(© Ben Johnston 2014)
It has been an incredible journey for Susie Wolff in recent
years. The 33 year old from Oban, Scotland began her motor racing career in
go-karts at the age of eight, competing against future Formula One stars, Kimi
Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg before making the step up to the F3
championship.
Following a disappointing early end to her time in Formula
2, Susie moved up the Formula Renault championship in 2002 and the following year she picked up her
first ever podium finish in the British Formula Renault championship.
In 2003 and 2004, Susie made history as she became the first
female driver to be nominated for the McLaren Autosport Young Driver Award. In
the Winter of 2005, Wolff was offered the chance to test for Mercedes Benz in
the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) which resulted in a contract offer
for the 2006 season.
Following seven seasons in the German Touring Car
Championship, Susie decided to it was time for a new challenge and in 2012, Wolff
become Williams development driver working alongside their race drivers Pastor
Maldonado, Bruno Senna and test driver Valtteri Bottas.
At the end of 2012, Susie drove a Formula One car for the
first time ever at the Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire driving for
Williams, and in 2013, following the test, the Grove based outfit asked the
Scottish driver to step up her involvement with the team and as a result of her
enhanced role she drove the teams 2013 car becoming the first of their drivers
to do so.
Last season, Susie made history becoming the first female
driver in over 20 years to take part in a Formula One race weekend when she
drove for the team in Free Practice One at both the British and German Grand
Prix.
At the end of last year, it was announced that Williams
Martini Racing’s Test and Reserve driver Felipe Nasr will drive for the Sauber
F1 Team alongside Marcus Ericsson while Susie was promoted to the role of Test
and Reserve driver ahead of the 2015 Formula One season.
Wolff will drive the
2015 FW37 at the second winter test which takes place at the Barcelona Circuit
De Catalunya in Spain on one of the four days.
The teams will test in Barcelona from February 19 – 22.
(Williams Martini Racing Team)
© Ben Johnston 2015
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