FIA WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORT OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER - ISSUE 3 MARÍA REMEMBERED Payinging tribute to the remarkable and inspirational María de Villota PG 4 AUTO SHOOTOUT SUCCESS Lucile Cypriano becomes Commission’s selected driver in VW Scirocco R-Cup PG 8 WOMEN IN WOMEN’S RALLYING POINT The FIA European Rallycross Championship has become a haven for lady racers PG 14 MOTORSPORT FIRST LADY OF LE MANS New FIA Women in Motorsport Commission Ambassador Leena Gade on progress, pressure and winning in the WEC AUTO+WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORT AUTO+WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORT Welcome to our third Women in Motorsport newsletter and the final edition of 2013. It’s been a year of both triumph and, unfortunately, tragedy and in this issue we take time out to remember María de Villota, whose passing in October left a deep void not just in motor sport but in all our hearts. María’s bravery following her F1 testing accident and the dedication she displayed afterwards – not only in promoting female involvement in motor sport but also safety on the road and track – will be missed. Elsewhere, it was a year of great success for women competitors and in this edition we look at Lucile Cypriano’s victory in the VW and commission-supported shoot-out for a place in next year’s VW Scirocco R-Cup and reveal how the FIA European Rallycross Championship has become a haven for female racers. It’s been a great year for CONTACTS: women in all forms of motor sport and IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER OR we look forward to even more in 2014! STORIES FOR THE NEXT ISSUE, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. E-MAIL [email protected] Your AUTO + team 1 AUTO+WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORT Remembering María In October, motor sport, the FIA and the Women in Motorsport Commission lost one its brightest and most dedicated talents with the passing of María de Villota. The Spanish former Formula One driver died in Seville as a result of injuries sustained in an accident during testing for the Marussia Formula One team in July 2012. Despite sustaining life-threatening head injuries, María made a heroic recovery and in the year following the crash devoted herself to promoting women’s involvement in motor sport and also to tackling road and track safety issues. Her tireless efforts in these regards were acknowledged by FIA President Jean Todt, who led tributes to her. “María was a fantastic driver, a leading light for women in motor sport and a tireless campaigner for road safety,” he said. “Above all, she was a friend I deeply admired. Through her courage, strength and determination she transformed her personal misfortune on the track into a powerful message for road safety that was heard at race tracks and beyond around the world. María was a beloved member of the FIA family.” The FIA President’s thoughts were echoed by Michèle Mouton, President of the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission, to which de Villota had been appointed an Ambassador in June 2012. “María was such a great person,” she said. “When you are able to go through such a terrible tragedy and transform the negatives into such positives, it is truly remarkable. María was able to do this and was more radiant than ever; that requires an amazing spirit and deserves respect and admiration. I was close to María and it is a real privilege to have known her. “We worked together in the Women in Motorsport Commission and María was an inspiration not only to our members, but also the wider motor sport community. As one of our Ambassadors she strived to get more young women into our sport, to help them achieve their goals and have belief in themselves. She was a dedicated supporter for road and motor sport safety and was very involved with our Action for Road Safety campaign; this is something María was incredibly passionate about.” Born into a racing family, María’s father Emilio took part in 14 grands prix weekends between 1976 and 1982, starting twice. It was no surprise, therefore, that the young María pursued a racing career. After initially competing in karting, she moved up to single-seater racing in 2000 in the Spanish Formula Toyota series. She raced full-time in Spanish F3 from 2002-2004 and then moved to saloon and sports car racing, competing in the World Touring Car Championship, Superstars, Spanish GT and Germany’s ADAC Procar series, in which she won at the Nurburgring in 2007 and finished third in the standings. Following a stint in the Superleague Formula in 2009, her break into Formula One came in 2011, when she tested a Renault R29. In 2012, she secured a full-time role as Marussia’s test driver. Later the same year, she was named as one of the first five Ambassadors by the Women in Motosport Commission and embraced the role with gusto. Following her accident she broadened the scope of her involvement with the FIA, becoming a leading advocate of road and track safety. In May of this year she played an integral part in the FIA’s contribution to the second UN Road Safety Week’s Long Short Walk campaign, leading calls for pedestrian road safety during a march of F1 stars at the Spanish Grand Prix. María’s legacy can perhaps best be summed up in the words she spoke following her appointment as an Ambassador for Women in Motorsport. “It is very important to let other women know that with enough belief and application, you can overcome any hurdle,” she said. “If I can be an F1 test driver, I am sure a lot of women can do it too. It is purely a question of talent, hard work and commitment. I gave my life to motor sport and just kept the faith that my optimism would be rewarded.” It is that unshakeable optimism, as well as her generosity of spirit, dedication and incredible courage, that will be remembered most. María de Villota (13 January 1980 – 11 October 2013) 2 3 AUTO+WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORT AUTO+WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORT Karting FIA World Rally Championship Fédération du Sport Automobile de Madagascar Madagascar launches Prudent targets F4 for 2014 Women in Motorsport initiative FIA Women in Motorsport Commission-supported kart racer Prudent’s recent karting exploits have been no less successful. Adeline Prudent is targeting a switch to the federation’s new Having won the X30 Junior National in Ariège in France, she F4 category after a successful first test in the single seater then competed in the last event of the 2013 CIK-FIA Academy Since its launch the FIA’s Women in Motorsport class in October. Trophy, at Varennes-sur-Allier. Securing two seventh places, initiative has brought awareness of women’s The teenage karter, who had never driven a single seater Prudent finished in fourth place in the Trophy’s overall roles in motorsport to new heights, but before, was given the opportunity to test the F4 car at classification, behind winner Maxime Potty from Belgium, Spain’s as with so many endeavours, high-profile the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans thanks to the FIA and the Arturo Melgar and third-placed Berkay Besler from Turkey. success has been concentrated in regions Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA). Finally, on 19 and 20 October, Adeline finished seventh where racing and rallying already have a Matching herself against more experienced racers such in the Iame International Final, the major annual meeting traditional presence. as Lotus F1 Junior Team driver Dorian Boccolacci and Coupe for owners of X30 engines. Of the 61 drivers on the starting That is changing, however, and the efforts of ASNs from every region to promote de France winner Pauline Pourchaire, both of whom have grid in the X30 Junior category, Prudent set the best time The lady scrutineers of Rallye Deutschland take time out from single-seater experience, Adeline performed admirably. in practice for the series, and fourth best in the general their duties to pose with Sébatien Ogier’s VW Polo R WRC. female involvement in motor sport are now On a tricky, wet-drying track she was initially 11 seconds classification. She won one qualifying heat and finished a beginning to produce results. Nowhere is off the benchmark set by Boccolacci. However, by the end of respectable third in another. this more true than in Madagascar. the day’s running she had closed that gap to just five seconds Although she was in third place at the start of the pre-final, Running the rule over The Fédération du Sport Automobile and finished ahead of Pourchaire. Adeline’s hopes of reaching the podium were dashed when a de Madagascar’s Women in Motorsport The Saint-Etienne youngster is now aiming to put together sudden downpour upset the order. Nevertheless, she clawed programme, led by its Secretary General Sandy a budget sufficient to race in the nascent series in 2014. her way back to seventh place in the final. Rallye Deutschland Solofonirina, is going from strength to strength and the country now has 10 licensed It’s an often thankless and technically demanding task but female racers, ranging in age from 17-45. scrutineering at any motor racing event is crucial in ensuring To encourage female participation prizes the safe and fair running of a race or rally. And at this year’s are now being awarded to the top three German round of the FIA World Rally Championship six female female drivers in all national events.