Recently crowned F1 Academy champion Marta Garcia will transition into the Formula Regional European Championship with the Prema team next year.
Last weekend, Garcia was crowned the inaugural title winner of the all-female series, featuring on the support bill at an F1 weekend for the first time, at the United States Grand Prix.
Garcia clinched seven race victories en route to comfortably winning the title on Saturday at the Circuit of the Americas.
The series, which runs Formula 4 machinery, was set up at the end of last year to help develop and prepare young female drivers to progress through the racing ranks.
F1 Academy’s maiden campaign currently consists of five teams with substantial experience in Formula 2 and 3, including the Prema team Garcia has been representing.
Prema, who won the FRECA title with Mercedes prospect Andrea Kimi Antonelli this season, will field Garcia through a collaboration with F1 Academy, FRECA chassis manufacturer Tatuus and tyre supplier Pirelli to “provide a financial contribution towards the cost of the seat”.
FRECA will also grant teams the option to deploy a fourth car providing they sign a driver who finished in the top three in the previous season of F1 Academy.
Furthermore, F1 Academy has reduced the entry fee that a driver must contribute towards a seat from the previous figure of €150,000 down to €100,000 for 2024.
“Coming from F1 Academy, it’s going to be a big step,” Garcia said. “We know we will have to work a lot with the team to succeed but I’m really determined to do well. I can’t thank F1 Academy enough. It is such a fantastic initiative, and it is the right way to do it, trying to take drivers with the best results to the top level.”
F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff added: “F1 Academy is all about progression and creating more opportunities for young women across motorsport, so to offer a fully funded seat in FRECA for our inaugural champion is a significant moment.
“The fact that [Garcia] will also continue to race with PREMA, whom she has built a relationship with and are current team champions in this category, will also aid in her future development.”
It has already been revealed that the 2024 F1 Academy will comprise seven rounds accompanying F1 grand prix events on each occasion.
Each of the 10 F1 teams will also be mandated to field a driver in the series, featuring their specific livery scheme.
McLaren have already announced that Bianca Bustamante has become the latest addition to its driver development programme, ahead of supporting her in F1 Academy next year.
Its not clear if this is the known part of the Champions prize, or just been announced.
Is it a permanent prize for years ahead?
That’s the problem with female promotion series as well as feeder Formulae.
The rewards must be clear and continuous.