GB4 Vice-Champion Alisha Palmowski has revealed that she learned the circuit for the hastily-rearranged FIA Formula E women’s test via computer game Assetto Corsa.
The young British driver, who is partaking in the test with Envision Racing, has had to frantically learn the Circuito de Jarama Madrid after the test was moved to the former Formula 1 venue from Valencia after the devastating floods in the region prevented the original plan to go ahead.
But Palmowski, who, like all the drivers taking part, had simulator time with her respective team, but unlike some, has had the opportunity to gain some knowledge of the layout via her home sim, but told Motorsport Week she recognised the difficulties her and her fellow drivers are going through.
“It is a bit challenging, but then again everybody’s in the same boat, and just a big well done to Formula E for even managing to reschedule it, because I know myself and I know a lot of people didn’t even expect it to go ahead at all. Just really grateful that we’re here.
“I haven’t done sim time at the actual factory on this track, as most drivers haven’t, but I have got a sim at home that I’m fortunate enough to have downloaded the track, so I have done a few laps, I know which way I’m going.
“Beyond that, not much more, but we’ll be doing a track walk in the morning to try and just get our heads up and try and learn a little bit more. We’re all in the same boat, so we’ll just have to learn as quickly as we can.”
“Can I be totally honest, this is really embarrassing, my dad [downloaded] it, so I’ve got no idea what he did, but I used Assetto Corsa for it.
“I’ve obviously watched onboard videos as well, just of the various different cars, and it looks pretty good up to date. Obviously the last chicane on the start-finish straight wasn’t there that Formula E have added in, so I just have to learn that as quickly as possible, but I’m guessing nobody will have had any practice around that, so we’re all pretty much equal.”
Palmowski ‘didn’t expect’ Envision chance
Palmowski is one of Britain’s bright young motorsport talents. Starting karting in 2015, she made her single-seater debut just this year in GB4, and took three wins and two pole positions.
She admitted she was blindsided by Envision’s interest.
“I think it was a couple of months ago. It was via my management, Infiniti Sports Management – they’ve got good connections with Envision, and via that this opportunity has come around, which I totally didn’t expect.
“I’m really, really excited for the opportunity I can’t wait!”
Whilst there has no been no doubting her capabilities behind the wheel, Palmowski is taking a giant step by driving a Formula E car, but will take small ones in the process to get to grips with the vehicle underneath her, and also revealed that she will be using previous World Champion Sebastien Buemi’s challenger for the day.
“It’s just a huge learning curve for me, a huge learning experience. The car’s a lot, lot quicker, different to anything that I’ve ever experienced before, so I just need to adapt as quickly as possible, slowly build up to it, chip away.
“I’ve got great reference data in terms of I’m alongside Alice Powell, who’s been a development driver for quite a few years now, so she obviously has quite a good idea of what she’s doing.
“I’m going to be driving Sebastian Buemi’s car, so obviously he knows what he’s doing pretty well as well, more than I do! So it’ll be great to compare myself to them, and hopefully just improve throughout the session and gain confidence.”
Single-seater future secured
Palmowski seems a natural racer, given her almost immediate success in GB4, and credits her impressive results down to the level of difficulty many of the UK’s race tracks provide.
“It’s been a big learning curve coming from Ginetta Junior, so quite a big step up. Obviously the UK, so the tracks are very, very challenging, such as Alton Park, Donington Park, there’s not much margin for error, so it’s been a difficult year, but then again to come out as vice-champion, it’s also equally been great, many highs and lows, but I just absolutely love being in a single-seater.”
For some drivers, talent is not a guarantee of continuity, but thankfully for Palmowski, she has been able to secure her future for another, something she revealed to us.
“I’m aware how privileged I am, I know how many young drivers would actually love the chance to be in a single-seater that I am, and I will be staying on the single-seater ladder for next year.
“I can’t go into too much information as to what that will be currently, but it’s looking very exciting and I just want to continue my development and hopefully rise up the single-seater ladder as far as possible, and if that ends up in Formula E, then that’s absolutely exciting.
At Palmowski’s age – 18 – many drivers, both male and female, will come to a point where they either prefer to go down certain routes in motorsport, but she has no qualms about anything that might be on the table.
To be honest, I have a totally open mind. I will be in single-seaters for the next year, but I sort of work on a year-to-year basis.
“Obviously, it’s very much a results-based business. You’ve got to perform, you’ve got to deliver results and also have to have opportunities, so each year I just need to make sure I’m doing the best job that I can do, and with that more doors will open and more opportunities will come.
“So in terms of the long term in the future, I really just have an open mind, don’t have my eyes set on one particular thing, I’m just doing the best job I can and then hopefully I’ll have more opportunities open to me.”
Palmowski is highly-rated by many firmly-established motorsport figures in the UK, including former F1 driver-turned FIA steward Johnny Herbert, and such praise comes as a confidence boost to the Mancunian.
“Just to have support from those people, it’s absolutely incredible. I actually got to know Johnny through one of my sponsors, and Johnny actually came to my final round at Brands Hatch this year at GB4, so absolutely incredible to have people like him.
“It also gives me my self-confidence knowing that these people who have achieved such great things, that they think I’m decent and they rate me quite highly, so that’s absolutely incredible.
“In terms of Formula E, this opportunity for women, it’s an absolutely great opportunity for the exposure. There’s such a varied experience level across the grid, I mean you’ve got drivers like Alice, like Jamie, who have got IndyCar, Formula E experience itself, you’ve got F3 drivers down to Formula 4 drivers, such as myself.
“I know Ella Lloyd, we’re both in our first year of single-seaters, so it’s great for us to benchmark ourselves and compare ourselves to each other, and hopefully perform well and give ourselves more opportunities in the future, and also within that we’re establishing great relationships with the team, so I’m extremely lucky and grateful to Envision for giving me this opportunity to even showcase what I can do, so I really just want to learn the best job possible.”
