The all-electric Vauxhall Corsa-e has helped find the next female racing stars as part of the global Formula Woman competition. More than 700 women got behind the wheel of the Corsa-e at three different racetracks in the UK during the first round of the Formula Woman assessments.
After receiving thousands of applications, nearly 740 drivers took part in dedicated Formula Woman track days at Bedford Autodrome, Knockhill Racing Circuit and Anglesey Circuit, during which they received tuition behind the wheel of the Vauxhall Corsa-e, the all-electric version of the UK’s best-selling car in 2021. The competition, which aims to find the next top female racing driver, was open to women over 17 with a full driving licence and little or no previous racing experience.
During the day, the participants learned the fundamentals of driving on track, including racing lines and racecraft. As well as the on-track driving, each day consisted of a briefing, written and fitness tests as well as media training. Through analysing their performance in the Corsa-e as well as on the other tests, Formula Woman judges were able to pick 50 finalists from the 740 entries who will progress to the next round of assessments.
Graeme Glew, Formula Woman Founder, commented: “The Vauxhall Corsa-e really did prove to be a fabulous choice for the assessments. We were delighted with how it performed throughout, not missing a beat. It was a very easy car to drive and handled very well, it just couldn’t be faulted.”
Jeremy Townsend, Communications Director, Vauxhall, said: “We were delighted to be able to support the Formula Woman competition. It was a great opportunity for the applicants to put the all-electric Corsa-e through its paces and experience its impressive acceleration and agile handling. We’re wishing the finalists all the best for the future.”
The zero-emissions-in-use Corsa-e features a 50kWh battery, allowing it to travel up to 222 miles on a single charge under WLTP testing. Supporting up to 100kW rapid charging, an 80% charge takes just 30 minutes, while a 100kW (136PS) electric motor enables the Corsa-e to accelerate from 0-60mph in 7.6 seconds.
As well as the assessments in the Corsa-e, Formula Woman participants were invited to take part in further track days, simulator sessions and 1:1 driver training to help them prepare for the competition.
Formula Woman is currently preparing the 50 finalists for the next round of assessments on 2nd and 3rd March. From there, 15 drivers will progress to the penultimate stage of the competition on 4th March. The six winners will then be selected on 10th-11th March, when Vauxhall will also be providing two Corsa-e models for the finalists to use for track familiarisation. From the six winners, four drivers will claim the prize of a full season competing in the GT Cup championship, with two reserves.
