Susie Wolff first woman in 22 years to drive in F1 weekend

Williams' test driver Susie Wolff

London: Susie Wolff has set her sights on driving in a Grand Prix after it was announced yesterday she would become the first woman in 22 years to take part in a Formula One event of any kind.


Williams' test driver Susie Wolff

Already a development driver with British team Williams, Wolff's expanded role will see the 31-year-old Scot take part in the first practice sessions ahead of both the British and German Grands Prix in July.

Not since Giovanna Amati, who failed to qualify in the 1992 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos for Brabham, has a woman driven a F1 car over the course of a race weekend.

Now Wolff hopes her knowledge of the tracks at Silverstone and Hockenheim will help in the quest to join the likes of world champ Sebastien Vettel and Fernando Alonso on a race-day grid.

"I've driven the car at Silverstone (in a test) last year so I have a bit of experience with the track, and Hockenheim I know well from my time in German touring cars," said Wolff.

"If you can take part in the Friday practice sessions, then of course you have to be looking at doing an actual race. I said the minute I joined Williams I didn't want to run before I could walk. For me it's about doing a good job each step of the way and if I do that in the practice sessions then the next natural progression will be taking part in a race."

Wolff is aiming to do what only two women have done before her, with Italy's Maria Teresa di Filippis, who raced for Maserati three times in 1958, and Lella Lombardi, who took part in 12 races in the 1970s, the only female drivers to have so far competed in F1 Grand Prix races.