The 2018 Formula 1 French Grand Prix saw history in the making when representative of Saudi Arabian Motorsport Federation Aseel Al-Hamad got to drive the Renault car at Paul Ricard.
She became the first female from Saudi Arabia to drive a F1 car to celebrate the country’s removal of age-long ban on women drivers. Al-Hamad is already a part of the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission.
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“I believe today is not just celebrating the new era of women starting to drive, it’s also the birth of women in motorsport in Saudi Arabia,” she told Reuters. “The most important thing I am looking forward to is to start seeing the next generation, young girls, trying [racing].
“I want to watch them training and taking the sport very seriously as a career. This is going to be really my biggest achievement. It was [a] perfect [run]. Everything was smooth, I felt I belong in the seat.
“I loved the fact that there was an audience around…today is magical. I never even imagined it in my dreams. So the opportunity was amazing. That day I thought it was the only lifetime experience. And they invited me again.
“It’s a great honor for me to share with them the celebration and passion for Renault. I believe the beauty of this story is that everything is possible. Even if you dream the impossible you can still achieve it,” she added.
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Al-Hamad had a familiarisation day on June 5 with Kimi Raikkonen’s Renault’s E20 machinery. Renault’s President Jerome Stoll added: “Renault has always embraced pioneers and demonstrated a pioneering spirit.
“Equally Renault has a long-held passion for motorsport and loves to share it through every type of competition with as many people as possible. We’re pleased to see Aseel’s passion for racing and her enthusiasm for demonstrating the accessibility of motorsport to more people around the world.”
President of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission Michele Mouton commented: “The FIA Women in Motorsport Commission is dedicated to promoting opportunities across all forms of motor sport activities, but also to promoting equality between male and female counterparts in the wider automotive industry and on the roads.
“To do so, we work extremely closely with all national sporting federations to improve access to our sport. In the time Aseel has been a member of the Commission, Saudi Arabia’s vision has been very clear and things have developed at a rapid rate.
“Now, as one of the driving forces behind the Saudi Arabian Motorsport Federation, Aseel will pave the way for women to embrace sports and careers in motor sport. Thank you to Renault for putting together such an innovative opportunity that showcases so many of our principles.”
There is an increase in motor racing activities in Saudi Arabia especially under the new King – the country hosted the Race of Champions last year and is scheduled to stage the 2018/19 season opener of the FIA Formula E Championship in Riyadh.
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