Simona De Silvestro, you return as a test driver for the Venturi, and as the Ambassador of title sponsor ABB in the formula E. You can satisfy this commitment, or would you like before three seasons rather a starting place?
The FIG formula E has gained enormously in recent years, the importance of and develops an impressive Alternative to the conventional Motorsport. Therefore, it is a pleasure for me to be after my break part of the series, and the development of new-Generation-2-racing cars help. Of course, I would ride ourselves – especially when on 22. June, a race in Switzerland. But what not is, can still be. Also, I can start in addition to my role as a test driver in other series: I am Currently in the Australian Supercars series active.

Venturi has committed Ex-formula 1 Pilot Felipe Massa as a driver. What can be better than he?
Felipe Massa has a lot of experience and, for me, is a role model. I told him that I already got denied once for a season of formula E. I’m curious to see how a formula 1 driver comes with the realities of the all-electric championship.

Why is in the formula E as well as in formula 1, not a woman at the Start?
at the beginning of my career I was often the only girl on the go-kart track. If only a few girls are among the young talent, it is nothing more than logical that it will create few if any to the top. The competition is huge and the number of series and Cockpits limited.

What do you think of the 2019 planned W Series promotion zurfrauen in Motorsport?
in My opinion this is the wrong approach. I think it would be better to invest the money so that women will be promoted in the existing series. Women must have the opportunity to put your Talent into good Teams with a competitive race car.

World footballer Ada Hegerberg was asked at the Ballon d’or, if she could twerk. Since the motor sport is a macho business: Have you ever experienced such sexism?
no, fortunately not! If I drive at top speed in a curve, no one asks whether I am male or female, then it Can be used alone EMS. I very much hope that my involvement in formula E proves that the gender of the realization of dreams, no limits.

Venturi has with you, the only female test driver with Susie Wolff, the only female team boss in formula E. the Team, the high proportion of women a concern?
Not explicitly. Susie Wolff I knew from her time as a racer. She knew that I wanted to get foot in formula E, was of my Talent, convinced and caught up with me as a test driver to the Team. Now it’s up to me to show that I deserve this Chance.

What are your responsibilities as an Ambassador of the FIG formula E?
Together with my formula-E-colleagues and FIG-Ambassador Sébastien Buemi, I’m all for future-oriented mobility. The series allows us the potential of electric mobility and the groundbreaking technologies of ABB in the areas of digitisation, fast infrastructure charge and to make electric mobility worldwide as a mass-market experience.

How do you estimate the external effect derFormel E?
Alone the fact that the FIA, celebrities, drivers, renowned car manufacturers and big media to participate, shows the potential of the series. The development is progressing rapidly: The cars are this season has become faster and create the entire race distance on a single battery charge – never before has the difference to conventional racing series was so small. The growing interest in sustainable technologies will lead to in the future even more people with the FIG formula E can identify.

Due to the quiet engines is often a lack of emotions. Now let’s be honest: Have you in one of the E-cars have the same emotions as in an Indycar race?
I’ll never forget how I heard the formula E car for the first Time at a race start, as my heart pounded. Usually the noise is in the engine noise. But as soon as it starts, it makes no difference, whether electric or internal-combustion engine: The adrenaline rides on the racetrack.

What can you contribute as a test-driver for the breakthrough of E-mobility on the road?
As a test driver, I test innovations under extreme conditions. In future we will see more and more technologies and components from the E-cars in the conventional electric cars.

To you privately an E-car?
In my time in America I drove actually an electric car. At the moment I’m using a Mazda CX-5 from the car garage of my father. But I can well imagine, again on an electric car. There are a lot of great models, and the offer is getting bigger and bigger.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 17.12.2018, 17:43 PM