Karting

3rd December 20203rd December 2020

Celebrating disabled drivers

In any sport it’s an incredible feat to be able to compete whilst having a physical disability. Motorsport is one of those sports where the differences between a driver without a physical impairment and drivers who do, can be highlighted in some areas but can be completely unnoticeable if you weren’t aware of a driver’s disability beforehand.

To mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we decided to talk about a few drivers who are breaking down barriers in racing for those with disabilities.

Alex Zanardi

Having competed in F1 for many years, Alex was competing in the CART World Series at the Lausitzring in 2001. Exiting the pits 12 laps from the end of the race, he lost grip on cold tyres and slid into oncoming traffic, where he was hit by another car at over 200mph. He survived despite losing nearly 75% of his blood volume, but lost both his legs in the crash.

With the use of hand controls Alex went on to race again in the World Touring Car Championship, Blancpain Sprint Series, Spa 24 Hours, Daytona 24 Hours, and also made a one-off appearance in DTM in 2018 at Misano. However he made a real name for himself by competing in the Paralympics.

Alex won a handcycling gold and a relay silver in the London 2012 Paralympics (both events taking place at Brands Hatch) and another gold and silver in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics, as well as plenty of other accolades in the Para-cycling World Championships.

Unfortunately Alex was involved in a para-cycling road race accident in June of this year, when he lost control of his handbike on a hill and hit an oncoming truck. He suffered severe facial and cranial trauma, and was placed into a medically induced coma.

We all know from the ordeals he’s had to go through that if anyone can overcome this, it’ll be Alex Zanardi. A true hero to disabled people all around the world.

Billy Monger

After great success in karting, Billy Monger was competing at Donington in British F4 in 2017. In race three he collided with a slow moving car and his legs were buried in the wreckage. He was extracted and airlifted to hospital, but unfortunately had to have his legs amputated.

But this didn’t break Billy Whizz’s spirit. With the help of hand controls, Billy returned to single seaters in the 2018 British F3 championship, scoring four podiums and two pole positions to end the season sixth in the standings.

Billy moved up to EuroFormula the following year, where he achieved the seemingly impossible in a wet Pau Grand Prix. Making a clever call to pit for wets on the formation lap, Billy rose through the field to third then held his nerve in the tricky conditions to win after the two leaders collided.

You’ll see Billy as part of Channel 4’s F1 coverage, and he’s expressed interest in joining the new Extreme E off-road electric series for next year. I certainly hope this happens as Monger is one of the most inspiring individuals you could ever know and he deserves to race.

Nathalie McGloin

McGloin is a British racing driver who is also a tetraplegic. She injured her spine in a road traffic accident as a teenager and has been competing in the Porsche Sprint Challenge against able bodied men. She’s the only disabled woman in the whole of the UK to hold a race and rally licence in the UK, and competes with radial hand controls that she pushes forward to brake and backward to accelerate, meaning she steers with one hand at all times!

Not only has she managed many podium finishes in the Porsche championship (including an outright victory at Silverstone in 2018), she’s also the President of the FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission. Definitely deserving of a place on this list.

Robert Kubica

Perhaps the most well known name on this list. He enjoyed huge success as the first Polish driver in F1, including his famous win with BMW Sauber in 2008. However all that changed in the lead up to the 2011 season.

After testing his new Renault F1 car, Robert entered an amateur rally event and collided with a guardrail, resulting in elbow, shoulder and leg fractures and partially severing his right forearm. He thankfully survived, but the injuries put him out of F1 for the foreseeable future.

Robert stuck to the rallying scene on his road to recovery and won the WRC-2 championship in 2013. But in 2017 he returned to F1 machinery with a Renault test, which ultimately led to a fairytale opportunity to return as a full time driver with Williams for 2019.

He scored their only point of the year at Hockenheim but wasn’t kept on for 2020. Nevertheless seeing Kubica back in F1 did feel right, and he has since took up a position as Alfa Romeo’s development driver while also competing in DTM this year, where he took a podium at Zolder.

Nic Hamilton

The first thing you’d think of is that he’s the brother of a certain seven-time F1 world champion. But the younger Hamilton has been making a name for himself for years.

Nic has had cerebal palsy since birth, resulting in physical impairments his whole life. But having initially gotten a taste for competition on video games (long before Esports was in the mainstream), he started competing in the BTCC-supporting Renault Clio Cup and then in European Touring Cars.

2019 however was when he finally got to where I feel he belonged, British Touring Cars. Seeing someone with cerebal palsy in the headline races on a terrestrial TV channel is incredibly uplifting to witness.

Frédéric Sausset

When on holiday in 2012, businessman and motorsport enthusiast Frédéric contracted a life-threatening infection from a scratch on his finger, which resulted in him becoming a quadruple amputee. However he didn’t let this prevent him from fulfilling his lifelong ambition of racing the 24 hours of Le Mans.

OAK Racing converted one of their LMP2 cars so Frédéric could drive it in the 2016 race. He used a special steering wheel which connected to a prosthetic on his right arm, and he had two thigh operated paddles built into his seat insert for the accelerator and brake.

The result was that Sausset and his teammates entered into the grueling round-the-clock race and finished it. A remarkable achievement and one that cannot even be imaginable for someone in his position, but he did it.

Caleb McDuff

Last but not least, Caleb McDuff is a 12-year old kart racer who is profoundly deaf. When he competes in karting, he can’t utilise his implants and so he races in total silence. Which, when you consider how reliant a lot of drivers are on the sound of their vehicle to race, is just incredible to think about.

Not only is Caleb able to compete in karting but he’s actually pretty good. Last year, he won the Super One National Karting Championship’s Honda Cadet category so he’s clearly capable of overcoming his impairments. I would very much hope he’s able to make the step up to cars in the future, whether that be single seaters or tin-tops.

Every single one of these people are so incredibly inspiring and serve as reminders that the human spirit is impenetrable. Whatever the cards you are dealt with in life, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to and we are bound by absolutely nothing. So happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities to you all!

22nd February 2020

Interview with Reece Lycett at Autosport International Show 2020

Warren Nel

When did you get interested in racing?

Reece Lycett

I was about seven or eight, and we were at the park and my dad said to me do you want to go a do some go-karting at Stourbridge Raceway and I remember thinking what’s that? He took me over there, and it was only little electric karts at the time, but I found it great fun. Now I always wanted to go for the quicker karts that were racing down below, that was my dream just to race one of them one day.

Warren

Now you spent eight years karting starting in 2013 with the F6 Championship victory which was really impressive. Was that your first season of racing?

Reece

My first season of actually MSA racing started with F6, which was Honda cadet racing and we won the clubman championship award in the first year and that was as a novice and I was pretty proud of myself, and that was quite an achievement at that age, especially in my first year of racing.

Warren

How old would you have been at point?

Reece

About eleven or twelve, around about that age.

Warren

Then you progressed and did some development with a kart in 2015?

Reece

Yes, we joined a race team called One Motorsport. We started developing the One Kart, I became a factory driver. That went on to win a championship in America in Senior X30. It was quite a well-developed kart, and many hours were put into it. It was frustrating at times because we were trying out new things, different axles and we wanted to be at the front, but to get to the front we needed the right setup and make sure that we nailed the kart and all the different tubes and axles. That in itself took a long time, but we got there in the end and it ended up being quite a good kart. We were finishing top ten pretty much every race, which was pretty incredible considering it was only just under a year old, with twenty entrants most races. That was my first season in mini-max as well.

Warren

That must have been pretty interesting, developing a kart?

Reece

I’d already previously been given a kart to test called a Cobra kart and that via cadet chassis. I had a test in that and that was quick, but I had to feed back information as to what they need to do to improve and what was good about it and this was pretty much the same thing. I had to come back after every session say what was wrong, what needed to be fixed and what I thought was good about it. Other things, aesthetic things, sounds crazy, but what colour would like it painted, what appeals to the people racing around you, and spent the season doing that which was quite good.

Warren

Now you took a step up to the HKRC championship in 2016. What kind of kart were you racing that year and also in 2017?

Reece

In 2016 we joined the Junior X30 championship at Hunts Kart Racing Club, which was predominantly the best place to go for track karting. The grids were up to 50 to 60 people, potentially more on weekends and we went out there. The team I was racing with also raced Radicals and they did track days as well. I had a good experience behind me, they taught me everything I needed to know, it was good experience racing with some of the top people in the world, managing to catch them and overtake them was a lot of fun, and then at the end of the season we were nominated for Junior Sportsman of the Year, which was over every class in the club.

Warren

I see that you had an invitation to an F4 simulation with JHR Developments. They’re quite big in the F4 championship. How did that invitation come about?

Reece

I went away and was looking at some options, and one of my mates was also looking as well. JHR came back and they said they were really interested in me, and asked me to come down for a simulation to find out what I could do. I went down, and they told me what I needed to do, taught me how to be a faster driver, got some coaching by Carter Williams, their driver. At the end of the day, they said that they were really impressed with my driving, and that not a lot of people could jump in the car and drive like you have just done there.

Warren

You then stepped up to these F1000 Formula Jedi type cars which I gather have a motorcycle engine in them.

Reece

Yes, they have Yamaha or Suzuki and they top line at 14,000 revs per minute.

Warren

Right, so going from karting into something that has wings, and with the technical aspect increasing, just tell us how you made that step. How did you find that?

Reece

The step for me was quite difficult. I had to commit to lots of training and testing. Tests meant that I had to travel to Bruntingthorpe, but I didn’t have my licence yet. It was only available one week before the first race, when I was turning sixteen. When I learnt that I was going to F1000, I saw a championship advertised, and I thought that looks like a good championship, looks cheap I can get into it. Looked like a good step up. I spent loads and loads of hours practising on Project Cars, on the simulator everyday making sure that I nailed every lap, learning the car. We tested the car at Bruntingthorpe a couple of times, just getting a feel for the car and got to know the team a bit. Now the F1000 is very different to the go-kart, you turn it in and it’s got no grip, but if you oversteer this car, the back end kicks out and it just goes into the gravel pit, which I unfortunately learnt at Donnington Park.

Warren

Okay, you did a few rounds at the end of 2018, didn’t you, including a podium on your debut, which must have been quite special. Tell us about that race.

Reece

Yes, that was a very nerve-racking race obviously. Came from a test session, which was a weird test day, we’d had a bit of rain and a bit of dry, and we were switching between the two and they were horrible conditions to learn the track in, bearing in mind that I’d never raced at Croft, only gone round in the simulator, and I remember thinking, look don’t put it in the wall. Now, when the race started, I just remember feeling really nervous on the grid. I spun up a little bit, went around the track, and ended up making some brilliant moves. Then had a bit of a fight with Elliot Mitchell on the track, and managed to do him after a couple of sequences of about four corners, that was a very exhilarating time, and then just we were coming round to the final lap, I didn’t realise where I was as there was a safety car and the front two had scampered off. I came around and crossed the line and I remember thinking what’s going on here? I pulled in and saw my dad going third, and I went, what!? It was brilliant! It was an exciting time.

Warren

Let’s take a look at the results from your races. Looks like the same weekend with three races per weekend you took fourth place and then the following year at Croft and Brands Hatch took a couple more fourth places. Then then it looks like you didn’t complete the season, and that must have been frustrating, but just go back to those races where you scored those fourth positions and take us through the build up of those events.

Reece

Well, I’d never raced at Brands Hatch before, only really had the test, and had the mix of the wet and dry again which isn’t ideal for learning a track. On the first day, we had the qualifying in the morning, it was wet and we managed to put it in second, I think only a tenth off first place and that was respectable. First race, unfortunately we couldn’t really go and keep the up with the leaders, as we had old tyres, but we managed to keep a respectable fourth place and we were catching third place.

Warren

Now, how many laps are there in these races?

Reece

The races are fifteen minutes, but obviously it depends which track you go to. If you go to say, Brands Hatch, about twenty laps, whereas if you go to somewhere like Donnington Park, it’s more likely to be fifteen laps.

Warren

Finally, could you tell us why you didn’t complete the season?

Reece

It had been a productive weekend at Cadwell Park once again learning the track as I’d never raced there, and been quick all weekend. I’d qualified second on the grid, we were really proud of ourselves, considering we’ve never been there and the race came. We got done by someone in third place at the start, he was the championship leader, but did keep with them throughout the lap, right on their tail and then just as we came down the straight, I heard a bit of a noise, then lost power and then my engine blew up.

Warren

Ah, what a shame, after so much promise as well. Now can you tell us what’s happening this year?

Reece

We’re not entirely sure this year, we have a couple of ideas, but nothing is really set in stone. Don’t think we’re going back to F1000, but we have a couple of drives. We’re looking at either Formula Ford, but we don’t know a team yet, or one that’s way up in the clouds, maybe Formula Four.

Well, since I spoke to Reece at the show on the final day, there has been an announcement.

ANNOUNCEMENT

I’m really excited to announce that I’ll be racing in the National Formula Ford Pro Championship with Kevin Mills Racing.

I want to thank Kev for the faith he has placed in me by giving me a place in the Team and I can’t wait to repay this with results on track. pic.twitter.com/RX1uunfg9o

— Reece Lycett Racing (@ReeceLycett) February 12, 2020

Thanks to Reece coming and having a chat. The young man certainly has been grabbed with the bug with racing. Take a look at his website and give him a follow – @ReeceLycett on Twitter.

https://www.reecelycettracing.com/

19th August 2019

Meet the 2019 Red Bull Junior Team

While Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon have grabbed the headlines this summer, there’s more to the Red Bull driver programme than just their Formula 1 stable. We take a look at each of their upcoming young talents, from karting all the way to the F1 feeder series’.

Juri Vips

Juri Vips is perhaps the closest Red Bull junior to Formula One right now. The 19-year-old Estonian joined the programme ahead of last year’s Macau Grand Prix, after becoming an F4 champion in 2017 and finishing fourth in the 2018 European F3 series. He is currently driving for Hitech in FIA F3, and is running second with two victories to his name.

Patricio O’Ward

Red Bull’s newest signing is Patricio O’Ward, winner of the 2017 WeatherTech Sportscar and 2018 Indy Lights championships. O’Ward has had a mixed 2019 so far, racing a part-time IndyCar entry with Carlin after losing his initial Harding Steinbrenner Racing drive due to sponsorship issues. With Red Bull backing he has since made appearances in F2 for MP Motorsport and Super Formula with Team Mugen.

Yuki Tsunoda

2018 Japanese F4 champion Yuki Tsunoda joined the Red Bull programme through his links with the Honda Formula Dream Project. Red Bull currently has the 19-year-old racing on the F1 support bill in FIA F3 with Jenzer Motorsport. Tsunoda is also driving for Team Motopark in the Euroformula Open series, where he is running fourth in the standings with one win.

Lucas Auer

24-year-old Austrian Lucas Auer is another one of Red Bull’s new 2019 signings. Auer has flirted with the pinnacle of motorsport already, having challenged for titles in Formula 3 and DTM and tested Force India’s F1 car in 2017. He has joined O’Ward in Super Formula for this year, and took his first podium of the series at Sportsland SUGO.

Liam Lawson

New Zealander Liam Lawson joined Red Bull this year just a few days after his 17th birthday—and after securing the Toyota Racing Series title over Ferrari junior Marcus Armstrong. Lawson has continued to race Armstrong in FIA F3 this year, driving for MP Motorsport. He is also placed third in Euroformula Open with two victories to his name.

Jack Doohan

Son of MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, Jack Doohan has joined fellow Red Bull juniors Lawson and Tsunoda in this year’s Euroformula Open Championship. He is currently seventh in the standings with two second places and six other points finishes. Doohan has also taken multiple victories driving for Hitech in Asian F3 this year.

Dennis Hauger

After a successful Formula 4 debut last year, Red Bull has rewarded 16-year-old Dennis Hauger with a dual programme in Italian F4 and ADAC F4 for 2019. Driving for Van Amersfoort Racing in both series’, the Norwegian driver has taken six wins and seven pole positions altogether this year and is currently second in the Italian standings.

Jonny Edgar

15-year-old British driver Jonny Edgar has stepped up to his first season of racing cars this year, driving for Jenzer Motorsport in the Italian F4 Championship. He is currently 13th in the standings after six points finishes, the best of which so far is a fifth place at the Hungaroring. Like Hauger, he is also entered in the ADAC F4 series.

Harry Thompson

Having only turned 15 earlier this month, Harry Thompson is the youngest current member of the Red Bull Junior Team. After being named FIA Karting Rookie of the Year in 2018, Thompson is continuing his karting career this year in both European and British championships.

27th November 20183rd January 2019

Three Polish finalists of the “The Girls on Track – Karting Challenge” program were selected

Link do polskiej wersji artykułu: https://www.thepitcrewonline.net/2018/11/27/trzy-polskie-finalistki-programu-the-girls-on-track-karting-challenge-zostaly-wylonione/

After a special training program prepared by Gosia Rdest, three Polish finalists of the “The Girls on Track – Karting Challenge” program were selected. The girls will represent Poland in the European final of the challenge in Le Mans.

On Sunday, November 18th, during the Warsaw Motor Show, the names of three finalists of the Polish edition of the “The Girls on Track – Karting Challenge” program were revealed. After the successful, special training program prepared by Gosia Rdest, lasting from September to November, the jury chose: Natalia Lelek from Nosówka near Rzeszów, Joanna Piwowarek from Piaseczno near Warsaw and Michalina Sabaj from Krakow. In March 2019, the girls will go to Le Mans, where they will take part in the European final. As reserve drivers the jury selected Sara Kałuzińska from Gdynia and Kornelia Olkucka from Chotomów near Warsaw. For all of them, the D & D Motorsport karting team host a several-day test in the Italian Lonato as the preparation for the final of the challenge.

The “The Girls on Track” program is a FIA project for girls aged 13-18, aimed at discovering talents and creating an easier access to start their careers in motorsport. The long-term goal is to create a culture that facilitates and appreciates the participation of women in all aspects of motorsport.

The project consists of several stages. National eliminations took place this year in 8 European countries (Poland, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden). Three winners of national elimination from each country will take a part in the European Final in March 2019, and six of the best athletes will take part in the professional Training Camps for FIA Drivers in 2019.

The Polish elimination of the project took place on 26th-27th May in Tychy and on August 11th in Rzeszów. The project gained a lot of interest – a total of over 170 drivers were recorded on a karting slalom specially set up for the elimination of the event.

Additionally, only in Poland, for the winners (14 girls), there were organized training sessions by Gosia Rdest. Under her supervision, Gosia Serbin and other specialists, there were practise seasons held on karting tracks, simulator training, conditioning classes, lectures on communication, presentations, etc.

Gosia Rdest, the author of the training program, sums up: “My goal was to share my knowledge and experience with the girls. I started my adventure with motorsport with karting, so I can fully identify with them. What surprised me the most during the training, it was great satisfaction for me to appear in a new role for me – a person who shares experience with young drivers. It was great to be able to observe/watch the participants’/girls’ progress, their enthusiasm and motivation. Each of them was unique and the selection became to be really tough. I hope to continue the program in the future. ”

The finalist Natalia Lelek is 15 years old and has so far she was karting amateurly, with her family. She wasn’t hiding the joy of choice: “I am very excited, I am very happy that I have been chosen. I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me because I want to present myself at Le Mans as best as I can to proudly represent myself and Poland. I believe this program is a great initiative, and the training what we had with Gosia really gave us a lot. For all of us, also for those girls who are not going further, it was a wonderful time and opportunity for self-development. ”
The next finalist Joanna Piwowarek from Piaseczno near Warsaw is 17 years old and has been karting four times a week for 5 years. Joanna, when she answered the question about the program, said: “Certainly, these were classes with Ms Joanna Janowicz (business advisor of interpersonal communication [editorial note]) during the first meeting, which helped us improve our self-esteem and self-confidence. The program was a great opportunity for me to further develop in the motorsport and an opportunity for others to notice the potential of Polish kart drivers. I am proud that I can represent Poland in the European final in Le Mans. ”

Michalina Sabaj, the last of the winning three, is 16 years old and has been karting for 8 years. She drives with a license in the ROK Cup competitions. Michalina says about the program: “Thanks to the training program, I learned how much work should be done to become a fully fledged driver. Now I know how many factors contribute to the good results on the track and what I need to work on. In addition, I learned to work in a group with other drivers. During the meetings, I gained new experiences and made many new and valuable acquaintances. I enjoyed the meeting in Gdynia the most. During this training I took part in practice on simulators, which was a new experience for me. Also very interesting were classes conducted by Gosia Rdest on social media in motorsport. The whole team of organisers, headed by Ms. Gosia Serbin and Mikołaj Pogonowski, created an atmosphere that gave me security and great joy. All competitors presented a very high level. I am really surprised by the choice. “

27th November 20183rd January 2019

Trzy polskie finalistki programu „The Girls on Track – Karting Challenge” zostały wyłonione

Po specjalnym programie szkoleniowym, przygotowanym przez Gosię Rdest, zostały wyłonione trzy polskie finalistki programu „The Girls on Track – Karting Challenge”. Dziewczyny pojadą reprezentować Polskę w europejskim finale w Le Mans.

W niedzielę 18 listopada podczas Warsaw Motor Show poznaliśmy nazwiska trzech finalistek polskiej edycji programu „The Girls on Track – Karting Challenge”. Po zakończonym sukcesem, specjalnym programie szkoleniowym przygotowanym przez Gosię Rdest, trwającym od września do listopada, jury wybrało: Natalię Lelek z Nosówki k. Rzeszowa, Joannę Piwowarek z Piaseczna pod Warszawą i Michalinę Sabaj z Krakowa. W marcu 2019 dziewczyny pojadą do Le Mans, gdzie wezmą udział w europejskim finale. Jako zawodniczki rezerwowe wyłoniono Sarę Kałuzińską z Gdyni i Kornelię Olkucką z Chotomowa koło Warszawy. Dla całej piątki zespół kartingowy D&D Motorsport ufundował kilkudniowe testy we włoskim Lonato w ramach przygotowań do finału.

Program „The Girls on Track” to projekt FIA skierowany do dziewczyn w wieku 13-18 lat, mający na celu odkrycie talentów oraz stworzenie łatwiejszego dostępu do rozpoczęcia kariery w motorsporcie. Celem długofalowym jest stworzenie kultury, która ułatwia i docenia pełny udział kobiet we wszystkich aspektach motorsportu.

Projekt składa się z kilku etapów. Eliminacje krajowe odbyły się w tym roku w 8 krajach europejskich (Polsce, Belgii, Finlandii, Holandii, Niemczech, Portugalii, Słowacji i Szwecji). Po trzy zwyciężczynie eliminacji z każdego kraju pojadą na Finał Europejski w marcu 2019 roku, a sześć jego najlepszych zawodniczek weźmie udział w profesjonalnych Obozach Szkoleniowych dla Kierowców FIA w 2019 roku.

Polskie eliminacje projektu odbyły się w dniach 26-27 maja w Tychach oraz 11 sierpnia w Rzeszowie. Projekt cieszył się dużym zainteresowaniem – odnotowano w sumie ponad 170 przejazdów na ustawionym specjalnie na potrzeby eliminacji slalomie kartingowym.

Dodatkowo, tylko w naszym kraju, dla wybranych podczas eliminacji 14 dziewcząt, odbył się cykl szkoleń autorstwa Gosi Rdest. Pod okiem jej, Gosi Serbin oraz innych specjalistów odbyły się zajęcia na torach kartingowych, treningi na symulatorze, zajęcia kondycyjne, wykłady z komunikacji, prezentacji, itp.

Gosia Rdest, autorka programu szkoleniowego, podsumowuje: „Moim celem było podzielenie się swoją wiedzą i doświadczeniem z dziewczynami. Sama zaczynałam swoją przygodę z motorsportem od kartingu, mogę się z nimi w pełni utożsamić. Co najbardziej zaskoczyło mnie w trakcie szkoleń, to jak wielką satysfakcję sprawiło mi wystąpienie w nowej dla mnie roli, osoby dzielącej się doświadczeniem z młodszymi zawodniczkami. Wspaniale było móc obserwować progres uczestniczek, ich zapał i motywację. Każda z nich była wyjątkowa, a wybór okazał się bardzo ciężki. Mam nadzieję na kontynuację programu w przyszłości”.

Finalistka Natalia Lelek ma 15 lat i do tej pory jeździła amatorsko, z rodziną. Nie kryła radości z wyboru: „Jestem bardzo rozemocjonowana, bardzo się cieszę, że zostałam wybrana. Wiem, że przede mną sporo pracy, ponieważ chcę zaprezentować się w Le Mans jak najlepiej, godnie reprezentować siebie, a także nasz kraj. Uważam, że ten program jest super inicjatywą, a szkolenia, które miałyśmy z Gosią, naprawdę dużo nam dały. Dla nas wszystkich, również dla tych dziewczyn, które nie jadą dalej, był to cudowny czas i możliwość do samorozwoju.”

Finalistka Joanna Piwowarek z Piaseczna pod Warszawą ma 17 lat i od 5 lat trenuje karting po 4 razy w tygodniu. Joanna odpowiadając na pytanie o program, mówi: „Co w programie szkoleniowym podobało mi się najbardziej? Z pewnością były to zajęcia z Panią Joanną Janowicz (doradca biznesowy w zakresie komunikacji interpersonalnej – przyp.red.) podczas pierwszego zjazdu, które pomogły nam poprawić własną samoocenę i pewność siebie. Program był dla mnie ogromną szansą na dalszy rozwój w motosporcie i okazją, aby inni zauważyli potencjał polskich zawodniczek kartingowych. Jestem dumna z tego, że mogę reprezentować nasz kraj w finale europejskim w Le Mans”.

Michalina Sabaj, ostatnia ze zwycięskiej trójki, ma 16 lat i od 8 lat trenuje karting. Jeździ z licencją w zawodach ROK Cup. O programie mówi: „Dzięki programowi szkoleniowemu dowiedziałam się, jak dużo pracy należy włożyć w to, aby być pełnowartościowym kierowcą. Teraz wiem, ile czynników składa się na dobre wyniki na torze oraz nad czym muszę popracować. Dodatkowo nauczyłam się pracy w grupie z innymi zawodniczkami. Podczas zjazdów zyskałam nowe doświadczenia oraz zawarłam wiele nowych i cennych znajomości. Najbardziej podobał mi się zjazd w Gdyni. Podczas tego szkolenia brałam udział w zajęciach na symulatorach, co było dla mnie nowym doświadczeniem. Bardzo ciekawe były również zajęcia prowadzone przez Gosię Rdest o mediach społecznościowych w motorsporcie. Cały zespół organizatorów, na czele z Panią Gosią Serbin oraz Mikołajem Pogonowskim, tworzył atmosferę która dawała mi bezpieczeństwo i dużą radość. Wszystkie zawodniczki prezentowały bardzo wysoki i wyrównany poziom. Jestem bardzo miłe zaskoczona wyborem”.

25th August 20183rd January 2019

What’s up with the “Girls on Track – Karting Challenge

For all you young fans of racing – here is a “What’s up” with the “Girls on Track-Karting Challenge on and off the race track. After two rounds of in-country elimination the jury chose 14 candidates to further train and compete for three slots on the final race challenge at Le Mans in 2019.

The circuits chosen for the elimination races were set to the specifications set by the FIA. The races had a very technical character as the driving skills of the contestants had to be clearly demonstrated and measured by this same standard. Challenges included sharp turns, high speed sections, slaloms and rapid switch-backs. Negotiation of traffic cones set very close to one another and there were penalties for coming in contact with them.

Gosia Rdest, the Ambassador of the program, was there for the Girls during both elimination in Tychy on May 26-27, 2018 and in Rzeszów on August 12-13, 2019. Gosia, who started her own racing career at the Karting track being just 12 years old, fully understands the adrenaline rush, the unmatched feeling of being #1 on the podium both in Karting and now in speed racing. She has and is racing on race tracks all over the world from Daytona to Dubai. She also knows the feeling of despair of a race gone wrong, regardless of whose or what’s fault. She knows what it feels like when your hard work, training, sacrificing time with family and friends, all of it goes down the drain because of a mistake, bad weather, car failure etc. But she, also knows the most important thing. She knows how to get pass all of this, pick herself up, “get it together” and stand up and race and do her level best to race better than she has ever done before. She now that past mistakes are not to dwell on it, but to learn from them and she knows that the only competitor that we truly race against today is ourselves from the day before. So she was there to cheer and support and show that it is possible if you truly want it and are willing to work hard to get it.

But, Gosia also knows, from her own experience, that the iron will, talent and passion are not enough if the knowledge element is missing from the equation. And this is where the training program come in. All fourteen finalists will participate in a three month follow-up training program prepared by Gosia in cooperation with the Polish Motorsport Association (PZM) and a group of dedicated enthusiasts and pros of the motor sport. Participating in four program blocks, offered during a two-day weekend courses spanning over 3 month period, the Girls will learn “what it means and what it takes to be a successful race driver”. But they will learn more than that. as the curriculum includes: “the technical vocabulary of racing”; “Successful teamwork”; “interpersonal communication skills”; “self-perception; self-assessment, self-imaging and planning for success. There also will be a bloc on the Motorsport related professional opportunities, such as Motorsport journalism, personal managers and trainers of race drivers; dietitians and health advisers, technical support staff and more.

The training starts in September with a visit to the Polish Motor Championship Race in Poznań. Under Gosia’s supervision the Girls will visit the garages and the “PITS” and observe the work of the technical support staff and the training of the race drivers. The cherry on the cake will be a ride on the track with Gosia being seated on the next to the driver seat. So buckle up Girls and get your adrenaline flowing.
“We want to show to the Girls the “entire scene of the Motorsport” demonstrate to them that it comes as a complete set of tasks, skills, talents and activities. Even the best, most talented, race driver would not be able to race and win without the support of the best talents that work tirelessly behind the scene. Racing is a team-effort and there are plenty of opportunities to find a challenging career within the Motorsport not only as a race driver. For an example great communication and personal skills are needed for fundraising. And everyone knows that racing will not be capable to operate without the financial backing of patrons. We are very proud to have Ravenol as one of the sponsors of this training program. The Company has been involved in supporting women in Motorsport for some time now. Ravenol has sponsored me personally for the two last seasons. I am very thankful that Ravenol has agreed to extend our cooperation to include the Girls on Track-Karting Challenge project. I am keeping my fingers crossed for all the Girls. Yes, only three of the finalists will compete at Le Mans, but all of them will acquire portable skills to carry with them wherever their life may lead them and hopefully make long-lasting friendships built upon true and honest competition and teamwork.”

So yeah, that’s it for now. Keep your fingers crossed for the Girls and stay tuned for more info!

25th August 20183rd January 2019

Co słychać w programie „Girls on Track – Karting Challange”?

Dla wszystkich młodych fanów motosportu i nie tylko, przedstawiamy krótkie wiadomości „ z ostatniej chwili” na temat „Girls on Track – Karting Challenge”. Po dwóch rundach krajowych eliminacji, jury wybrało 14 finalistek. Wszystkie będą uczestniczyły w programie szkoleniowym. Trzy najlepsze wezmą udział w europejskim finale w Le Mans w 2019 roku.

Tor kartingowy na potrzeby eliminacji został ustawiony zgodnie z wytycznymi FIA. Miał bardzo techniczny charakter, tak by kandydatki mogły w pełni zaprezentować swoje umiejętności i zostać ocenione według tych samych standardów. Nie zabrakło szybkiej sekcji, nawrotu, zawijki, slalomu. Pachołki były rozstawione bardzo ciasno. Za dotknięcie pachołka naliczany był czas karny .

Gosia Rdest, ambasadorka akcji, była obecna podczas obu rund eliminacji – 26-27 maja w Tychach i 12 sierpnia w Rzeszowie. Gosia, która sama rozpoczynała karierę na torze kartingowym w wieku 12 lat, w pełni rozumie emocje towarzyszące wyścigom – przypływ adrenaliny i z niczym nie mogące się równać uczucie, gdy zawodnik staje na pierwszym stopniu podium. Dawniej w kartingu dziś na torach wyścigowych całego świata, od Daytony po Dubaj Gosia często gości na podium. Ale zna także gorzki smak rozczarowania, gdy wyścig się nie udaje, niezależnie z czyjej winy i gdy cała ciężka praca włożona w treningi, przygotowania idzie na marne – w wyniku czy to błędu czy usterki samochodu. Ale wie także rzecz najważniejszą – jak stawić czoła przeciwnościom, podnieść się po upadku i z podniesioną głową iść dalej ku upragnionemu celowi, silniejsza niż poprzednio. Wie, że błędy nie są po to, by je rozpamiętywać, ale po to, by się na nich uczyć, bo tak naprawdę jedyny przeciwnik, z którym dzisiaj walczymy, to nasze ja z dnia poprzedniego. Z tego powodu, była właściwą osobą, by dopingować i wspierać, by udowadniać, że wszystko jest możliwe, gdy tylko tego chcemy i nie boimy się ciężkiej pracy.

Jednak żelazna wola, talent i pasja to nieraz za mało, jeżeli zabraknie w tym równaniu czynnika wiedzy. I właśnie tutaj odpowiedzią jest program szkoleniowy. 14 finalistek weźmie udział w trzymiesięcznym programie treningowym przygotowanym przez Gosię Rdest we współpracy z Polskim Związkiem Motorowym (PZM) oraz grupą ekspertów. Podczas szkolenia, składającego się z czterech bloków tematycznych, realizowanych w weekendy od września do listopada, dziewczęta dowiedzą się, co to znaczy być kierowcą wyścigowym i co potrzebne jest, by osiągnąć sukces na torze. Nauczą się ponadto wiele więcej. W programie znajdą się takie tematy jak: „techniczne słownictwo wyścigowe”, „efektywna praca zespołowa”, „komunikacja interpersonalna”, „samo-postrzeganie; samoocena i planowanie sukcesu”. Jest również blok poświęcony profesjom związanym z wyścigami, a jest ich naprawdę bardzo dużo – od dziennikarzy sportowych, komentatorów, menadżerów i kierowników zespołów, po trenerów i mechaników.

Program szkoleniowy rozpocznie się we wrześniu podczas rundy Wyścigowych Samochodowych Mistrzostw Polski (WSMP). Pod okiem Gosi Rdest, uczestniczki zwiedzą boksy i tor oraz zyskają szansę, by podglądać pracę mechaników i kierowców w akcji. Wisienką na torcie będzie przejazd z Gosią na prawym fotelu wyścigowego samochodu.

Gosia mówi: „ Chcemy pokazać dziewczynkom zaplecze wyścigów i pokazać, że motorsport to cały zestaw umiejętności, talentów, zajęć i aktywności. Nawet najbardziej utalentowany kierowca nic nie wskóra bez całego zespołu ludzi, którzy pracują na sukces za kulisami. Wyścigi to praca zespołowa i w związku z tym jest mnóstwo możliwości rozwijania kariery w ich obrębie, nie tylko w charakterze kierowcy. Na przykład umiejętności interpersonalne są niezbędne w procesie pozyskiwania funduszy. A jak wszyscy wiedzą, ściganie nie jest możliwe bez finansowego wsparcia sponsorów. Bardzo się cieszę, że jednym z głównych sponsorów naszego programu szkoleniowego dla dziewcząt została firma Ravenol. Ravenol już od jakiegoś czasu jest zaangażowany w promowanie kobiet w motorsporcie. Od dwóch sezonów jest to mój personalny partner. Jestem bardzo szczęśliwa i wdzięczna, że firma zdecydowała się rozszerzyć współpracę na projekt „Girls on Track-Karting Challenge”, który jest wyjątkowo bliski mojemu sercu. Trzymam kciuki za dziewczyny. Tak, tylko trzy z nich pojadą do Le Mans, ale wszystkie zdobędą przydatne umiejętności, które zostaną z nimi, gdziekolwiek je życie poprowadzi i mam nadzieję, że zyskają coś równie ważnego – długotrwałe przyjaźnie, zbudowane na pracy zespołowej i uczciwym współzawodnictwie”.

Trzymajcie kciuki za dziewczyny i bądźcie na bieżąco – będziemy informować o przebiegu programu.

6th July 20183rd January 2019

Dziewczyny na karty – Gosia Rdest

Gosia Rdest – utalentowana Polka jest ambasadorem programu The Girls On Track – Karting Challenge. Gosia także była zaangażowana w tegoroczny Dzień Kobiet zorganizowany przez nas – wywiad można przeczytać tutaj.

Wyścigi, adrenalina, prędkość, wyzwanie, siła, niekończące się treningi, samodyscyplina. Tylko ty i samochód. I maksymalna koncentracja, nieraz przez kilka godzin – serio, czy to wszystko jest dla dziewczyn?
Oczywiście! Jestem pewna, że właśnie taką odpowiedź uzyskalibyście od każdej z blisko setki nastolatek, które wzięły udział w pierwszych eliminacjach do programu the Girls on Track – Karting Challenge, którego mam zaszczyt być Ambasadorką.

Dwudniowe eliminacje miały miejsce w Tychach 26/27 maja, 2018. Przyciągnęły prawie 100 dziewczyn w wieku 13 – 18 lat, które chciały spróbować swoich sił i szczęścia na specjalnie przygotowanym na tę okazję torze kartingowym. Każda z dziewcząt miała trzy przejazdy. Pierwszy testowy, a następnie dwa na czas. To był naprawdę fantastyczny widok móc obserwować dziewczyny rywalizujące z takim zacięciem na naprawdę wysokim poziomie. Każda z nich dała z siebie wszystko, by okazać się najlepszą. Patrząc na nie, nie mogłam powstrzymać się od wspomnień dnia, w którym to mnie Tata zabrał po raz pierwszy na tor kartingowy. Miałam wtedy 12 lat i całkowicie połknęłam bakcyla. Wyścigi do dzisiaj są moją największą pasją i miłością.

Tor był wymagający, by dać jury możliwość właściwej oceny umiejętności, predyspozycji i potencjału zawodniczek. Oglądanie współzawodnictwa dziewczyn było naprawdę ekscytujące. Ostatecznie, jury złożone z członków Polskiego Związku Motorowego (PZM), wybrało 8 finalistek. Musiało być to bardzo trudne zadanie, bo wszystkie dziewczyny dały z siebie wszystko. Kluczowym czynnikiem, decydującym o wyborze, był oczywiście czas przejazdu. Poza tym, brano pod uwagę generalne predyspozycje i wyczucie przestrzenne. Bardzo ważna była także „rozmowa kwalifikacyjna”, przeprowadzana zarówno w języku polskim, jak i angielskim. Celem było wyłonienie kandydatek, które naprawdę chcą się ścigać, wysoce zmotywowanych i zdeterminowanych, by motorsport odegrał w ich przyszłości dużą rolę. Poziom kandydatek był oczywiście zróżnicowany, ale ogólnie rzecz biorąc, określam go jako bardzo satysfakcjonujący. Można było zauważyć kilka dziewcząt, które wyróżniły się znacznie większą motywacją i potencjałem.

Następna runda eliminacji odbędzie się w sierpniu. Ostatecznym etapem programu jest finał, w którym kandydatki z ośmiu krajów europejskich zmierzą się na słynnym torze Le Mans. To niesamowita szansa. Znaleźć się tam wśród najlepszych z najlepszych z ośmiu państw; ścigać się z nimi; potencjalnie stanąć tam na podium – na absolutnie legendarnym Le Mans; i przywieźć do domu trofeum. Czy to samo w sobie nie jest wystarczającą nagrodą? Prawdopodobnie jest.

Ale razem z Polskim Związkiem Motorowym wierzymy, że dziewczyny powinny zyskać dzięki temu programowi jeszcze więcej – możliwość rozwoju i szlifowania umiejętności, zintegrowania się z grupą podobnych sobie entuzjastek, które razem dowiedzą się więcej o świecie motorsportu. Wyścigi są moim życie, a moje życie jest wyścigiem. Doskonale zdaję sobie sprawę, że nie będę mogła się ścigać całe życie. Jak w każdym sporcie – patrząc długoterminowo – czas nie stoi po naszej stronie. Ale w tym momencie, wyścigi to całe moje życie i robię wszystko co w mojej mocy, by utrzymać taki stan przez jak najdłuższy czas.

Zaczęłam moją przygodę z motorsportem właśnie od kartingu. W 2011 roku, zdobyłam tytuł Mistrza Polski w Kartingu. Następnie reprezentowałam kraj w Polskiej Kadrze Narodowej za granicą. Dzisiaj ścigam się na torach wyścigowych na całym świecie, od Dubaju po Daytonę. W tym sezonie walczę o tytuł w Mistrzostwach Europy GT4. Jest to niesamowicie ekscytująca przygoda, okupiona niezliczonymi godzinami treningów, zarówno na torze jak i na siłowni, ciągłymi podróżami i czasami ciągnącymi się w nieskończoność godzinami oczekiwania na lotnisku. Zawsze stawiałam ściganie ponad wszystko inne. I nigdy nie zamieniłabym tego na nic innego.

Gosia Rdest stawiała pierwsze kroki w kartingu, 2009 rok

Czy idealnie odnajduję się na torze? Czy zrozumiałam naturę bestii? Czy umiem ją poskromić? Do pewnego stopnia tak, choć nadal zdarzają się niespodzianki i momenty, w których nerwy napinają się do granic możliwości. Jak to mówią, „na torze wyścigowym nie ma chwili nudy”. To jest właśnie to, co sprawia, że zmysły nieustannie są wyczulone, wciąż jesteś w maksymalnym skupieniu, a umiejętności u szczytu możliwości. Bo gdy siedzisz za kierownicą samochodu, każda setna sekundy ma znaczenie; i możesz wtedy liczyć tylko na siebie.

Czy pamiętam jeszcze jak to było stawiać pierwsze kroki w kartingu? Oczywiście! Tego się nie zapomina. Nadal pamiętam wszystkie pytania, które mnie nurtowały, a jedyną osobą, do której mogłam się z nimi zwrócić był mój Tata. Nieznana mi wtedy terminologia brzmiała tym bardziej magicznie, że podana w obcym języku. Te wszystkie rzeczy, które z czasem stały się naturalnymi odruchami i sprawami oczywistymi, wtedy takie dla mnie nie były. Miałam i nadal mam szczęście spotykać na swojej ścieżce wspaniałe osoby, które są w stanie mną pokierować i zawsze służą pomocą. Mam szansę ścigać się i uczyć od najlepszych. Przede wszystkim, w moim narożniku zawsze stał i stoi mój najwierniejszy kibic i najlepszy przyjaciel – mój Tata, który jest dla mnie największym wsparciem.

Ale czasami pojawiały się momenty samotności i niepewności, zwłaszcza na początku. To właśnie dlatego, we współpracy z PZM i grupą zaprzyjaźnionych ekspertów, opracowaliśmy 6-miesięczny program treningowy dla grupy finalistek. Składa się z sześciu dwudniowych warsztatów, podczas których dziewczęta nie tylko będą miały okazję poprawić praktyczne umiejętności za kierownicą, ale także poznają specjalistyczne słownictwo w języku angielskim i popracują nad komunikacją interpersonalną, by jak najlepiej móc komunikować się z zespołem i innymi zawodnikami. Przewidziano blok tematyczny o życiu po ściganiu, czyli o profesjach dla tych dziewcząt, które chciałyby związać swoje życie zawodowe z motorsportem, czy to jako dziennikarki sportowe, trenerki, specjalistki do spraw komunikacji w zespołach wyścigowych i nie tylko. Finalistki dowiedzą się o budowaniu relacji w zespole i jak pracować nad swoją motywacją i samodyscypliną. Najbardziej pragniemy, by uczestniczki nie tylko stały się najlepszymi kierowcami, ale przede wszystkim najlepszymi ludźmi.

Bardzo się cieszę, że PZM objął patronat nad akcją; że Rafał Sonik również został ambasadorem projektu, a rzesza innych znanych osób ze świata motorsportu i nie tylko, zaangażowała się we wsparcie i nagłośnienie akcji. Całym sercem wierzę, że jest to wspaniała okazja, by pokazać dziewczynom niezwykły świat motorpsortu i możliwości, jakie przed nimi stoją, by w tym świecie aktywnie uczestniczyć, jeśli nie jako kierowcy, to jako specjalistki w innym dziedzinach. I oczywiście będę trzymać mocno kciuki za naszą polską reprezentację podczas finału w Le Mans!

Więcej informacji: www.girlsontrack.pl

6th July 20183rd January 2019

Girls on Track – The Karting Challenge – Gosia Rdest

Gosia Rdest – the talented driver is ambassador of The Girls On Track – Karting Challenge. Gosia also was involved in our International Woman’s day – read our interview with her.

Polish version: thepitcrewonline.net/2018/07/06/dziewczyny-na-karty-gosia-rdest/

Racing, adrenaline, speed, endurance, challenge, power, endless trainings, self-discipline. Only you and the car. And full focus for sometimes several hours? Truly, is all that for girls?
But of course! This would be, I am sure, the answer that you would hear from any of the almost hundred teenage girls whom participated in the first round of elimination for the Girls on Track- Karting challenge program, for which I have the honor to be the Ambassador.

The two day elimination was held in Tychy on May 26/27,2018. It attracted almost 100 teenage girls wanting to try their skills and luck on the specially constructed karting track for the occasion karting track. There were three challenge sessions. First, the test session and then two more for the best time score. It was spectacular to see the girls go and how fierce the competition was. Each of them truly did her level best to win. Looking at them, I could not help, but to think back to the day when my Dad took me karting for the first time. I was 12 at the time and I got hooked on racing. And it is still my greatest passion.

The track was demanding to give the jury the opportunity to truly asses the abilities, skills and the potential of the contenders. It was exciting to watch the girls compete. The jury made up of members of the Polish Motorsport Association (PZM), they selected 8 finalists. It must have been tough because all the girls tried so hard. The key factor was the time of the ride. Considered also were general disposition, spatial orientation and the overall potential of the contenders. There was also one-on-one interview that was carried in both Polish and English which gave the PZM a better understanding of the drivers. The goal was to assess the self-motivation, dedication and determination to make the Motorsport a big part of their future. The level of performance was different, of course, but overall it was quite high. Several contenders demonstrated a significantly higher level of motivation, predispositions and the passion to win?

The next round of the elimination will be held in August. The final goal of the program is for the girls to compete with their counterparts from eight other countries in the European Finals of the program at the famous Le Mans Race Track. This will be an incredible opportunity. To be there with the best of the best from eight other countries; to race with them and to potentially stand on the podium there – at the famous Le Mans; and to bring home the trophy. Would this not be grand? Would it not be enough? Perhaps, yes.

But together with the Polish Motorsport Association (PZM), we believe that there should be something more for the girls in this program that will help them polish and develop their skills, to bond with the group to learn more and to understand more about racing and motorsport. Racing is my life and my life is racing. I know, of course, that I will not be able to race for the rest of my life. As with any sport ? when taking the long-term view ? time is not on our side. But for now, racing is my life and I will do my level best to keep it that way for long time.

I started my car racing adventure with Karting. In 2011, I won the Polish Championship Competition. Later I represented Poland as a member of the Poland?s National Team. Today, I race on race tracks all over the world from Dubai to Daytona. This season I am racing in the GT4 European Championship. It has been, and it is an exciting journey, an adventure that was paid for by putting racing before and above other things; endless hours in training, both on the track and in the gym, countless airplane trips and, what sometimes seem as endless, times spent waiting at the airports. I would not give it up for anything in the world.

Gosia Rdest took the first steps in karting, 2009

Do I know my way around the track now? Do I understand the nature of the beast? Have I tamed it? To some extent, yes, although there still are surprises and nerve wracking moments. As they say there is never a dull moment at the racetrack. But, all in all, this is a part of the wonder, it keeps you focused and on your toes. It keeps your skills sharp and your attention where it needs to be. Because, when you are at it, there behind the wheel, every particle of every minute and every second matters; and you are all that you have to depend on.

Do I still remember, what first steps in Karting was like? But, of course. It is something that you never forget. I still remember all the questions that I wanted to ask and the only person I could turn to ask them was my Dad. The magic terminology that I did not know and then the same terminology even more magic because in a foreign language. The things that were there, and still are, to learn, internalize and make it a part of your natural reflexes and responses. The entire you, as the race driver, that you must develop and keep working on improving it day after day, minute after a minute, a race after a race. I was and am lucky, I met some wonderful people who helped and guided me, had raced with the best and had the opportunity to learn from them, and most of all there always was and is my Dad, my best fan and best friend who is the backbone of my support.

But is does get lonely and scary, especially at the beginning. Therefore, together with PZM and a group of expert-friends, we put a 6-month training program for the selected finalists. The program consists of six two-days hands-on training sessions – during which the girls would not only have opportunities to improve their practical driving skills, but also acquire the critical technical English vocabulary and interpersonal communication skills to communicate with the support teams and to be able to converse freely with their counterparts. There will be a workshop on life after racing, and the professional opportunities for those who would like to make Motorsport their professional life. Just like Motorsport journalism, becoming a personal trainer, or becoming a specialist within the media and Motorsport branding campaigns and many more. They will also learn about team building, developing their personal and interpersonal skills and how to sustain self-motivation and self-discipline. We truly want the girls, not only to be best as race drivers, we want to help them be the best, at what is most important, to be best at being people.

I am very happy PZM has the overall patronage over the program. That Rafa? Sonic has also accepted the ambassador function for this program and that many other well-known persons from the Motorsport, moto-journalism and other professional domains are involved in promoting this program. I believe, with all my heart, that this is a wonderful occasion to truly show the girls what Motorsport is and how many opportunities are in it even for those who do not decide to make racing their life but would love to stay professionally involved with the Motorsport. And of course, I will keep my fingers crossed for our Polish team to be the best, at Le Mans Race Track.