Simona de Silvestro joins Formula E’s newest team
Simona de Silvestro is the latest name to be added to the roster of drivers for Formula E’s first all-female test, set to take place in Valencia on 7th November. The 36-year old of joint Italian and Swiss nationality re-enters Formula E after a varied motorsport career, and holds the distinction of being the only female driver to have scored points in the championship, having finished 2016 with four points.
De Silvestro has had a highly varied career in a wide array of machinery, including a lengthy on-and-off IndyCar career, competing from 2010 to 2013, and returning in 2015, 2021 and 2022. Underpowered machinery and misfortune have occasionally blighted her chances in the States.
The gap in 2014 came about because a seat in Formula 1 came within reach – De Silvestro was to join Sauber as an affiliated driver with the intention to go through a training programme with a view to racing in 2015, but she was let go from the team due to ‘contractual difficulties’. Her relentless determination to compete in top level motorsport was illustrated by the return to the States the following year.
Other career highlights include competing in Australian V8 Supercars, including the Bathurst 1000, while back in Europe she spent time as a Porsche works driver for the 2020 GT Masters.
It’s not just on four wheels that De Silvestro gets her thrills. She will be flying to the Formula E test in Velencia from Latvia where she is currently training to compete in the bobsleigh at 2026 Winter Olympics, having started her career on the ice in 2022 when she was placed fifth in the Swiss championships.
“I’m thrilled to join Kiro Race Co for the Formula E Women’s Test,” said De Silvestro. “It’s a great opportunity to work with a new team and contribute to their development. I’m excited to see what we can achieve together.”
COO of Kiro Race Co., Russell O’Hagan, said: “We are incredibly excited to have Simona join our team. Her vast experience and proven track record make Simona the perfect addition to our driver line-up. We believe that her participation will play an important role in our ongoing preparation for the new season ahead as well as inspiring our fans and the wider motorsport community.”
The first race of the new Formula E season begins in December a month after the all-female test, with Kiro Race Co joining the grid for the first time since its rebrand from ERT, its distinctive bright yellow livery intended to make an impact.
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