Even the Abu Dhabi Auto Racing League
Marta García, the first female Formula 1 Academy champion, will make her Formula E test debut with the ERT team in the rookie test in Berlin next month, ensuring a female driver will take part in one of the annual sessions for the first time in three years.
Garcia will join touring car star Mikel Azcona in the running for the British-based Chinese team. The 23-year-old will also be at the Monaco E-Prix this weekend to immerse herself in the all-electric world championship.
Garcia will undergo simulator sessions at the team's Silverstone base ahead of the Berlin test, where she will drive either Dan Ticktum's car or Sergio Sette Camara's car during the six hours of testing available during the season.
Speaking exclusively to The Race, Garcia said the ERT was “another opportunity, another type of racing that I had always wanted to try”.
“The growth in the championship has been tremendous, so I'm happy to try out the car, test it, work with the team and try to learn more things about the championship, how everything works, and gain the knowledge to do it. Best of all,” Garcia said.
Garcia, who was previously a driver for the Renault F1 team, won the first season of the new women's Formula 1 series and earned a step into the 2024 European Regional Formula Alpine Championship, where she will drive for the Iron Dams team alongside the Mercedes protégé and winner. From the first race of the 2024 F1 Academy season Doriane Pin.
Garcia's attendance in Monaco this weekend will include getting a proper seat and spending time with the ERT team, including learning from the race drivers.
Garcia confirmed: “I will be among the drivers’ interrogations after every session and I am just trying to understand being with the engineers, trying to understand how the car works, just to prepare for the tests that we have in Berlin.”
“For me, there are no high expectations [in Berlin].
“I'm racing in the Regional Formula this year and there may be some future plans as well.
“The test is a good opportunity for me to drive the car, understand it and see how it works.”
Garcia will be ready from FRECA's 2024 season opener at Hockenheim, which finishes on May 12, in time for the test on May 13.
She expressed acceptance of the idea of racing in Formula E in the future, saying: “If there is an opportunity for me to race in Formula E, think about it, why not?
“It might be good for me to be able to drive Formula E in the next few years and race there, because it's a competitive championship and I think it will be good.
“First, let's see how the car is, let's get to know everything, and then if it happens it will happen.”
The former W Series competitor could join Garcia
There could be two women in the 22-driver test drive entry list in Berlin, with Envision Racing test and development driver Alice Powell – who raced against Garcia in the W Series – now eligible to drive in the test after the listing list was recently changed .
Envision is believed to be close to confirming its drivers for the test, which will take place on May 13.
Drivers are eligible to participate if they have not raced on an official Formula E race weekend.
Others already confirmed for the Tempelhof test include Formula 2 drivers Jack Crawford (Andretti) and Dennis Hauger (Porsche), who will partner 2023 DTM champion Thomas Preuning.
Maserati MSG is understood to be in talks with Aston Martin Formula 1 team reserve Felipe Drugovich for its third test after appearances in Berlin and Rome last season.
