Natacha Gachnang Steps onto F1 Learning Ladder
Natacha Gachnang has moved a step closer to becoming the first woman to compete in Formula One since 1992. The 21-year-old Swiss has signed up for the 2009 Formula Two championship which returns after a 25-year absence.
Test driving for Williams is the reward for the overall season winner and Gachnang, who looks set to compete for Toro Rosso, is eager to make it all the way to the top.
“To be honest, I try not to think about being a woman in a male-dominated sport,” said Gachnang.
“At times it has probably helped me, but I think it has also been hard to get people to really believe in me as a driver, especially as I climb the motorsport ladder.
“But being in Formula Two next season will take me that much closer to achieving my dream of getting into Formula One.”
“Some of the best young drivers in the world are looking at F2, and that means the championship is going to be incredibly tight. Hopefully I can take my chance and show just how quick I can be. I have already raced against Sebastian Vettel in Formula BMW ADAC so I’m not daunted; as a driver you want to be racing against the best because you need to be constantly challenging yourself to get better.”
Gachnang finished third in this 2008’s Spanish F3 Championship. She took pole position in the opening round at Jarama and finished on the podium four times over the course of the season, including a second and a third at the Valencia street circuit.
She has previously raced in F3 Austria, F3 Euro Series and Formula BMW ADAC, where she compared strongly to F1 race winner Sebastian Vettel and F1 test driver Sebastien Buemi.
Gachnang is hoping to follow Maria Teresa de Filippis, Divina Galica, Lella Lombardi and Desire Wilson and Giovanna Amati into the upper echelons of the sport.
Only Amati and Teresa actually took part in grands prix though, with the Amati the last female to feature in F1 nearly 17 years ago.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_c.png?x-id=4fb3cb47-ec25-4c7c-8469-ec9b6aceb53e)
Amati never participated in a Grand Prix. She had three GP weekends with Arrows in ‘92 but failed to qualify in each before being replaced by Damon Hill.
Lombardi did compete in 12 GP and scored half a point at the infamous ‘75 Spanish Grand Prix.
The budget series F2, that you & I scoffed at, seems to be picking up a bit of momentum. I was interested to see that Red Bull has placed on of its F3 drivers in the series.
Will have to wait to see a 09 entry list, but if other F3 pilots give Renault 3.5 or GP2 a miss & go for F2, it may become a established rung on the ladder.
I suspect that GP2 will remain the ultimate finishing school. Mind you, with the cut price budget that F2 offers maybe some guys wont be able to afford GP2.
And what of A1GP, races delayed/cancelled, limited chassis availabilty, Team Germany pulling out……..not looking good.
Good old Japanese FNippon may end up as the only other F3000 series.
Thanks for the correction Evan, it slipped by my normal vetting process.
Although dollar signs helped get Giovanna Amati the drive, it was mainly inexperience with her recalcitrant Brabham, and not lack of talent, that saw her struggle.
Peter, like you I’ll believe it wee a schedule announced, but things are looking far better than either of us thought possible.
As for A1 Team Germany they announced a new new Team Principal (Rolf Beisswanger) in mid-Nov. and a change in driver line-up.
The driver line-up will be André Lotterer and Michael Ammermüller, who brings with him A1GP experience as the winner of Season Three event in Zhuhai, China.
They plan making the A1GP grid at the Taupo, New-Zealand round in January.
Oh yeah, my mistake. I meant Brabham, not Arrows. Not sure why I typed Arrows.
Peter, the real team in trouble in A1GP seems to be Team Canada. They’re trying to find a new seat holder and the muddy situation is a big reason why Morad races for Lebanon instead.
Back to Gachnang, I wish her well this season.