Female drivers supported by F1 Academy sampled the sweet taste of victory during the opening round of the Champions of the Future karting series in Italy.
The new karting series launched by RGMMC, Champions of the Future Academy (COTFA), hit the Cremona International Circuit in Italy for the first time last weekend.
COTFA just launched its first of six rounds in 2024 with three mixed-gender categories: Mini (from 9 to 12 years old), OK-N Junior (from 12 to 14 years old) and OK-N Senior (from 14 to 18 years old).
In collaboration with F1 Academy, three female drivers in each of the categories have been nominated as part of the all-female series’ Discover Your Drive programme.
F1 Academy-supported driver Luna Fluxa secured wins in qualifying heats 1 and 2, and the final race on the opening day of the OK-N Senior category.
Ella Hakkinen, the 12-year-old daughter of two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen, emerged victorious from the second final in the junior class as she raced through dry and wet conditions to take the lead.
Five female drivers placed in the top ten on Saturday, with Sofia Povazhnaia finishing as the highest-placed female driver.
Three female drivers currently sit in the top ten in the championship standings ahead of the next round on May 10-12 in Valencia, Spain.
Williams Academy driver Sara Matsui had a solid event tailing behind fellow F1 Academy-supported drivers, finishing in the top ten multiple times across the weekend.
The full list of female drivers supported by F1 Academy are Sara Matsui, Victoria Farfus and Angelina Simons Torres, Sofia Povazhnaia, Ella Hakkinen, Vanesa Silkunaite, Amelia Wyszomirska, Katrina Ee Wing Thung, Vera Jurland, and Sujana and Sanjana Dandu.
F1 Academy provided branded karts and suits across the weekend for their supported drivers, in addition to offering an F1 Academy test to the top three female drivers in the Senior category.
Female entries in the Italian round are estimated to be as high as 25% as COTFA’s collaboration with F1 Academy encourages the presence of young girls in motorsport.
COTFA runs an “arrive and drive” system with karting factories Parolin and Kart Republic providing the chassis, while TM Kart and IAME supply the engines.
Vega provides the tyres for the series, while the promoter and motorsport event management company RGMMC brings fuel, tents, trolleys, and workbenches to the paddock.
The series aims to support young drivers to progress through the ranks, allowing them to enter a karting championship without the financial burden.
