Marta Garcia Triumphs as First F1 Academy Champion at Circuit of the Americas
In a landmark victory, 23-year-old Marta Garcia secured the title as the inaugural champion of the all-female F1 Academy series. Her championship win took place at the Circuit of the Americas, showcasing the series' significant steps into the world of Formula 1.
Key Takeaways:
- Marta Garcia, representing team Prema, clinched the F1 Academy championship title during its debut on the F1 support roster.
- Starting 2024, the championship will be deeply integrated into the F1 framework, with all rounds serving as F1 support races and every F1 team sponsoring a driver in this F4 spec series.
- Garcia's formidable performance, culminating in her Austin victory, ensures her ascent in the motorsport hierarchy, potentially transitioning to the Formula Regional European series next season with championship backing.
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Taking pole position during the opening race in Austin, Garcia demonstrated her prowess by maintaining her lead despite a challenging push from Alpine junior, Abi Pulling. The championship's dynamics meant that Garcia only required a top-three finish, making it challenging for contender Lena Buhler to bridge the points gap in the subsequent two races. Garcia's win not only marked her seventh victory of the season but also secured a premier F1 Academy title for her team, Prema.
An elated Garcia, overwhelmed by her achievement, expressed to the media:
“I’m so emotional right now, I was crying in the car. Super happy with the win in the championship, with my team Prema, and all of the hard work we’ve been doing through the season. It’s great, and I’m just really, really out of words.”
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The implications of this championship victory suggest that Garcia, having previously participated in the W Series, is poised for an upward move, potentially to the Formula Regional European series in the subsequent season.
F1 Academy's managing director, Susie Wolff, lauded Garcia's performance, stating:
“She drove a great race, but actually over the season, she’s just been very impressive.
“She’s obviously had more experience than the other drivers, but she’s capitalised on that.
“I’m really excited to see where she goes from here because we’re going to be putting our full support behind her to make sure that she carries on and progresses up the ladder.”
