Latest news with #GB3
News18
2 days ago
- Automotive
- News18
Formula E's Berlin Rookie Test Witnesses New Batch Of Female Drivers
Last Updated: Formula E aims to see a female driver return to its grid, but Monday's rookie test in Berlin showed progress is needed. Formula E is eager to see a female driver return to its starting grid, but based on lap times from Monday's rookie test in Berlin, that goal still appears to be a work in progress. Four women participated in the test following the weekend's races at Tempelhof. Among them, Abbi Pulling—last year's F1 Academy champion and current GB3 driver—was the highest-placed female, finishing 17th overall with Nissan. British racer Ella Lloyd, who competes in British F4 and the F1 Academy, placed 18th for McLaren. Jamie Chadwick, a three-time W Series champion and current Williams F1 development driver now racing in the European Le Mans Series, finished 19th for Jaguar. Bianca Bustamante of the Philippines, who races in GB3 and has a significant online following with 1.7 million Instagram followers, finished 22nd and last for the Cupra Kiro team. Despite the final positions, the entire grid was covered by just 1.550 seconds—an indication of a tightly packed field. Italian driver Gabriele Mini posted the fastest time for Nissan, outperforming a competitive lineup that included former Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat, Arthur Leclerc (younger brother of Charles Leclerc), and several leading Formula Two competitors. Three women have raced in Formula E since its inception 11 seasons ago: Only de Silvestro managed to score championship points during her time in the series. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Women mix it with men in Berlin Formula E rookie test
Formula E would love to have a woman driver back on the starting grid but, on times alone, the all-electric series' rookie test in Berlin on Monday suggested it remained some way off. Four women took part in the test after weekend races at Tempelhof, but the highest in the overall classification was Abbi Pulling, last year's F1 Academy champion and GB3 competitor, in 17th with the Nissan team. Fellow Briton Ella Lloyd, who competes in British F4 and F1 Academy, was 18th for McLaren and Jamie Chadwick, three-times winner of the now-defunct W Series and a Williams F1 development driver racing in European Le Mans, was 19th for Jaguar. Bianca Bustamante of the Philippines, a GB3 racer with 1.7-million followers on Instagram, was 22nd and last for the Cupra Kiro team, though the entire grid was separated by only 1.550 seconds. Italian Gabriele Mini was overall fastest for Nissan in a field that included former F1 racer Daniil Kvyat, Charles Leclerc's younger brother Arthur and leading Formula Two drivers. Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds told Reuters ahead of the test he was optimistic a woman would make it back onto the grid before too long. "We went from no women testing to 20 women in the official women's test last year and off the back of that we've got four women testing in the rookie test in Berlin," he said. "That's a big jump. We've made progress. In the end the teams will make a choice based on what their objectives are in terms of building a fan base, promoting themselves as a team, bringing on sponsors and partners and being as successful as they can be. "It may not be next year but I would love over the next few years to see women back racing on that grid." Three women have raced in the series, which is in its 11th season -Britain's Katherine Legge twice in 2014, Switzerland's Simona de Silvestro started 12 times in 2015-16 and Michela Cerruti four times in 2014-15. De Silvestro is the only one to have scored points. Unlike Formula E, Formula One has not had a woman start a race since Lella Lombardi in 1976. Pulling, who was top in last year's all-female test, told Reuters recently she saw Formula E as "a viable career path in the future". "I'm going to keep going up the ladder as far as possible and see where things take me," she said. "I don't have the finances to plan massively in advance so it all depends on how I perform this year."
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Formula E rookie test pits women alongside the men in Berlin
Formula One F1 - British Grand Prix - Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain - July 2, 2022 Racing X's Abbi Pulling celebrates with a trophy after finishing third in the W Series race REUTERS/Molly Darlington Formula E would love to have a female driver back on the starting grid but, on times alone, the all-electric series' rookie test in Berlin on Monday suggested that it remained some way off. Four women took part in the test after weekend races at Tempelhof but the highest in the overall classification was Abbi Pulling, last year's F1 Academy champion and current GB3 competitor, in 17th with the Nissan team. Fellow-Briton Ella Lloyd, who competes in British F4 and F1 Academy, was 18th for McLaren and Jamie Chadwick, three-times winner of the now-defunct W Series and a Williams F1 development driver now racing in European Le Mans, was 19th for Jaguar. Bianca Bustamante of the Philippines, a GB3 racer with 1.7 million followers on Instagram, was 22nd and last for the Cupra Kiro team although the entire grid was separated by just 1.550 seconds. Italian Gabriele Mini was overall fastest for Nissan in a field that included former F1 racer Daniil Kvyat, Charles Leclerc's younger brother Arthur and leading Formula Two drivers. Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds told Reuters ahead of the test that he was optimistic a woman would make it back onto the grid before too long. "We went from no women testing really, to 20 women in the official women's test last year and off the back of that we've actually got four women testing in the actual rookie test now in Berlin," he said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3 Singapore Public healthcare institutions to record all Kpod cases, confiscate vapes: MOH, HSA Singapore Man allegedly attacks woman with knife at Kallang Wave Mall, to be charged with attempted murder Singapore Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join Asean Singapore UN aviation and maritime agencies pledge to collaborate to boost safety, tackle challenges Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat "So that's a big jump, we've made progress. "In the end the teams will make a choice based on what their objectives are in terms of building a fan base, promoting themselves as a team, bringing on sponsors and partners and being as successful as they can be. "It may not be next year but I would love over the next couple of years to see women back racing on that grid." Three women have raced in the series, which is now in its 11th season -- Britain's Katherine Legge twice in 2014, Switzerland's Simona de Silvestro started 12 times in 2015-16 and Michela Cerruti four times in 2014-15. De Silvestro is the only one to have scored points. Unlike Formula E, Formula One has not had a woman start a race since Lella Lombardi in 1976. Pulling, who was top in last year's all-female test, told Reuters recently she saw Formula E as "a really viable career path in the future". "For now I'm going to keep going up the ladder as far as possible and see where things take me," she said. "I don't have the finances to plan massively in advance so it all depends on how I perform this year." REUTERS
Tatler Asia
04-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Tatler Asia
5 go-karting facilities in and around Metro Manila
Ekartraceway, Quezon City Above EKartRaceway's indoor multi-level track (Photo: EKartRaceway) The first and only of its kind in the Philippines, EKartRaceway boasts a multi-level indoor track. Their electric go-karts can reach speeds up to 90 kilometres per hour. However, first-timers will have speed restrictions to abide by their safety protocols. If you're looking to hit that top speed, you'll have to come back with more experience. See also: 7 birdwatching spots within Metro Manila Drift Motor Speedway, Rizal Above Drift Motor Speedway's indoor track (Photo: Drift Motor Speedway) What started as a shop that sells electric vehicles and bicycles eventually grew into an indoor go-kart circuit. The track itself has plenty of sharp turns, requiring steady handling of the karts. If you're a beginner, consider taking on the racing simulator before hitting the lanes. Alternatively, you can opt for one-on-one coaching. Once you have a few wins under your belt, you can join their monthly racing leagues for a shot at glory. City Kart Racing, Pampanga Above The massive racetrack at City Kart Racing, Pampanga (Photo: City Kart Racing Pampanga) A massive racetrack stretching 1.39 kilometres, City Kart Racing is where veteran racers go to compete. Every year since it opened in 2019, the circuit hosts the Sodi World Series and the Rotax Max Asia Challenge—drawing in some of the best go-karters in the region. Madkart, Dagupan Above The racetrack at MadKart, Dagupan (Photo: Madkart) With a 500-metre track designed by local racers, Madkart's circuit features 15 corners that include hairpins, double apex turns, 90-degree corners, and chicanes, among others. Coupled with their high-performance electric go-karts, it's a fitting gateway into the sport while offering enough thrill for experienced drivers. NOW READ Bianca Bustamante's GB3 debut marks a turning point—for her future in motorsport, and for women in it Fiesta Filipinas: a guide to the summer festivals in the country The ultimate guide to Metro Manila: 12 cities and where to go
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
More grit than glitz in female motorsport's answer to Drive to Survive
Netflix's fly-on-the-wall documentary Formula 1: Drive to Survive has been such a success that sports have fallen over themselves to try to cash in on the back of it. The latest to allow cameras on the grid is F1: The Academy. The stage is almost the same, even if the story is not. The F1 Academy, under managing director Susie Wolff, has been established to nurture young female talent, and the series is produced by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine. Unlike F1, it is not a career in itself. Drivers must be aged between 16 and 25 and are only allowed to race for two seasons, with just the winner awarded a fully-funded seat in GB3 – the next rung in the ladder before the heights of F2, or even F1. The differences between F1 Academy and Formula One are stark. There are no Monaco penthouses and only one clip of drivers cruising to a track in a luxury vehicle. It might be the pinnacle of female motorsport, but there is a long way to go for the drivers to have more than just a taste of the riches on offer. Instead, drivers live with their managers and only a few have the luxury of an entourage. The documentary will leave even those few who believe the sport is open to all convinced of the barriers. Abbi Pulling, the British driver, cannot afford to have her father fly out and watch while merchandise shoots are a necessity – as she bluntly explains, it helps her pay rent. Wolff says she wants F1 Academy to be a 'movement not a moment', but for those in their final season of the competition there is the constant uncertainty of what the future holds. Pulling's story is one of sacrifice, from her father working seven days a week to fund her karting career to an honest reflection that if she does not win in her final F1 Academy year – and therefore misses out on the GB3 place – that might be the end of her racing journey. Pulling, who does go on to win and is now competing in GB3, says: 'I'm a woman in a man's world trying to prove herself. That's why Mulan is my favourite movie.' It is a harsh reality that contrasts sharply with the glitz and glamour that comes with racing in F1 teams' liveries, on the same weekends and at the same track as the flagship races. As Wolff states plainly: 'If you can't cut it in F1 Academy, there's not going to be much of a career in motorsport left for you.' In F1, even drivers who do not make the cut after a year or two are still compensated heavily, but reaching F1 Academy does not pay the bills. Bianca Bustamante, a driver from the Philippines, boasts more than three million followers on social media, and more on Instagram than F1 driver Liam Lawson. She is mobbed at races, with endless requests for selfies, especially when in Singapore, and her McLaren aide worries how her social media posts and marketing affect her racing – her season is one of pitfalls. In a later episode Mercedes's Toto Wolff, in one of a handful of brief appearances by F1 team principals, says: 'This is not an influencer racing series. Only the best ones must survive.' In the seven-part series, only five stories are really explored – Bustamante, Pulling, Mercedes driver Doriane Pin, sisters Hamda and Amna Al Qubaisi from Dubai, and American rally driver turned track racer Lia Block. Those tuning in expecting another version of the abrasive rivalries between drivers and team principles that are the cornerstone of Drive to Survive will find themselves disappointed. The first episode, titled Not here to make friends, is little more than words as the drivers throw each other birthday parties and take group excursions into the desert. On track there is some frustration, but usually by drivers at their own mistakes, and of course there are a few tears as well. Susie Wolff closes off the season by saying: 'I've driven a Formula One car, and fast. I know it's possible and I want to see a young woman on that grid.' Yet the question remains: is it possible?
