Lotus development driver hopes to run in E23 later this season
Friday 10 April 2015 13:53, UK
Carmen Jorda has endorsed Bernie Ecclestone’s suggestion that F1 should create a female series.
A woman last raced in F1 forty years ago with Italy’s Lella Lombardi – one of only two females to participate in a grand prix - making the last of 12 appearances in 1976.
While Williams tester Susie Wolff, who ran in practice at last year’s British and German GPs, has criticised Ecclestone’s controversial proposal, Jorda believes a separate series could serve as a valuable showcase.
“I think he is right, it could be a good idea to have a women’s series,” Jorda told Sky Sports F1. "I’ve been racing since l was 12 and for many years l have seen women try to make it to the top but nobody has done it. So why not give it a a try?”
Although a conspicuous figure in the paddock since her appointment as Lotus’s development driver, former GP3 driver Jorda has yet to run in the E23 this season but is hopeful she will make her F1 debut before the season’s conclusion in November.
"I am doing a lot of work in the simulator at Enstone and here at the track," she said. "There is so much more technology in F1 and everything is bigger, so there is so much to learn. My goal this season is to get into the E23 maybe in a couple of months. We need to be ready – we are planning to do at least 20 days in the simulator before I get in the car."
