Porsche chooses first woman in years to join Formula E team
Mediabank Formula E
General
- Ludo van Denderen
For the first time in more than seven years, a female driver will drive in Formula E. The Porsche team announced on Tuesday that Gabriela Jilkova will get the chance during the annual winter tests in Valencia at the end of this month. Jilkova is not a familiar name, having driven LMP3 and GT cars during her career.
Florian Modlinger, director of Porsche's Formula E Factory Motorsport, said of the Czech's appointment: "She has already supported us in the simulator, now we’re giving her the chance to show what she can do on the racetrack as well."
Wehrlein stays at Porsche
Porsche also revealed that Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Felix da Costa will once again be Porsche's regular drivers in Formula E this season. The pair will also be active at Valencia, but one of them will skip a session to give Jilkova a chance. The Czech is not the only rookie to appear on the track. All FE teams are required to field a new talent in the car during testing days. For instance, Zane Maloney is likely to step in for Andretti's team. The Barbadian driver is part of the Red Bull Junior Team, but would reportedly leave there after this season.
Alpine talent Victor Martins - as he did earlier during a test in Rome - will take a seat in the Nissan. Yann Ehrlacher, who drives touring cars, will take a seat in the Maserati. Adrien Tambay - the son of late F1 driver Patrick - may try his hand at ABT Cupra.