Meet the women taking part in Formula E’s Madrid Rookie Test
A number of familiar faces are returning to Formula E this weekend - but who are they?
More female drivers have been taking part in these rookie practice sessions, too, a welcome occurrence that builds upon the separately held all-women’s test sessions. What’s more, the venues for these sessions keep changing, with previous editions being held in Miami and Berlin, for example. The variety of locations is naturally beneficial to these rookie drivers as they get to better understand circuits that they may have only ever experienced on the team’s simulator. Hopefully, these up-and-coming drivers can gain enough experience to warrant their teams looking to sign them full-time for a season of Formula E in the near future.
Let’s take a look at the women driving in this latest rookie test session at Circuito del Jarama in Madrid.
Bianca Bustamante - Cupra Kiro
In 2025, Bianca was signed as a development driver for Cupra Kiro in Formula E. As a result, the Filipino driver has already gotten the chance to take the car out on multiple occasions. The first of these came just after the team’s race weekend in Berlin. Her next opportunity then came at the Formula E Women’s test in Valencia towards the end of last year. Bianca finished in P3 overall in that session.
The Madrid test will now be Bustamante’s third outing for the Cupra Kiro team and at her third different venue to boot. Bianca becoming more accustomed to street circuits will have multiple benefits for her future too. Getting to grips with different circuit types not only strengthens her overall racecraft but further highlights her worth for a possible full time future in Formula E or a series like Indy NXT in the U.S where racing on street circuits is the norm.
Ella Lloyd - Envision Racing
Ella Lloyd made her Formula E debut back in November 2024, alongside Bianca Bustamante, at the all women’s test in Jarama. She finished the session in a respectable seventh place on that outing. Her next chance to test Formula E machinery came in Berlin in July last year which was then followed by another appearance at the all women’s test in Valencia. On that occasion, she finished in fifth place overall.
With McLaren now having departed Formula E, Ella has made the switch to Envision Racing, for whom she’ll drive for in Madrid.
Juju Noda - Jaguar TCS Racing
Hailing from Japan, Juju has already had one bite of the Formula E apple, back in 2025 at the all women’s test in Valencia. She finished in P9 overall, ahead of drivers such as Marta Garcia and Jessica Edgar.
Away from Formula E, Juju began karting back when she was just three years old. In 2023, she won the F2000 Italian Formula Trophy and in 2024, she made history by becoming the first Japanese woman to race in Super Formula - a series she is set to return to in 2026.
Abbi Pulling - Nissan Formula E Team
Another of the latest wave of female drivers to step into Formula E, Abbi Pulling has already participated in two of the women’s tests held by the all-electric Championship. In Valencia, she was just 0.004 seconds behind Chloe Chambers - the driver who topped the time sheets on that occasion. Bianca Bustamante was 0.770 seconds behind Chambers in third.
These opportunities fell under Pulling’s purview as both a rookie and simulator driver for the Nissan Formula E Team. Back in Miami in January, Abbi also took part in the rookie practice session held there as she got to grips with the latest evolution of the Formula E car.
Nerea Marti - Andretti Ambassador
Like Lloyd, Nerea Marti got her first taste of Formula E back in 2024 in Jarama. She tested for Andretti alongside Chloe Chambers - who has since switched allegiances to Mahindra. She finished in P13 at the end of that test and would return to the driver’s seat a year later at the all women’s test in Valencia where she finished in P8 overall.
While not driving in the Madrid rookie test, Nerea will be present throughout the weekend. This is due to the recent news of her becoming an ambassador for the Andretti Team, a role Marti is happy to take on.
“My role as an ambassador is about representing the Andretti name and its values at Formula E circuits around the world. It’s about connecting with fans, bringing them closer to the team and the Championship while helping share what makes Formula E and Andretti so special. I see it as being a link between the team and the fans, especially in key markets, while continuing to contribute from a performance perspective.” - Nerea Marti
Calderón & FIA Girls on Track
The rookie test this weekend also comes after a demonstration run held in Madrid that saw Tatiana Calderón jump back into Formula E machinery. This proved to be the perfect way to invigorate the locals ahead of the race weekend and hopefully means that this won’t be the last time that we get to see Calderón in Formula E this year. The Colombian driver was previously a test driver for DS Techeetah back in the 2018-19 season. Last year, she joined Lola Yamaha ABT for the rookie test session held in Jeddah before switching to Citroen for the all-women’s test at the tail end of the year, where she finished in P7 overall.
Elsewhere at the circuit this weekend, the FIA Girls on Track initiative returns to Formula E. As part of its running this time around, they will be hosting up to 120 young women for it for its programme across the race weekend. Those in attendance will be able to take part in activities such as workshops, gaming, career talks and a Pit Lane Walk.