Susie Wolff drives Williams F1 car

Williams F1 Team Development Driver Susie Wolff put the Williams FW33 through its paces today at a special Williams F1 Partner event at the Silverstone circuit.

Susie completed two 50km runs around Silverstone’s International Circuit, the first on the full wet tyre in damp conditions and the second on the dry tyre. Up to now Susie’s role as Development Driver has seen her work in the team’s simulator, but today was her first chance to get behind the wheel of a Williams F1 car at a track.

Susie joined Williams F1 in April 2012, becoming one of only a handful of women who have managed to breakthrough into Formula One. Alongside her role at Williams F1 Susie also races in DTM where she is now in her seventh season of competition.

Speaking about today’s run, Susie said; ‘’It was incredible to experience a Formula One car for the first time. I’ve done a lot of simulator work since I joined the team but nothing compares to the exhilaration of driving the real thing. The conditions were a little tricky as it was quite damp at the beginning of the run but the track soon dried out. The team also did a fantastic job preparing me for today, giving me all the information I needed so that I was always in control.’’

Susie Wolff also dedicated her first Formula 1 test to injured Marussia test driver Maria de Villota.

"After the publicity surrounding Maria's accident without doubt I felt an extra need to go out there, do a good job and show that her accident was a freak one-off and it doesn't generalise women in motorsport," Wolff said.

"I spoke with Maria after her press conference, when she showed everyone that aside from being a great racing driver she is an exceptional lady.

"The strength and dignity she showed after such an accident, to fight back from nearly dying, was quite phenomenal and I said that to her.

"She said 'it's up to you now to show that we can do it, you're driving for both of us' and today I had her in my thoughts, and had her star on my helmet.

"It was very important for me to go out for both of us today and show everybody that what happened was a freak accident and that actually women can drive F1 cars successfully. She was without a doubt without me."

As for he first test in a Formula One car Wolff added: "I think today was a good first step in the right direction. I hope I have done enough in the first stage to show the team I can be of assistance to do more tests and aerodynamic work.

"I was conscious of the fact if I wanted more opportunities I had to do well, and that was my main point of concentration.

"Williams is the first team to really take note of a fast female driver and give her a chance and I hope it will set the path for more teams realising in the future that women should be taken seriously."