Susie Wolff development driver for the Williams team

The Williams team announced the arrival of Susie Wolff (née Stoddart) as a development driver. The young woman, who has experience in DTM, will support the team in simulator development and will also handle technical tasks. She expressed her delight at getting closer to the F1 world after six years in DTM with Mercedes: « I would like to thank Sir Frank Williams for giving me this opportunity both on and off the track. I must also thank Mercedes Benz and HWA for supporting me in taking on this new experience with Williams. Formula 1 is the ultimate challenge for any racing driver and it offers me a chance to both apply and improve the skills acquired in DTM, » said Susie Wolff in the statement published on the Williams F1 team’s website.

The Scottish driver hopes to offer a different perspective on F1 thanks to her experience, mainly in the DTM, the German touring car championship: « In return, I would offer my technical insight and experience – which come from another discipline – and help the team secure partners. I also hope to demonstrate that women can play a role at the highest level of motorsport and I should work closely with the team on its social responsibility program in education and road safety. »

Sir Frank Williams, the head of the eponymous team, expressed his delight at the arrival of the young woman within his team: Susie is a talented, professional driver who has found success in one of the most competitive championships in the world. Susie will join Williams as a development driver, and she will assist us with the development of our simulator as well as with other technical challenges.

Susie Wolff will also have the opportunity to drive the FW34 in a few months. Frank Williams also made it clear that she was not chosen because she was the wife of Christian ‘Toto’ Wolff, one of the shareholders of the Grove team: Susie will also conduct some aerodynamic tests with the FW34 as well as a track test in the coming months. Susie will be present at a number of races with us. I would also like to add that, even though Susie is married to Toto Wolff, one of Williams’ executives, her appointment was thoroughly reviewed and approved by the board of directors, with Toto deciding not to participate in the process.

Bernie Ecclestone commented on this arrival and stated that he is eager to see the young woman in F1: «If Susie is as fast in a car as she is beautiful then she will be a huge asset for any team and besides, she is very intelligent. I look forward to having her in Formula 1.»

If you’re not familiar with Susie Wolff, here’s a brief profile. She was born in Scotland on December 6, 1982. She began karting at a young age and raced there for several years before moving to single-seaters in 2001 with her first experience in Formula Renault. She then participated in the British Formula Renault Championship from 2002 to 2004, securing several podiums during those three years.

In 2005, she decided to race in British Formula 3 but due to a hip injury, she ultimately couldn’t participate in the championship. The following year, in 2006, she ventured into DTM, driving a Mercedes. Over six seasons in the German Touring Car Championship, she finished in the points twice, both times in 2010, with two seventh-place finishes.

She will therefore be, starting this year, the development driver for the Williams F1 team, which allows her to take her first step into Formula 1, with the hope of possibly racing in a Grand Prix one day.