round of the Kyojo Cup at the Fuji Speedway in Japan. In doing so, she bettered her previous best qualification position from the first round of the series, where she lined up on the grid in third. Whereas before, Saito had been 0.378s off the pace, she now led the field with a gap of 0.021s to second place. There are almost always fine margins in qualifying in motorsport, so being able to find those tiny increments and use them to your advantage is vital, and the difference it can make is clear.

Miki Onaga lined up alongside her in second place, improving on her own best prior result of sixth. Miura, Tomishita and Sato rounded out the top five. All three had previously qualified in the top five and so were able to display early signs of consistency that will be worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses. Miura, Onaga, Burton and Ciconte also put on great displays of consistency with all three in the top ten for both rounds of qualifying.

Paige Raddatz was the most improved driver from those in the top ten. She’d qualified down in fifteenth place last time out, and this time would start the race from seventh place. It would be the start of a stellar weekend for the Australian as she went from strength to strength.

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Miura Takes Home the Sprint Race Win

The Sprint Race got off to an exciting start as pole sitter Saito battled immediately with Onaga and Miura behind her. The opening tour of Fuji Speedway wasn’t even halfway complete by the time Miura had wrestled the lead away from Saito and from there on out, the Japanese driver was able to keep a hold of it until the chequered flag was waived.

Further back in the pack on the first lap, Shimono made an excellent move at the Dunlop corner to move up into fifth position. This overtake was her latest in a quick and sharp melee that put her up four positions from where she started the race. That first round in Fuji was already proving beneficial for some of the drivers as that prior experience will surely have helped drivers such as Shimono more accurately judge where overtakes would be possible.

While Miura would ultimately retain the lead for the duration of the race, doing so wasn’t without its challenges. Miura and Saito battled for the lead at the start of lap four and continued this fight onto lap five, already eking out the fight for the podium positions for longer than we got in the first round of the Championship. But the latter couldn’t get around and instead, lost second place to Tomishita and then nearly third to Onaga behind her, whom she then succumbed to at the start of lap six.

Saito set the fastest lap of the race on lap eight and while you don’t get any points for this achievement, it’s always good to have bragging rights and a definitive way to demonstrate your speed, especially when you’re chasing down those ahead for a place on the podium.

Miura and Tomishita came together at the first turn on the start of the penultimate lap in what was an unfortunate racing incident that took Tomishita out of podium contention. Further back, there was trouble for Pinkowski, too, as she spun off the track before rejoining, albeit a good number of places back.

The battle for the lead then went down to the final lap as Miura now had to fight Saito hard for what would be her first win of the season. Miura put on some great defensive manoeuvres and was able to keep Saito behind, crossing the line 0.529s ahead of her with Sato not far behind her as she clinched third place. Miura went from a best finish of P5 in round one to a race win in the Sprint, while Saito made it three for three in terms of podium appearances at that point in the season, but without a win.

Onaga and Shimono would then round out the top five. Shimono had a best result of P5, while Hirakawa’s tenth-place finish was a welcome bounce back after a torrid time in the opening round of the season.

Ciconte finished in sixth with Burton, Sasaki, Matsui and Hirakawa completing the top ten.

Raddatz finished in seventh place on the road but received a penalty that dropped her down to P11. While frustrating, this was still her best finish so far this season and there was clear potential for more - and more would come for the Australian in Sunday’s Final Race.

Final Race

The Final Race was, if anything, more dramatic than the Sprint from Saturday. Shimona got past Onaga into Dunlop Corner, a good overtaking spot across every race so far this season and one that the drivers are becoming more and more aware of, in the first part of a race-long duel between the pair that would draw others into the mix too.

Behind them, Raddatz and Ito made up the most positions across the opening two laps, up three and four places respectively to eighth and twelfth. Onaga then got back past Shimona at the start of lap three.

Out in front, Miura, Saito and Sato had a close wheel-to-wheel battle for the lead at the start of lap four, with Miura somehow staying out in front for the time being. Sato then got past Saito on the same lap before the pair switched back again at the start of the fifth lap in some great cat and mouse style action where roles were reversed from one moment to the next.

Onaga then managed to overtake Sato at the start of lap six down into the first turn at the Fuji Speedway.

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Shimono and Sato ended up being so busy fighting each other that it gave Ciconte the perfect opportunity to sublimely move past Shimono and up into fifth place in what was the overtake of the weekend.

Back at the front of the field, Saito managed to take the lead from Miura into the first turn at the start of lap eight. Onaga then tried getting past Miura too with the pair making contact and Onaga briefly becoming airborne before thumping back down to Earth.

Ciconte and Shimono made contact too as the latter tried getting back past the former at the start of lap eleven and went off the track with damage to her car. Sasaki got caught up in the melee, too, and would also find herself sadly out of the race. Prior to this Sasaki had finished every race so far this season inside the top ten so this DNF was most unfortunate for the Japanese driver.

The Safety Car came out as a result and the race would end under these conditions.

Saito would thus win the race - her first this season after having finished in fifth, third and second in the past three races. She also got the fastest lap of the race too, achieved on lap ten.

Onaga and Sato rounded out the podium positions with their best results of the season so far. Ciconte held onto fourth place with Tomishita rounding out the top five. Raddatz was another driver to have her best result of the season as she finished in an excellent sixth place with Burton, Matsui, Kanemoto and Shiraishi completing the top ten. The latter three all also achieved their best results of the season so far too. The progression that each of these drivers displayed from one round to the next is fascinating and reiterates how intriguing a series like the Kyojo Cup is.

Championship Standings

Saito’s win in the Final Race propelled her to the top of the Championship Standings with forty-nine points, eight points clear of Tomishita in second. Ciconte’s consistency has rewarded her thus far as she sits in third overall, just three points behind Tomishita and one point ahead of Onaga in fourth.

Raddatz, Kanemoto and Shiraishi will all walk away from this second round with smiles on their faces as they were all able to get their first points of the season with Raddatz moving up into ninth place overall as a result, equal on points with Matsui and just four points behind Burton.

Seven drivers have yet to score this season but given the nature of the series on display so far, it seems likely that at some point, each driver will have at least one moment in the limelight.

Final Thoughts

The Championship remains wide open with no one driver immediately breaking away with the lead. Consistency, as in any series, will be key to the eventual victor and even just four races in, only four of the twenty drivers have been able to score points in every race. It would be best to keep an eye on these four in particular then - Saito, Ciconte, Onaga and Sato - as they quietly build their bids for the title. But with the rapid improvement from the drivers from one round to the next, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to anticipate a resurgence at some point later on in the season. If and when that occurs, we could be in for some truly breathtaking racing around the Fuji Speedway.

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The Kyojo Cup returns September 5th.

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All eyes are on 16-year-old Emily Cotty in Italian Formula 4 in 2026 to repeat the level of success she achieved in her 2025 rookie campaign with R-ace GP. Last year, she dominated the Women’s Trophy to secure the title at Misano, ending the weekend as Women’s Trophy champion with a 51 point gap to her closest rival Payton Westcott.

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Emily Cotty’s Journey to Italian Formula 4

Cotty’s route to Formula 4 has been anything but conventional. The British-New Zealand driver switched from horse racing to motorsport in 2022 and, despite starting later than many of her rivals, has quickly established herself as one of the most promising young talents on the grid.

After beginning in the British Kart Championship and Super One Series, Cotty claimed the 2024 Junior Rotax title before making her Formula 4 debut later that year with Phynsis by Argenti in British F4. She then gained valuable international experience in the UAE, racing with AGI Sport and later R-ace GP, where she scored her first F4 points in the 2025 F4 Middle East Championship.

The 2025 season proved to be a breakthrough. Cotty dominated the Italian F4 Women’s Trophy, securing the title with rounds to spare, and added the E4 Women’s Trophy crown to her growing list of achievements. She also celebrated her maiden F4 podium in the UAE4 Series at Yas Marina.

Competing in Italian F4 with R-ace GP once again in 2026, Cotty continues to build momentum, earning Championship points and establishing herself as one of the leading female drivers in junior single-seater racing.

The 2026 Italian F4 season is now well underway. Let’s take a look at how Cotty’s campaign is shaping up after the first three rounds at Misano, Vallelunga and Monza.

Round 1: Misano (May 10th)

At the opening round at Misano, Cotty emerged as the highest-placed of the five female drivers competing in the series this year. Although it was not the ideal start to her campaign, finishes of P15, P22 and P23 across the races she contested were enough to place her P28 in the Championship standings after Round 1. A positive to take from Misano was that she earned her first Championship point of the season.

Round 2: Vallelunga (May 24th)

At Vallelunga, Cotty took another significant step towards retaining her Women’s Trophy title. Battling through a highly competitive grid of more than 40 cars, the Briton secured back-to-back top-20 finishes, claiming the Female Trophy win in Race 1 with a P19 finish before being promoted from P18 to P16 in Race 2 after post-race penalties. Although a late puncture in the final race denied her a stronger result after an impressive recovery drive, Cotty ended Round 2 leading the Women’s Trophy standings with 168 points.

Round 3: Monza (June 21st)

At Monza, Cotty faced her toughest weekend of the season to date. A P27 finish in Race 2 saw her finish third among the Women’s Trophy contenders. However, her hopes of a stronger result in Race 3 were ended by an opening-lap collision involving Roland Kuklane and Rafaela Ferreira, forcing her retirement. Despite disappointment at the Temple of Speed, Cotty has retained her lead in the Women’s Trophy standings after Round 3, extending her tally to 216 points and maintaining control of the title race.

Up Next: Mugello (July 26th)

In the overall Drivers’ Championship standings, Cotty occupies P41 - two points less than the closest contender for her Women’s Trophy crown, Emma Felbermayr.

The Briton now faces pressure from Felbermayr in second place of the Women’s Trophy standings, after a hat-trick of wins last time out at Monza sees the Austrian begin to build momentum. Cotty can remain comfortable, for now, with a healthy lead of 76 points as Italian F4 heads to Mugello for Round 4 at the end of July.

Anything can happen this year in Italian F4 with the level of female talent competing in the Championship reaching new heights. Can Cotty retain her crown, or will she be dethroned by Felbermayr or teammate Westcott?

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For as long as motorsport has existed, Brazil has given the world numerous noteworthy and outstanding racing drivers over the years. Emerson Fittipaldi. Ayrton Senna. Rubens Barrichello. Gabriel Bortoleto. The list goes on.

Could Rafaela Ferreira be another name to add to this list in the future?

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Growing up in Brazil, Rafaela Ferreira had a motorsport role model that she looked up to - Bia Figueiredo. A former Brazilian racing driver herself, she competed in the Formula 3 South American Series for a full season in 2006, finishing in fifth overall in the Championship. That year, Figueiredo stood on the podium four times, including three second-place finishes, the last of which came in São Paulo. Bia also drove for Formula Renault in Brazil for three years and became the first woman ever to win in Formula Renault.

Figueiredo went on to compete in Indy Lights (the precursor to Indy NXT) where she won twice and was on the podium a further six times before competing across four seasons at the top of American single seater racing in IndyCar.

So when she began on her motorsport journey, Rafaela already had what many young women and girls don’t have yet - someone to aspire towards that shows them their dream is possible.

Like many motorsport drivers, Rafaela Ferreira’s career began in karting. From the start, the Brazilian was destined to leave a mark as she became the first woman to score a pole position in the history of the Copa Brasil de Kart Championship back in 2022. Rafaela would go on to finish fourth in the championship that year.

Ferreira then competed in Brazilian Formula 4 in both 2023 and 2024. Here too, she made history - this time by becoming the first woman to stand on the podium in the series, with a third-place finish at Interlagos in the penultimate round of the season.

The Brazilian driver then racked up 10 podiums across 2024, finishing P3 in the first race at the Autódromo Velo Città. Her podium tally also included three wins, one also at the Autódromo Velo Città and another at the Autódromo Oscar y Juan Galvez. Rafaela’s final victory came at Interlagos.

Early in 2025, Rafaela Ferreira competed in the Formula Winter Series for a few rounds, alongside a number of drivers that would join her on the next leg of her motorsport journey as she joined F1 Academy.

F1 Academy Debut

Competing with Campos Racing and supported by the Racing Bulls Formula 1 Team, Rafaela started her foray into F1 Academy with a bang - just not the kind she would have wanted. An incident with Lia Block in the very first practice session of the season in China heavily compromised Ferreira’s qualifying there. But the Brazilian driver immediately went to work to demonstrate what she was capable of when put on the back foot. Starting down in P13 for both races that weekend, Ferreira calmly and methodically made her way through the field and survived the chaos around her in both races, finishing in an impressive P5 in the first race of the year and in P8 in the second.

The second round in Jeddah didn’t quite go to plan either. P13 was as high as Ferreira could get in both races there. But the Brazilian bounced back in a rain-laden Miami, where she was able to finish in eighth place in the sole race that took place there. In what looked like the formation of an unwelcome pattern, the next round in Canada was another weekend where Ferreira would be subjected to character-building races. A DSQ, a DNF and a P12 across the three races did nothing to help her kickstart her season. But the series of unfortunate events did give Rafaela the perfect springboard from which to launch herself back onto the scene after the summer break.

In motorsport, the importance of building and carrying forward positive momentum is often a topic of discussion - but the same can be true of negative momentum. When drivers and teams are attempting to get away from this, a break from proceedings can work wonders and for Ferreira, this was the case in the second half of her debut F1 Academy season.

In Zandvoort, Ferreira qualified just outside the top ten. But she was able to rise as high as P8 by the end of the second race after a P11 result just outside the points in the opening race of the weekend. In Singapore, it looked like her bad luck may have returned as she DNFd in the first of the two races. But what followed in the final race, and then the final round of the season in Las Vegas, were her strongest showings of the year. Back-to-back P9, P8 and P9 finishes across the two venues would be how Ferreira rounded out her season. She finished in P12 overall, just ahead of fellow Brazilian and second season driver Aurelia Nobels.

F1 Academy in 2026

Returning to F1 Academy in 2026, again with Campos Racing and supported by the Racing Bulls Formula 1 Team, Rafaela has already put everything she learned in her first year to good use. Immediately in China, Rafaela achieved her best result in the series so far when she finished in fourth place. In the second race of the opening round, she backed this up with another solid performance, finishing in sixth place.

Canada would be the location for the second round of the season and would once again be a three-race weekend. Here, Rafeala would equal her best result of fourth straight out of the gates. A P8 and P10 followed, meaning that heading into the third round of the season in Silverstone, Ferreira was one of only two drivers to score points in every race of the year. However, that streak was not to continue due to a P11 result and a DNF across the British Grand Prix weekend.

Outside of F1 Academy

Alongside her F1 Academy duties in 2025, Rafaela also competed for a single round of the Spanish Formula 4 Championship, held in Jerez on that occasion. While the results weren’t particularly notable, the weekend was an excellent way for Rafaela to get more seat time and experience in single-seater machinery.

It’s something that she’s repeated already this year by taking part in the third round of the Italian Formula 4 Championship with Cram Motorsport - sporting a brilliant green livery on both her car and her overalls.

Like in Jerez, the weekend didn’t go to plan with two twenty-third position results and a DNF from the three races she contested in that weekend. But also like Jerez, it was another chance for Rafaela to get more time in the car and hone her craft - especially in such a stacked field such as Italian Formula 4. The results matter less at times like this as each extra race under her belt, gives her more information to work with when attacking the next race on her calendar.

Carrying the Brazilian Torch

Alongside developing her career in single-seater racing, Ferreira’s also been spending time with Daniel Ricciardo as part of her collaboration with Enchante. Not only is it helping to raise her profile off track, but it also gives Rafaela access to someone in Riccardo who knows what it takes to make it in the world of Formula 1 – and how to operate successfully outside of it. In a time when managing yourself off track is at least equally important to your performance on track, learning from one of the best is sure to help Ferreira.

In time, Rafaela can build herself into a similar position that Bia Figueiredo had for her when she was growing up - and hopefully surpass it. With so many other male Brazilian drivers on the rise in motorsport at the moment, it’s important for the young girls and women in the country to see that it’s possible for them too - and that’s the audience that Rafaela is catering towards.

Blazing the Trail for Brazilian Motorsport

Since competing outside of Brazil, it can be argued that it’s been a tough time for Rafaela Ferreira on track. But as Charles Leclerc so handily reminded everyone following his victory at the British Grand Prix, tough times don’t last but tough people do. Ferreira is developing a lot of resilience which is crucial when attempting to build a career of longevity in a sport as brutal as motorsport. Three rounds remain in this season of F1 Academy and her future in the series and outside of it beyond that final round in Las Vegas is currently unknown. At twenty-one years of age, there’s still plenty of time for Ferreira to make her way further up the motorsport ladder, be that in Europe or over in the United States like her childhood role model. Either way, each step she takes continues Figueiredo’s legacy while also helping to establish Ferreira’s own and reaffirms the commitment and talent Brazil has when it comes to producing racing drivers. We can’t wait to see what’s next.

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Debuting in 2024 and currently in its third season, the series now boasts ten teams owned by notable names such as Will Smith, Rafa Nadal and Lebron James. Founded by the mind behind Formula E and Extreme H, Alejandro Agag, each team has one male and one female pilot, promoting gender equality in sport and races in locations such as Saudi Arabia, Croatia and the Caribbean.

Two of the twenty pilots competing this year are Oban Duncan and Catie Munnings.

The youngest competitor in the series, Oban, is a ten-time Powerboat Champion, was named West Dunbartonshire Sports Personality of the Year, and has already earned multiple podium finishes in the E1 Series. This year, she’s competing for Team Monaco alongside Maxime Nocher.

Catie Munnings, meanwhile, races for the Sierra Racing Club team with Erik Stark and came to the E1 Series with a background in Extreme E and WRX, and is one of the UK’s most accomplished female motorsport athletes.

Ahead of the fourth round of the 2026 season that is due to take place this weekend in Monaco, It’s Race Week! sat down with these two pilots from this year’s Championship. We talked about their differing sporting careers so far, how this led to both of them going head-to-head in the E1 Series, their expectations for the remainder of the season, the importance of giving female athletes the chance to compete in the series, and more.

Watch the full interview now and follow both Oban and Catie’s progress this weekend in Monaco through socials and by watching the E1 Series live on YouTube and selected broadcasters.

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The morning was warm and windy in Silverstone, the F1 ACADEMY paddock already buzzing despite the early Friday start. Nina Gademan had just come off the only practice session of the weekend and gone straight into a massage. When she sat down across from me, she was relaxed, in good spirits, and clearly aware that the rest of her day was already spoken for. I had less than ten minutes with her.

“It was a bit dirty, but it was a good session,” she said of the track. “So, not too bad.”

Not too bad has become something of a theme this season. Nobody circled Gademan’s name as a title favourite coming into her second year in F1 ACADEMY. She arrived at Silverstone, the series' first-ever visit to the circuit and round three of the championship, sixth in the standings. By the time she left, she’d closed the gap to the front from a full second down to half a tenth, and moved up to third with an extra podium behind her.

“I remember we lacked a bit of pace in testing here, two months ago-ish, I think,” she told me. “And then we just worked hard behind the scenes, focusing on the things we needed to. And now we’ve closed the gap from one second to basically half a tenth to Palmowski. So, yeah, I think we made a good step.”

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It’s a modest way to describe what’s actually a quite remarkable turnaround, and it fits a driver whose career has never followed the easy route. Gademan had her first go-kart at five years old and fought her way through the Dutch karting ranks the way most drivers do, on ambition and family sacrifice.

By nineteen, the money had run out. She stepped away from racing entirely for a year and a half, long enough that most people would have let the dream go. Instead, she leaned into sim racing, and the videos she posted on social media found an audience large enough to put her in front of a manager, and eventually the sponsors who funded her way back into a real car.

The comeback, once it started, moved fast. Her F1 ACADEMY debut came as a Wild Card at Zandvoort in 2024, where she became the first Wild Card driver in the series to score points. A full-time seat followed in 2025 with Alpine and PREMA, four podiums and a maiden win at her home race in Zandvoort, on her own birthday. This year, she’s moved to her compatriots at MP Motorsport, opened the season with a win in Shanghai, and is now building a genuine case for the title.

“I think the switch from PREMA to MP has been really good,” she said. “Working together with the team has felt quite natural so far, as well with Alpine, obviously, also behind the scenes.” She talked me through the season so far without ceremony: Shanghai going almost too smoothly, Montreal going badly wrong. “Those weekends happen. I mean, they also happen in F1 to drivers. I think the most important thing is how, after that, you look back at it, you reflect on it, you’re working with the team, you try and find out what you can do better.”

That steadiness reads differently once you know what else she’s carrying. A year and a half ago, Gademan was diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition that arrived suddenly and without warning. It has changed how she trains and what her body can do on any given day. Squats are off the table. Running is off the table. She’s on a bike instead, and much of the treatment she gets for it is, in her words, painful. A heavy crash last year in Jeddah put 20 Gs through a spine that was never built to take that kind of impact.

“I was actually very lucky I didn’t break my back,” she said. “Because I’ve got scoliosis, obviously, my spine cannot take that hit.” She rattled off, almost matter-of-factly, everything the diagnosis has taken off the table: “I need to train differently than other drivers. There are exercises like a squat that I can’t do. I can’t run, so I’m on the bike all the time, and I can’t do rowing or whatever. There’s a lot of stuff I can’t do, and a lot of treatment I get on the side, which is very painful sometimes. But it’s getting better.” Then, simply: “It’s not holding me back anymore a lot in racing.”

None of this featured in the highlight reel from Shanghai or the podium at Silverstone, and she clearly prefers it that way. When I asked how she’s approaching this week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, where she’s about to drive a Formula 1 car, she was almost stubborn about keeping her focus on the weekend in front of her. The team wanted to walk her through the car's procedures before Silverstone. “Tell me after the weekend, please,” she told them. “I don’t want to think about it this weekend.” It’s a small moment, but it says a lot about how she operates: one job finished before the next one gets any of her attention.

The car in question has history attached to it. Gademan will take the Lotus E20, the car Kimi Räikkönen drove to victory at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, up the Goodwood Hill on Thursday, 9th of July, alongside Alpine’s current F1 driver Pierre Gasly, part of a five-strong Alpine line-up across the weekend that also includes Franco Colapinto, Paul Aron, and Alex Dunne.

“Just to be living this dream is still kind of surreal sometimes because I used to live a normal life. I used to have three jobs and save up money for a race. So I know what it’s like out there as a normal person, basically. And just to live the life I want to right now and actually performing well is surreal sometimes. Sometimes I forget about it. I need to calm down, realise I’m living the dream, and get on with the work.”

Next up is Zandvoort, F1 ACADEMY’s fourth round and the race that means the most to her and where fans have shown up for her in force. One of them, she told me almost in disbelief, had her signature tattooed onto their skin. “That’s what we love,” she said, and there was no performance in the way she said it. She has good memories there, a Wild Card debut and a maiden win, and she’s not shy about what she wants from a repeat visit. “We’re coming for another win in the Zandvoort race, and then hopefully tons of fans again at the garages.”

Whatever happens there, Gademan has already made her point at Silverstone: results built without noise and a season that keeps getting better.

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Previously used as an airfield during World War II, the Silverstone Circuit was used for the very first Formula 1 Grand Prix, hosting the inaugural World Championship round on May 13th 1950. Giuseppe Farina won the race in his Alfa Romeo 158, with Luigi Fagioli in second place and British driver Reg Parnell in third.

Fifty-Nine British Grand Prix have been held at the Silverstone Circuit in total, with it becoming the main venue for the event every year since 1987. Prior to that, the British Grand Prix was also held at Brands Hatch and at Aintree. Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most victories at this circuit (nine) while Ferrari holds the most wins for a Constructor (eighteen). The venue has seen countless memorable moments throughout the years too. Examples include Hamilton and Verstappen’s opening lap melee in 2021, Nigel Mansell’s dominant drive in 1992 and Nico Hulkenberg’s debut podium in 2025.

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F1 Academy hasn’t raced at Silverstone before but its spiritual predecessor, W Series did, supporting Formula 1 in 2021 and 2022. In the first of those two events, Alice Powell won with Fabienne Wohlwend in second and Jamie Chadwick in third. In 2022, it was Chadwick who came out on top with Emma Kimiläinen in second and Abbi Pulling in third.

This year, it will serve as the location for F1 Academy’s third round of its 2026 Season. The 3.6 mile circuit boasts eighteen corners, including the iconic Copse, Maggots and Beckets combination as well as Vale and Woodcote. Max Verstappen currently holds the lap record of 1:27.097 which he set back in 2020.

Being Britain in the summertime when F1 Academy visits, good weather is not guaranteed. Both gloriously sunny days and rain drenched weekends have taken place in July’s gone by, as well as suitably mixed conditions, as we saw in 2024. All of these elements combined with the nature of the circuit should provide the F1 Academy drivers with one of their most intriguing and enjoyable challenges yet.

F1 Academy Preview

British driver Alisha Palmowski leads the Championship heading into this round of F1 Academy with 78 points to her name. Emma Felbermayr sits in second place on 53 and Megan Bruce rounds out the top three on 37 points. Palmowski and Bruce are two of five British drivers on the F1 Academy grid this year. Ella Lloyd, Ella Stevens and Rachel Robertson complete that set of five and gives British fans of the series plenty of opportunities to realise at least some glory when F1 Academy goes racing at Silverstone.

Palmowski won two of the three races last time out in Canada with Mathilda Paatz winning the third. Will Palmowski strike again on home soil or will either one of the other Championship contenders or someone new best her in single seater combat?

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And if you have a few extra days, London is waiting. One of the most exciting, layered, and endlessly entertaining cities in the world, it comes alive during British Grand Prix week with brand activations, fan events, and the particular electricity of a city that knows Formula 1 is in town.

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Silverstone, where everything started

Silverstone hosted the very first Formula 1 World Championship round on 13 May 1950. More than seven decades on, it remains one of the fastest and most technically demanding circuits on the calendar. It’s also where Doriane Pin, the 2025 F1 ACADEMY champion, completed her first F1 test with Mercedes earlier in April.

Historic corners like Maggotts, Becketts and Abbey still pose some of the biggest challenges drivers face all year, and fans get something rare here: access. You can walk the entire circuit, watch cars from multiple vantage points, and feel the speed in a way that other venues simply don’t allow.

For Manon and Maia, the married couple and content creators behind ManiaOnBoard, who are based in London, the appeal goes beyond the racing itself.

“The nice thing about the British Grand Prix is that it feels like a festival and you can make friends so easily. Just speak to someone and make a friend!”

That warmth is part of what makes Silverstone one of the most beloved rounds on the calendar for fans and drivers alike.

What’s happening at the 2026 British Grand Prix?

The 2026 British Grand Prix runs from 2–5 July at Silverstone. It’s the fourth Sprint weekend of the season, and Formula 2 and Formula 3 will also be competing, which means more competitive sessions and very little downtime across the four days.

It’s also Round 3 of the F1 ACADEMY championship, and the all-female grid will be racing at Silverstone for the first time in competition. They did hold official testing sessions here back in April, and several drivers have raced here in other categories, so they won’t be arriving blind. With four rounds left in the championship and Alisha Palmowski leading comfortably ahead of Emma Felbermayr and Megan Bruce, the title picture is still very much alive.

Entertainment at the circuit

Alongside world-class on-track action, the 2026 British Grand Prix is packed with live music, driver appearances, comedy, podcasts, family activities and immersive fan experiences from Thursday through Sunday.

Thursday opens with a women in motorsport panel featuring inspiring voices from across the industry, followed by stories from F1 ACADEMY drivers. The evening belongs to music starts Anne-Marie, David Guetta and John Newman.

Friday brings Formula 1 driver interviews, community hub talks with Girls Across the Grid, Racing Pride and Driven By Us, plus comedy shows featuring Jake Whitehall and music from Blur bassist Alex James, Richard Ashcroft and Rudimental.

Saturday features more driver appearances, the F1 Explains Podcast with Jenson Button, a talk from former Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner, the RAF Falcons Aerial Jump Display, and sets from Jazzy, Chase & Status and Pendulum.

Sunday closes the weekend with more comedy, podcasts and the music of James Arthur.

Beyond the stages, all 2026 British Grand Prix ticket holders receive free access to Silverstone Museum, where you can explore legendary cars and the full history of British motorsport. There are simulators and interactive challenges in the F1 Fanzone, big screens showing the summer’s biggest sporting events, and a dedicated Family Zone for younger fans.

Enjoy the myriad of brand activations in London

As a city with most F1 teams headquartered nearby, London leans fully into British Grand Prix week. The activations start well before race day, and there’s plenty to enjoy.

• F1 ACADEMY is bringing The Future Is Fast pop-up to Outernet London on 27–28 June, a free two-day fan experience at Charing Cross ahead of the series’ debut at Silverstone. Expect driver appearances, interactive activations and exclusive giveaways.

• Williams is returning to Piccadilly Circus from 30th June – 5th July 2026, with their Fan Zone at The Venue, presented by Kraken. Team Principal James Vowles and driver Alex Albon will both make appearances, and fans can get up close to a full-scale FW48 show car, pick up special-edition Silverstone merchandise, and take part in games and contests. It’s become a fixture of British Grand Prix week for good reason.

• The Quadrant team are bringing their pop-up to Charing Cross, with merchandise, gaming, simulators and team appearances. And will have a Meet & Greet with driver Arid Lindblad at Foreign Exchange News on Monday, 29th June.

• On Oxford Street, the PUMA flagship store has Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin merchandise on display, along with an authentic Ferrari F1 car and genuine Michael Schumacher race items. The Adidas store is stocking the new Blue Wonder Mercedes collection alongside Audi Revolut gear. Future Stores has a McLaren pop-up store with simulators, exclusive merch, an F1 car and the chance to win VIP tickets. Selfridges has an Elemis pop-up where you can win Aston Martin merchandise. The Disney Store currently has the brand new Formula 1 x Disney collection.

• And if you want to be active, Aston Martin and Celsius are organising a 5k run in Regent’s Park on Tuesday, 30 June.

Where to stay, eat, and explore in London

London is quite an expensive city, so doing some research before you book goes a long way. Manon and Maia recommend Victoria for budget-friendly hotels, or the Southwark/London Bridge area if you want something nicer without paying central London prices. AirBnBs are a good option too, but as they warn, “if something is too good to be true budget-wise, be mindful.”

That said, since London is not close to the circuit, most people book accommodation near Silverstone. On-site options exist but come at a premium. For those wanting to wake up trackside, Escapade Silverstone, Hilton Garden Inn, the Pop-Up hotel, or the official Silverstone camping options are worth considering.

The more popular choice, however, is staying in one of the nearby towns with access to F1’s official Shuttle Bus, like Towcester, Buckingham, Oxford, Milton Keynes or Coventry, where prices are more affordable when booked in advance. If you do have extra days, coming to London early is the better move to enjoy all the brand activations happening in the city.

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London’s food scene

London’s food scene is one of its biggest selling points. Manon and Maia, both vegetarians, are well placed to guide you. “London is amazing for us. The best vegan address is Mildreds but most restaurants will accommodate for this diet.”

For good and affordable Asian food, Chinatown is the go-to — their pick is Dumpling Legend. Brick Lane is where you go for a curry, and it’s worth checking restaurant websites before you go, as many offer 50% off your bill. If you’re visiting on a Sunday, find a pub doing a traditional Sunday Roast — it’s a genuine cultural experience if you’re not from the UK. London has a strong coffee culture right now, and Manon and Maia’s favourites are Coffee Island and Monmouth Coffee. On the pub front, they have a recommendation that might surprise you:

“It is an unpopular opinion, but we recommend you go to a Wetherspoons; it is cheap and will change your life.”

For something with more personality, Waxys just off Piccadilly Circus is an Irish pub built like a treehouse. And if you’re in London for the F1, the F1 Arcade at St Paul’s is a natural stop. Check the First Table website for discounts at restaurants across the city.

Sightseeing & shopping in London

For sightseeing, London’s museums are world-class and mostly free. Manon and Maia’s favourites are the Science Museum and Natural History Museum in South Kensington, and the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden. A walk along the Southbank from the Oxo Tower to the London Eye covers most major landmarks in one go. Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square are touristy but worth seeing, with statues of iconic film characters scattered around, from Harry Potter to Paddington Bear.

For shopping, Oxford Street covers everything; Selfridges, Carnaby Street, and Regent Street have a great mix of high-street shops, and Harrods in Knightsbridge is worth visiting even if you’re not buying. Columbia Road’s Sunday flower market is one of London’s best weekly rituals. And if you’re a sports fan, the Olympic Park in Stratford — with all the installations from the 2012 Games — is one of the city’s most underrated stops.

Getting to the circuit and moving around

If you’re travelling from London, the fastest option is a train from Euston Station to Milton Keynes or Northampton, which takes between 30 minutes and one hour, depending on the service. From there, the circuit runs organised shuttle buses that you can book online in advance. Coach services also run direct from Victoria Coach Station in London, though with traffic, the journey takes around 2.5 hours. Driving is an option, particularly if you plan to stay for the evening concerts, but traffic around the circuit can be a significant factor to consider.

If you’re staying closer to Silverstone, the official Shuttle Bus serves several nearby towns. Journey times from the shuttle stops are approximately: Towcester (15 min), Buckingham (20 min), Brackley (25 min), Sixfields (35 min), Northampton (40 min), Bicester (40 min), Hinton (40 min), Oxford Parkway (45 min), Milton Keynes (50 min), Banbury (50 min) and Coventry (80 min). Shuttle tickets are £16 per day, with three and four-day bundles available.

Accessibility in London & Silverstone

In terms of accessibility, London is not perfect — most Tube and train stations have lifts and escalators, but older buildings can be tricky to navigate. At the circuit, the picture is better. Every Silverstone staff member has received Disability Awareness training, and the venue offers wheelchair-accessible viewing areas, electric scooter and manual wheelchair hire, and one complimentary ticket for a PA or an accompanying friend for fans requiring full-time assistance. If you need anything on arrival, any staff member or the Duty Manager can help.

Is the British Grand Prix for me?

Although the location is not the most accessible, if you want to experience the energy of a Grand Prix, this is one that is hard to compare. Not only because of its history, but because of the great offering of entertainment, brand activations and access to London — one of the most exciting cities in the world with an even bigger entertainment offering during race week.

Ticket-wise, a one-day general admission starts at £50, grandstands from £369, with hospitality options from £499 and even a mystery seat, a reserved grandstand seat allocated at random to add some anticipation to your weekend. Always buy through official channels, such as the F1 Tickets Store or the circuit’s own platform, to avoid scams. For flights, it can be more accessible than you’d expect, for example, booking from Spain a week out costs around £100 return.

If you’re travelling solo, London is a very safe and welcoming city with excellent public transport and a highly international crowd. As in any major city, stay alert to petty theft in busy areas. If you’re travelling with kids, the free museums in South Kensington are a natural first stop, Hyde Park has a large playground with a pirate ship, and London’s central parks are at their best in summer, great for families and full of wildlife.

On weather, the British Grand Prix falls in early July, and while the country is currently in the middle of a heatwave, don’t let that fool you into leaving layers at home. Stay hydrated, wear light clothes, and bring sunscreen—but also pack a rain layer and something warmer, because a shower can come with very little warning and temperatures can shift quickly. Layers are always the right answer at Silverstone.

See it for yourself

Silverstone isn’t the most conveniently located venue on the calendar, and it will ask a little more of you logistically than a city-centre race. But that’s part of the deal, and what you get in return is hard to match.

The history and the atmosphere are unlike anything else on the calendar. And the combination of four days of on-track action, evening concerts that run late into the night, a week of brand activations in one of the world’s great cities, and a crowd that genuinely lives and breathes this sport adds up to something that’s difficult to put into words until you’ve been part of it.

If F1 ACADEMY is your focus, this weekend carries extra weight. It’s the series’s first-ever round at Silverstone, on one of the most iconic tracks in motorsport history, with a championship that is very much still alive heading into the second half of the season.

And when you’re standing in a field on Sunday evening, music still ringing in your ears, strangers who are now friends somewhere nearby, with the smell of race weekend all around you, you’ll understand why so many people come back to Silverstone year after year, and why this one is so hard to leave.

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The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, also known as The Race to the Clouds, is an annual automobile hillclimb to the summit of Pikes Peak in the U.S. state of Colorado. First held in 1916, it is one of the most famous races of its type in the world that sees manufacturers go head to head with small personal teams as everyone vies to make it to the top of the mountain in the quickest time possible.

With 156 corners, the track measures 12.42 miles and climbs 2862 metres from its starting point on grades averaging 7.2%. In the same way that the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test for circuit endurance racing and the Dakar provides the same unique challenge to those in the off-road world, Pikes Peak is, well, the peak of hill climb racing.

This year, five women made up part of the seventy two entrants who would be taking on the challenge of Pikes Peak. Each one had raced at the mountain before but with only one attempt and with every driver only getting to drive the course in its entirety once, on race day, the pressure was well and truly on for everyone. Let’s see how they all got on.

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Laura Hayes

In her fourth year at Pikes Peak, Laura is competing this year in the Turbo Class in the Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama division. Driving a 2022 Toyota Supra GT4 EVO2, Laura was the top qualifier in her category, setting her up superbly for the big day on Sunday.

At the end of her run, Laura set a time of 10:17.538. At this point of the day, that time was enough to set a new fastest ever time for a woman at Pikes Peak. However, as we’ll get into below, that time would be beaten by another of the female competitors before the day was done.

“If you dedicate yourself to something you love, there’s no reason you can’t achieve big things. Outside of the race car, I’m honestly not the most confident human being ever. Inside the race car, you’re not going to stop me. Most of the work happens outside of the car, so that was an area I really had to work on. One day, I decided to take a chance on myself because I knew I could do it, and since then, I’ve become more comfortable putting myself up to a challenge that may be uncomfortable. The more you do it, the easier it gets. So take that chance, because you’ll regret it if you don’t.” - Laura Hayes, at the Women with Drive Event

However, there was great news for Laura elsewhere that day. Her time was good enough for P18 overall - incredibly good given how many entrants there were - and sent her to the top of her class. Hayes finished her fourth year at Pikes Peak in P1 in the Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama Class.

Tracy Gaudu

A United States Air Force Veteran who now works in vascular surgery and trauma services as a Physician Assistant, Tracy isn’t your regular run of the mill racing driver. In her second year competing in the Pikes Peak Open Class driving a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette ZO6, Tracy was one of two women returning to the mountain after their rookie year in 2025.

“The fact that you only get one shot at running the entire course makes Pikes Peak the ultimate test for any driver.” - Tracy Gaudu

Tracy set a time of 10:54.016 which was good enough for P36 overall and P6 in the Pikes Peak Open class.

Emilia Hartford

Also in her second year competing at Pikes Peak, Emilia was racing in the Time Attack 1 Class driving a 2026 Chevrolet Corvette. The YouTube and Social Media star has been immersing herself more and more into the automotive and motorsport world over the last decade and entered Pikes Peak for the first time in 2025.

Emilia made professional debut in the GT4 class at the 103rd Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, driving a Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport for the Mobil 1 race team.

After qualifying in pole position, Emilia finished second in class with a rookie time of 4 minutes 47.756 seconds on a shortened course (due to weather conditions) that ended at Glen Cove.

This year, Emilia just pipped Hayes by finishing in P17 overall while her time was good enough for P4 in the Time Attack 1 class. The aforementioned time, 10:11.018, meant that Emilia thus became the fastest woman in history to go up Pikes Peak. It’s an incredible achievement, especially in only her second year competing at the mountain.

Kathryn Mead

In her seventh year at Pikes Peak, Kathryn is a retired astrophysicist who also previously held the distinction of being the fastest woman ever to race a car at the iconic event in Colorado. Mead started racing when she was fifty-one years old and made her debut at Pikes Peak back in 2020. She was the only woman at the event that year and finished in third place in the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama division alongside earning the Rookie of the Year honors.

“Driving back down after the race, the scenery above the tree line is just so overwhelming. It’s cognitive overload. Fortunately there’s someone to follow.” - Kathryn Mead

This year, Kathryn competed in the Time Attack 1 Class driving a 2019 Porsche GT2RS Clubsport. She finished in P30 overall and P9 in the Time Attack 1 class with a time of 10:38.163.

Ryan Cheek

Finally, there’s Ryan Cheek. In her third year, she competed in the Time Attack 1 Class driving a 2008 Ford Mustang FR500S. Cheek raced at Pikes Peak with a specific cause in mind - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It affects more than 32,000 people in the United States, with 5,000 new cases diagnosed annually.

Racing for ALS is a 501 3C, non-profit organization that raises awareness and funds through motorsports. All funds raised go directly to research facilities, Duke Neurology & ALS TDI, and Racing for ALS’s Patient Assistance Fund.

Cheek lost her father to the disease in April of 2020. In 2021, while at a Time Attack event at VIR, she learned about Racing for ALS and met its founder, Scott Lloyd, Jr. The rest is history.

“I’d encourage any woman hoping to pursue a career in motorsports to follow that passion! Absolutely anything is possible. Believe in yourself, be authentic, stay focused, be mindful of whom you surround yourself with, and know that it won’t always be easy.” - Ryan Cheek

Cheek finished in P61 overall and P13 in the Time Attack 1 with a time of 12:27.449. But there was always more to this particular run for Cheek than just going fast and putting the best possible time on the board.

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As the first of its kind all-electric racing series, Formula E has always prided itself on pushing the boundaries of what is possible. This has been most evident in the constant evolution of its race car, which has come a long way since the series first went racing back in 2014. Gone are the days when drivers needed to return to the pits mid-race in order to swap cars as their first one had run out of electrical power.

But one area where Formula E has had mixed results is in the number of women competing in the series. In the first two seasons of the sport, we did see female drivers in equal machinery to their male counterparts from one race weekend to the next. However, since the second season of Formula E back in 2015/2016, we’ve not had any full-time or part-time drivers.

Formula E does seem to be working at making progress on this front, though. This has been shown with the recent addition of both the all-female test sessions and the inclusion of more female drivers in the rookie Formula E test sessions. With the driver market for next season set to ramp up soon, we thought it was the perfect time to look back at the women who have already competed in the all-electric racing series as well as those who have taken to the track under test conditions. While they will have been the first, hopefully they won’t be the last, and perhaps one or two that have made headlines for the teams in recent sessions will be in contention for a full-time seat on the grid next season.

Before then, let’s familiarise ourselves with the women who have competed so far in Formula E.

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Simona de Silvestro

Simona de Silvestro competed in the first two seasons of Formula E in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. She was one of eight drivers to compete for the Andretti Autosport Formula E Team in that inaugural season. While Jean Eric Vergne was the mainstay driver for the majority of that season, the second seat in the team rotated on an almost round-by-round basis. De Silverstro came into the Championship for the final double header in London as part of this. Finishing just outside of the points in P11 and P12 across the last two races of the season, de Silvestro put up a fair performance in a series she’d only just been brought into.

Simona then returned for the following season with the now-renamed team of Amlin Andretti. She had two points finishes that season with a P9 finish in Long Beach and another P9 finish in Berlin. de Silvestro finished the season in eighteenth place overall and would not be retained for the following season.

However, de Silvestro would return to Formula E in 2018 for a test session in Saudi Arabia and then again in 2024 for the all-women’s test session held in Jarama, where she drove for what is now Cupra Kiro.

Michela Cerruti

Michela Cerruti competed in the first season of Formula E held across 2014 and 2015 for the Trulli Formula E Team. Cerruti competed in the first four races of the year and, while there, was sadly unable to rack up any points to her name. Her best result in that stint was a P12 finish in Uruguay. After this, she was replaced in the team for the majority of the rest of the season by Vitantonio Liuzzi. He himself only managed to achieve one point-scoring finish in his brief tenure, with a P9 finish in Berlin. He was then replaced by Alex Fontana who didn’t score any points at the final round of the series’ first season in London.

Katherine Legge

Katherine Legge was another woman who competed in the inaugural season of Formula E back in 2014/2015. Legge would only be in the two opening rounds of that season, which took place in Beijing and Uruguay. She had back-to-back P15 finishes for the Amlin Aguri Team before they replaced her with Mexico’s Salvador Duran. He went on to finish in the points on three occasions with a best finish of sixth in Moscow. Like de Silvestro, Legge would return for the test session in Saudi Arabia in 2018.

Test and Reserve Drivers

Since Formula E’s second season, there haven’t been any full-time or even part-time female drivers in the series. What the sport has lacked on this front, it has begun to counter by hosting three test sessions (two all-female) where a number of female racers of varied experiences from across the motorsport world have taken part, which has then been bolstered further by the presence of more female drivers in this year’s rookie test session in Madrid.

The first of these test sessions came back in 2018 in Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Nine women took part on that occasion: Pippa Mann, Amna Al Qubaisi, Carrie Schreiner, Carmen Jordá, Beitske Visser, Jamie Chadwick, Simona de Silvestro, Tatiana Calderon and Katherine Legge. Jordá and Man finished the session in the top ten in their shared cars while Simona de Silvestro would finish as the highest placed female driver in P14.

Then, in 2024, Formula E announced the first all-female test session to be held in Jarama, Spain. Each team on the grid ran at least one female driver for the occasion. As before, there was a wide breadth and depth to the experience of each of the drivers taking to the track.

Jaguar TCS Racing had both Jamie Chadwick and Lilou Wadoux in their team, while TAG Heuer Porsche ran Gabriela Jilkova and Marta Garcia. DS PENSKE opted for Jessica Edgar and Beitske Visser, while Nissan was only able to run Abbi Pulling in their car after Sophia Flörsh had to pull out of the session at the last minute. Andretti selected Chloe Chambers and Nerea Marti, while Envision Racing took the youth of Alisha Palmowski and the experience of Alice Powell into their team for the session. NEOM McLaren was competing in Formula E at the time and took former and current McLaren Academy drivers Bianca Bustamante and Ella Lloyd into the fold as part of this. Maserati MSG Racing selected Tatiana Calderon and Carrie Schreiner, while Lola Yamaha ABT, Mahindra Racing, and Kiro Race Co. all had one driver each - Miki Koyama, Lena Buehler and Simona de Silvestro, respectively.

Abbi Pulling would be the quickest from the group, with Jamie Chadwick close behind her and Bianca Bustamante completing the top three.

Last year then saw the second running of the all-women’s test. DS Penske retained Jessica Edgar, but this time partnered her with Lindsay Brewer. Alice Powell returned once more to Envision Racing but was joined this time by Ella Lloyd. Abbi Pulling was once more in the session with Nissan, while Tatiana Calderon drove for Citroen, while Nerea Marti was the sole driver at Andretti. Jamie Chadwick was another name to return for the session, still with Jaguar TCS Racing but alongside Juju Noda on this occasion. Gabriela Jilkova and Janina Schall teamed up with Porsche and Lola Yamaha ABT, Mahindra Racing and Cupra Kiro, all opted for one driver each in Marta Garcia, Chloe Chambers and Bianca Bustamante, respectively.

It was Chloe Chambers this time out who would be the fastest driver out on track. But Abbi Pulling was hot on her heels, just 0.004 of a second behind her. Once again, Bianca Bustamante rounded out the top three.

Earlier this year, an all-Rookie Test was held in Madrid and saw a mix of male and female drivers for the session. There were four female drivers in total, all of which had prior Formula E experience: Bianca Bustamante, Ella Lloyd, Juju Noda and Abbi Pulling. Pulling would once again be the quickest of the female drivers taking part and finished in P11 overall.

Looking Ahead

Opel joins the Formula E grid next season. While they still debate who they’ll sign to race for them full time, they have made one decision in signing Sophia Flörsh as their Test and Reserve Driver. Coming to the team with a wealth of experience from Formula 3, DTM, the European Le Mans Series, Indy NXT and more, it’s a no-brainer why they decided to make Flörsh part of the team. One has to wonder, though, why they didn’t decide to make her the first full-time Formula E driver in over a decade.

While the test sessions, as well as Flörsh’s Opel appointment, have been steps in the right direction, many are still left wondering why none of the teams has signed any of these drivers to race for them across a full season. The talent is clearly there. But there’s no substitute for experience, and the only way that any of these women will get any is if they’re given the opportunity to. They’ve placed themselves in the best position possible, given the limited opportunities available to them to be chosen for a full season of racing. Now it’s up to the teams to take the next step.

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The 24 Hours of Le Mans is more than the pinnacle of endurance racing or a coveted leg of the Triple Crown. Beyond the technical demands and on-track unpredictability, the event in La Sarthe, which concluded its 94th edition this past weekend, holds a rich history of female representation.

Since the inaugural race in 1923, 64 women have taken the start, including 27 all-female crews and a record 10 female entrants in 1935 alone. In recent years, the grid has featured highly competitive all-female line-ups, with the Iron Dames emerging as one of the most recognisable names in the paddock.

But 2026 presented a different reality. Only two female drivers debuted in the main event, alongside a handful of appearances in the Road to Le Mans support series and a few familiar faces making history throughout the week.

Despite the lower numbers, every woman has a story of reaching one of the most demanding endurance events in the world. This piece not only chronicles how their weekend unfolded, but celebrates their journey to — or return to — the pinnacle of endurance racing.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans Explained

The 24 Hours of Le Mans can feel daunting to watch. If you relate, here is a quick explainer on how the event operates.

The Track

Drivers tackle the Circuit de la Sarthe, an 8.4-mile (13.6 km) layout in France blending a permanent racing facility with ordinary public roads. Organisers shut down local streets to create high-speed sections like the famous Mulsanne Straight.

The Three Classes

Le Mans features three different categories of cars competing simultaneously. Teams fight for a class victory, while the fastest contenders aim for the overall win. In 2026, the 62-car grid were broken down into the following:

• Hypercar (18 cars): The top tier. Manufacturers like Ferrari, Toyota, Cadillac, Aston Martin, and more build bespoke prototypes to chase overall victory. As the fastest machines on the grid, they often feature hybrid technology.

• LMP2 (19 cars): The second prototype tier (Le Mans Prototype 2). Every team uses the Oreca 07 chassis and a standard Gibson V8 engine. With standardised hardware, success comes down entirely to strategy and driver skill. Line-ups with a Bronze driver have their own specific ranking: LMP2 Pro/Am.

• LMGT3 (25 cars): Based on supercars from brands like Porsche, McLaren, and Corvette, these vehicles are heavily modified for competition. They are the slowest class but regularly deliver the tightest wheel-to-wheel racing.

Since the World Endurance Championship (WEC) dropped LMP2 from its full-season calendar after 2023, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the only race of the year where all three classes still share the track.

The 2026 Format

Race week still progressed from practice to qualifying, but qualifying in Le Mans is a beast of its own. This year, organisers introduced a high-stakes, three-part format.

Every car participated in a 30-minute qualifying session on Wednesday. Only the top 15 Hypercars and top 12 cars in the lower classes advanced, with Hyperpole 1 and Hyperpole 2 trimming the field even further.

The defining change for 2026 involved driver allocation. The driver who qualified the car on Wednesday could not drive in Hyperpole 1. Furthermore, anyone who drove in the first two sessions was restricted from driving in Hyperpole 2.

This forced teams to rely on the outright pace of their entire three-driver lineup rather than leaning on a single qualifying specialist.

The Only Two Women Racing In The 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans main event featured just two female drivers, alongside a handful who joined the Road to Le Mans support series.

Doriane Pin: LMP2 (Duqueine Team)

The 2025 F1 ACADEMY Champion and current Mercedes Development Driver is no stranger to endurance racing. She joined the Iron Dames programme in 2021 and quickly built an impressive track record.

At 17, the French racer debuted alongside Manuela Gostner in the 2021 Michelin Le Mans Cup (MLMC) and secured five podium finishes in her first six races. In 2022, she dominated the Ferrari Challenge Europe Series, winning nine of 14 races to secure the Trofeo Pirelli with a round to spare.

The 2026 event marked her third overall appearance at Le Mans. She debuted in the LMP2 class with Prema Racing in 2023, but broken ribs forced her to withdraw from Iron Dames’s LMGT3 entry just weeks before the race. The “Pocket Rocket” then sat out the following year to focus entirely on her F1 ACADEMY campaign.

Driving in the ultra-competitive LMP2 category with Duqueine Team, Doriane and her teammates held the lead for 21 hours, while she consistently clocked some of the fastest lap times on the grid. Unfortunately, to win at Le Mans, you must first finish. A front brake disc failure turned what looked like a guaranteed victory into a painful DNF.

Lilou Wadoux: LMGT3 (Richard Mille AF Corse)

Lilou is the first woman in Ferrari’s storied history to hold the prestigious role of an official Ferrari factory driver.

Behind the wheel, her adaptability speaks for itself. She became the first woman to win the LMP2 class in the American IMSA series (at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen) and the first to score a podium in Japan’s highly competitive Super GT championship (GT300 class).

By winning the LMGTE Am class alongside her teammates at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in 2023, she also became the first female driver to win an FIA WEC class race since the championship was formed in 2012.

The 2026 event marked her fourth Le Mans appearance. Competing in LMGT3 with Richard Mille AF Corse, the French driver anchored a fierce recovery drive with relentless night stints. By Sunday morning, her pace in the darkness had pulled the #150 Ferrari into the battle for a top-ten result. They crossed the finish line to secure an eighth-place finish in their class.

Road to Le Mans Series

After running as two sprint races in previous seasons, the flagship round of the MLMC adopted a three-hour endurance format for the first time. This support series ran shortly before the main race on Saturday.

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Léna Bühler: LMP3 (R-ace GP)

The inaugural F1 ACADEMY Vice Champion traded the traditional single-seater ladder for a successful pivot to endurance racing.

In 2025, Bühler became the first woman to win in the MLMC — a standout moment during her debut year in LMP3 prototypes. Driving for 23Events Racing, she also secured fifth-place finishes at both Spa and Silverstone, claiming seventh in her class by the end of the season.

Her return to the 2026 Road to Le Mans proved frustrating. Constant stoppages broke up the three-hour race, including multiple Slow Zones, Full Course Yellows, and a 20-minute Safety Car period triggered by the #97 CLX Motorsport Ligier’s heavy crash at the Porsche Curves.

Reuniting with R-ace GP alongside Zack Scoular in the #86 Duqueine D09, the fragmented running made it difficult to find a rhythm. In the end, they finished 13th in class and currently sit eighth in the standings.

Denise Yeung: LMP3 Pro-Am (Team Virage)

The Hong Kong native broke new ground for Asian representation in European endurance racing as the first Chinese woman to compete in the Road to Le Mans. The 2026 event marked her debut at the Circuit de la Sarthe and her first-ever Le Mans Cup round.

A mother of three in her 50s, Yeung entered the race to show her children that “age is just a number.” She spent over a decade racing in Asian touring cars and GT series, including stints in the all-female Kyojo Cup and Chinese F4.

Partnering with one of the category’s strongest organisations, Team Virage, Yeung shared an LMP3 Pro-Am entry with British driver Theo Micouris. Unfortunately, the Hong Kong driver sustained injuries from an accident in Free Practice 1. With regulations mandating that both drivers share driving duties for the main race, the team was forced to withdraw before the start.

Other Appearances

Beyond those racing in the main and support series, there were a few other memorable moments from the weekend worth mentioning.

Jamie Chadwick: Reserve Driver (Genesis Magma Racing)

Since December 2024, the three-time W Series champion has been part of Genesis Magma Racing’s Trajectory Programme. Genesis represents Hyundai’s luxury division, with Genesis Magma Racing serving as the brand’s official in-house factory team for endurance racing.

Alongside her hypercar driver and development role, she was announced as the team’s reserve driver for their WEC campaign this year.

During Test Day, she made history in the Hypercar class by completing five laps in the #17 GMR-001-Hypercar. The run marks a step up from her LMP2 appearance with IDEC Sport at last year’s event.

Sarah Bovy: Grand Marshal for 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans

The Belgian native is one of the most successful figures in modern endurance racing. Best known for her role with the all-female Iron Dames outfit, she has anchored the team’s lineups for years across the WEC, European Le Mans Series, and GT World Challenge Europe.

With Iron Dames, she has achieved several historic milestones. In 2022, Bovy became the first woman to claim pole in WEC at Monza. A year later, she played an instrumental role in the team’s historic victory as an all-female squad in Bahrain.

Speaking of Le Mans, Bovy has contested the legendary endurance race five times. This year, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest — the creator and organising body behind the event — appointed her as Grand Marshal. As part of her role, Bovy had the honour of setting the pace for the 62 cars on the grid during the starting procedure.

A Dip In Numbers

By the numbers, the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans featured a much stronger female presence and a flurry of firsts compared to this year.

In the main event, Jamie Chadwick made her Le Mans debut with IDEC Sport, becoming the first woman to race in the LMP2 class since 2022. Lilou Wadoux made her third career appearance in LMGT3, representing Richard Mille AF Corse. Meanwhile, the Iron Dames fielded an all-female crew of Rahel Frey, Célia Martin, and Sarah Bovy, racing a Porsche 911 GT3 R in LMGT3.

In the Road to Le Mans support series, two drivers made their debuts in the flagship MLMC round. Léna Bühler made history as the first woman to win a race overall in the series, taking victory in the #50 Ligier JS P325 for 23Events Racing alongside teammate Matteo Quintarelli during her rookie campaign in LMP3 machinery.

Canadian racing driver and team owner Samantha Tan, 27, secured strong sixth and fourth-place finishes in her first-ever Road to Le Mans appearance. She teamed up with Swedish driver Gustav Bergstrom in the #38 BMW M4 GT3 run by Team WRT.

Still, this year’s dip in numbers shouldn’t dilute the magnitude of each racer reaching one of the world’s most demanding endurance events. After all, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has seen 64 women take the start, including 27 all-female crews — an encouraging reminder that Le Mans is always ready to embrace anyone up for the challenge.

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