WOMEN OF WTCR CONTENT Foreword of Michele Mouton 05 About WTCR 07 Sylvie Buzzighin Timekeeper, ITS Events 08 Michela Cerruti Operations Manager, Romeo Ferraris 12 Ksenia Em Sporting Co-ordinator – Touring Cars, FIA 16 Laurie Flores Event Promotion Executive, Eurosport Events 20 Michele Halder Racing driver, Motorsport Halder 24 Alexandra Legouix WTCR Presenter and Reporter, Eurosport Events 28 Carrie Mathieson Press Officer, Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Teams 32 Juliana Neto Physiotherapist, Honda Racing 36 Fiona Rees WTCR Teams Co-ordinator, Eurosport Events 40 Carmen Siemes Team Co-ordinator, Comtoyou Racing 44 Ida Stromsaas Technician, Cyan Racing 48 Catherine Zappia Commercial Manager, Geely Group Motorsport 52 You are interested in a career in Engineering? Have a look at our dedicated booklet Engineer Your Career! WOMEN OF WTCR For more than 10 years, the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission has been striving to demonstrate the inclusivity of our sport and to empower young girls and women of all ages to take a look at the wide variety of opportunities open to them. Increasing gender equality across every industry and profession is so important and, in our sport, I do feel there have been positive changes. Through our own programmes we have opened the eyes of thousands of young girls to the world of motor sport, and increasingly we are seeing more and more women taking up positions that would previously have been labelled ‘for the boys’. In this booklet, we are delighted to introduce you to some of the females working in the FIA World Touring Car Cup, inspirational women who have very diverse roles across many areas. What draws them all together, however, is their passion and determination to follow their dreams. Michèle Mouton President FIA Women in Motorsport Commission 5 WOMEN OF WTCR WOMEN OF WTCR WTCR FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CUP The WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup Points go to top five in the first and third qualifying is the pinnacle of customer touring car stages, while the top 15 score in both races. racing and sits at the top of the TCR The first 10 places on the Race 1 grid are decided category ladder. by the Q2 results reversed, meaning the driver who is P10 in Q2 starts Race 1 on the DHL Pole Evolving from the FIA World Touring Car Position followed by the ninth fastest driver and Championship ahead of the 2018 season, the so on. The results of the DHL Pole Position top- WTCR is administered by the FIA and promoted five Q3 shootout decide the first five grid places by Eurosport Events. for Race 2. Some of the best drivers in the business, including As well as the FIA Drivers’ and Teams’ titles, the experienced campaigners and young talents aiming FIA Junior Driver Title is for the best racer 24 or for the top, compete in turbocharged TCR cars under at the start of 2021 with no WTCC/WTCR from brands such as Alfa Romeo, Audi, CUPRA, experience prior to 2019. The FIA Female Driver Honda, Hyundai, Lynk & Co and Renault. Title is new for 2021. A Balance of Performance formula, sustainable Independent racers are eligible for the WTCR biofuel from P1 Racing Fuels and tyres from Trophy, while the TAG Heuer Best Lap Trophy Goodyear provide a level playing field, with power and TAG Heuer Most Valuable Driver accolade capped at 360bhp and speeds reaching 260kph. are awarded at each event. Significant cost-control measures help maintain The Goodyear #FollowTheLeader recognises the strong grid numbers and allow privateer teams driver at the head of the title standings after each with limited technical support from manufacturers qualifying session or race. They are presented with to fight at the front. the Goodyear #FollowTheLeader yellow jacket The 2021 season is set to comprise five weekends and carry the Goodyear #FollowTheLeader yellow in Europe ahead of a three-event Asia leg. Two windscreen strip on their car until such time that practice sessions, a single three-stage qualifying they no longer top the points classification. session featuring two elimination periods, plus two races are timetabled at each event, which enjoy extensive live global broadcasting. 6 7 WOMEN OF WTCR WOMEN OF WTCR TIMEKEEPER NAME SYLVIE BUZZIGHIN All duties associated with race event management JOB TITLE are essential and come with an incredible amount of Timekeeper, ITS Events responsibility. Despite the availability of new technologies and greater automation, the timekeeper’s job demands extensive experience and comes with extreme pressure due to the requirement to log every lap time set by every driver whenever they’re on track. There’s also a huge element of teamwork needed to be an effective timekeeper. PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND YOUR ROLE Have you always been passionate about motor sport or did you arrive in this IN 3 WORDS industry by chance? I do not have the same professional background as a typical person working I arrived in motor sport by chance, thanks to my father’s sister who was a co-driver in regional rallies and used in motor sport. This is because I work as a timekeeper, which is a voluntary • Responsible to organise the Hautefage-la-Tour hillclimb in Lot-et-Garonne every year. Of course, I was a big supporter of my role, so I am like the marshals on all the French circuits, giving up my time • Precise aunt. One weekend in 1997, together with my parents we went to see her on a rally. It was then that I discovered but holding a French motor sport federation (FFSA) licence. Aside from my the atmosphere of rallying, the stages with the stage starts and stage finishes. Then there were the stop lines job in motor sport, I have a day job that I do during the week and this has • Calm where each competing crew can release the pressure after they discover what their time was. In fact, it all started nothing to do with the world of motor sport. at the stop point of a rally where I was asked if I would be interested in being a timekeeper for the FFSA because they lacked timekeepers. A few weeks later, I went to the Nogaro circuit in France to take the timekeeper C exam. That allowed me to begin exercising my function as a timekeeper on regional events. Then I worked at various French circuits and this allowed me to develop my experience and pass the timekeeper B exam, which allowed me to be able to do national events. After this I could take the timekeeper A exam, which is needed in order to do international events such as the WTCR. What makes you get up in the morning? During the week I have my other job which has nothing to do with motor sport. For this reason, I can’t wait for the weekend to arrive in order to be able to perform my function as a timekeeper, which has become a passion over the years. To experience the atmosphere of the circuits and to be able to rub shoulders with other people is something I really enjoy. The function of a timekeeper and the timing system has evolved enormously since 1997 and it’s very exciting to be a part of this ongoing development. What is your greatest professional achievement? My greatest accomplishment in motor sport was when I was asked if I wanted to be part of the FIA World Touring Car Championship timing team in 2015. It was a huge joy to get this opportunity and it was also a recognition of my qualities as a timekeeper after so many years of gaining experience on national events in France. 8 9 WOMEN OF WTCR WOMEN OF WTCR What are the main challenges you face when doing your job? To be able to continue as long as possible to exercise my functions as a timekeeper. What advice would you give to young people hoping to work in motor sport? You need to be passionate. If you could be someone else for a day, who would you like to be? Sébastien Loeb! What has been the best moment in your career so far? The first FIA World Touring Car Championship event in 2015 at Termas de Río Hondo in Argentina. This was also my first international event as a timekeeper and my best moment so far. 10 11 WOMEN OF WTCR WOMEN OF WTCR OPERATIONS MANAGER NAME MICHELA CERRUTI The job of an Operations Manager is wide-ranging and JOB TITLE requires the same level of input both on- and off-event. Operations Manager, Romeo Ferraris Duties vary from overseeing staff and driver recruitment, managing logistics and suppliers, handling customer car sales, securing partnerships and putting all elements in place to ensure the creation of a race-winning operation. PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND YOUR ROLE Have you always been passionate about motor sport or did you arrive in this IN 3 WORDS industry by chance? I graduated from university with a degree in psychology in 2009, the same I discovered my passion for motor sport when I got my driving licence. Nobody had introduced me to this world of motor year that I started racing myself. My career as a race car driver brought • Challenging sport before that time. I realised the car was the best place to be for me and that speed made me feel alive. me from touring cars to GT3 with BMW Motorsport and to single-seaters • Intensive in Auto GP and Formula E. Besides this career, I have always done some activities in motor sport such as being a commentator for Sky Sport in Italy • Dynamic What makes you get up in the morning? and as a writer for different automotive and motor sport magazines in my My son, my passion, my curiosity.