Small steps for women in motorsport, one giant leap for these talents

by Jacqueline Harmuth

The 2023 season is already in full swing for some racing series like IMSA which served as an exciting kick-off to the motorsport season with the Rolex 24h at Daytona International Speedway in January. Other series like Formula 1 and FIA World Endurance Championship are starting off soon – Time to catch a glimpse of some extraordinary new racing drivers! Keep reading if you want to know why you should keep an eye on these upcoming female talents in 2023:

Sheena Monk: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

Texas-based Gradient Racing Team are currently competing in their first full season of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and have signed Sheena Monk for this mission! The driver from Newtown, Pennsylvania, has competed in the Michelin Pilot Challenge from 2020 until 2022 and has proven her impressive skills with several podium finishes. In 2023, she now made the jump to the elite level of North American sportscar racing where she races in the IMSA GTD class. Sheena was taken by surprise by Gradient´s decision: “My plans for 2023 were rather uncertain, which makes this feel like even more of a whirlwind.” She is racing alongside accomplished British driver Katherine Legge who said that “Sheena is one of the most promising young talents coming into IMSA.“ And her prediction has already come true: Gradient Racing finished P4 in the GTD category, a dream start into the season for the team. Next up is the 12 hours of Sebring in March.

Emely de Heus: Formula 4 UAE Championship

Another driver with lots of potential to keep an eye on is 20-year-old Emely de Heus. The Dutch Driver is currently competing in the 2023 Formula 4 UAE Championship with MP Motorsport. Emely started her racing career in karting and developed her skills throughout the years until she debuted in the F4 Spanish Championship in 2021 where she won the season´s Female Trophy. The following year, she competed in the all-female W Series with Dutch team Sirin Racing. But with the cancellation of the remaining 2022 W Series season due to monetary reasons in October, Emely was not able to show off her full potential. But now, time has come for a fresh start: In her first race in F4 UAE at Dubai Autodrome Circuit in January, she qualified P39 but was able to gain 12 positions during the race, finishing P27. At Kuwait Motor Town last week, she set her best finish in F4 UAE yet with P21. Now there are only two races left: The 2023 season will conclude on February 19th at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Doriane Pin: FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC)

Last but certainly not least is a name you probably have heard before and if not – you will remember her now! Doriane Pin is only 19 years old but already has an astonishing career to look back on. For the 2023 season, the French racing driver has joined PREMA Racing for the FIA WEC where she will be competing in their #63 LMP2 car alongside F1-veteran Daniil Kvyat and Italian Mirko Bortolotti. Doriane has been part of the Iron Dames project since 2021 after finishing as a finalist in the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars competition. PREMA and Iron Lynx joined forces in 2021, hence why in addition to joining PREMA’s FIA WEC programme, Doriane will race for the Iron Dames in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup this season. And she has already proven that she is up to the challenge: In 2022, she competed in the European Le Mans Series and won the Gold Cup class in the  24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Doriane is the reigning Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Champion and was presented with the prestigious Volant d’Or Award by the FFSA. Now she is eagerly awaiting her next challenge in WEC: “I am looking forward to starting the season in Sebring and to reaching our common goals together with the team”, Doriane said. The first race of 2023 in Sebring will be held on March 17th.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-harmuth

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