Milla Mäkelä, 25, has been selected from over 100 applicants to qualify for a seat in the W Series with 55 best female racers in the world.
W Series, the all-female championship set to go racing in 2019, has announced a long-list of more than 50 drivers who will compete for a place on the grid of 18 when the season kicks off in May next year. The qualifying drivers were carefully selected from a pool of more than 100 applicants from 30 countries. The series will support the DTM so the races will be driven on great European tracks with cars that comply with the new FIA F3 specification. The drivers will be tested for driving skills, physical fitness, technical expertise and media skills. The 18 most talented women will receive a fully funded seat for the season 2019 where they will be able to compete for an amazing price pot of 1,5 million dollars.
Mäkelä is ready to give her all that this opportunity won’t slip. “It is unbelievably great that I’m in for the next round! To be honest I wasn’t sure if my application would be taken into account when I sent it because I am not that well known in Europe yet. I was a bit surprised but very excited to get the message that I’m in!”
Mäkelä thinks that the principle that every female can race equally no matter what background or financial support you have had before is amazing. In addition to race costs also the travelling is funded by the series so anyone can enter, as long as they have the skills.
“ I have a lot of racing experience as I have been racing for about 20 years now. That for sure is an asset. In addition my technical expertise is better than many male racers, as I am an Automotive Engineer, so setting up the car, or building one, is not a problem.” Mäkelä laughs.
The physical fitness is already improving constantly as Mäkelä is training by playing floorball actively, jogging and at the gym. One part that needs more training is the simulator testing.
“I guess I am like Räikkönen in the sense that I never particularly enjoyed driving any simulator. In the qualifying that might be quite crucial part though. Luckily a driver collegue Suvi Jyrkiäinen has offered to assist on this area with her X-R’cer simulator.” Mäkelä praises.
The qualifyings will be held in January in Austria, so there’s two months time to prepare. Mäkelä is going to prepare well, for this is an amazing opportunity which needs to be used well.