Susie Wolff greets fans: “It's been an incredible journey with many ups and downs”

With an official post on her Facebook wall, Susie Wolff, current test driver for Williams Martini Racing, wanted to greet all the enthusiasts who have been following her journey in the world of four wheels for seven years now. A general report where the 32-year-old Scotsman thanked all the people who followed her journey from karting to Formula One with passion and dedication.

Wolff leaves the Circus with a couple of free practice sessions and a possibility that never turned into reality. Obviously we are talking about the last Malaysian Grand Prix when, considering Valtteri Bottas' back injury in Australia, Williams decided to focus on Adrian Sutil as third driver. A failure that Stoddart still seems to have not forgotten.

Here is the open letter from the current Williams test driver: “Many things in life come true at the right time. Especially in my world. For me the time has come to hang up my helmet and consider the journey complete. The Race of Champions will be my last race. I started when I was 8 years old on a go-kart track on the west coast of Scotland and it looks like I will have the opportunity to finish by representing my country competing against some of the world's greatest drivers. It has been an incredible journey with many ups and downs. I feel privileged to have transformed my passion into my profession. I was raised by brilliant parents who never once made me think that motor sport was more suited to boys or that I was taking a rather unusual path for a girl."

Parrot - He continued - they instilled in me the belief that I could achieve any goal if I was determined and worked hard. At 13, my dream and goal became Formula 1. I came very close indeed. I tried and fought very hard to get into that grid, but with what happened earlier this year and the environment that exists in F1 now it's not likely to happen. My sixth sense tells me it's time to move. It's time to explore new challenges and enter new environments. As a sporty person it is always difficult to know when to stop, but for me the journey has ended. Looking back at the past, there are key moments that will always remain extraordinary. The final of the go-karting world championship, my first podium in Formula Renault and being one of the finalists in the annual Young Drivers' Grand Prix in the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), but I will always be grateful to my lucky racing stars for my great success with Mercedes Benz in the German Touring Car Championship."

“It was my chance” he added. “I took the opportunity and faced the challenge. And this not only allowed me to spend 7 wonderful years but, even more importantly, it introduced me to a man who believed in my dreams, who pushed me to reach the maximum of my possibilities and who continues to motivate me day in and day out. day. A man who I am now lucky enough to call my husband. My progress in Formula 1 has thus come to represent much more than a racing driver simply trying to reach the pinnacle of the sport. It was also the hope that there might finally be a woman on the starting grid. I rode the wave, built up energy from the support I received and fought hard."

Wolff subsequently expressed her opinion on the possibilities of a woman in the world of Formula One: “There were those who wanted it to happen. And there were those who didn't want it. I can only tell you that I gave it my all. Do I think F1 is ready for a competitive racing driver who can achieve results at the highest level? Yes. Do I think it is doable for a woman? Absolutely yes. Do I think it will happen soon? Unfortunately not. We have two problems, an insufficient number of girls starting go-karting at a young age and an unclear role model. Sometimes you really need to see the result to believe it.
The topics I want to deal with. I want to give back something of what I have received and I want to support the next generation. Together with the MSA (Motor Sports Association) we will launch a new initiative aimed at celebrating women who are successful in motor sport, on and off the track now and we will explain to the next generation the choices available to them in motor sport."

I had the courage to be different, I want to encourage others to do the same. Other than that, I'm excited about the future. As this door now closes, I eagerly await the opening of the next one. Continuing and improving” he concluded.

Roberto Valenti
Twitter: @RobertoVal94