Oban’s Susie Wolff is hoping the evolution of her Formula One career will see her go on to compete in a grand prix.
As part of her expanded development driver role with Williams, Wolff will this season become the first woman in 22 years to take part in an F1 event.
The plan is for Wolff to run at Silverstone and Hockenheim – two tracks the 31-year-old Scot knows well – in the first practice sessions ahead of the British and German grands prix in July. Not since Giovanna Amati, who failed to qualify for Brabham in the 1992 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, has a woman competed in F1.
Beyond that, Wolff hopes she will get the opportunity to go head-to-head with the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in a race.
She said: “The plan just now is to drive in practice for the British Grand Prix and the German Grand Prix.
“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.
“So for me, it’s two great races to be a part of.
“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.”
It has been 38 years since a woman last did so, with Italian Lella Lombardi finishing 12th for Brabham in the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix.
The only other woman to compete was another Italian, Maria Teresa di Filippis, who drove a Maserati in three races in 1958.
Wolff added: “I’ve been made aware of the history of it, but more importantly for me is that we’ve done it in a chronological way.
“I joined two years ago as a development driver, did all the tests and this is now the next natural step in my progression in the team.
“For me, it’s more important to be doing a good job and contributing to the team and to be given the chance – not because of the history but because of merit and the job I do for the team.”
Since being signed up by Williams, Wolff has played an integral part in the development of the Grove-based marque’s last three cars.
That includes the FW36 that will take to the track in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix in less than three weeks’ time.