Written by Alejandra Guajardo Lozano, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Women have played an influential role throughout the history of motor racing. Many have taken to the wheels of motorsport machines, while numerous figures have worked tirelessly on the sidelines in various roles, shaping the racing world to the present day. Woman Spotlight Wednesday aims to take a look at the tales of these superwomen, who have surpassed various hurdles to reach where they are today.
Today 's article focuses on the talented Spanish F1 Academy driver, Nerea Marti.
Born in Albalat dels Sorells, close to Valencia, Marti started karting aged nine at her father’s rental kart track, Karting Horta Nord, with a deep passion for motorsports flourishing at that moment.
In 2017, Marti 's dreams came true, as Praga España Motorsport signed her as an official driver to compete in the Fórmula de Campeones. Having only raced for two years, the Spanish driver became the first woman to win the Campeonato de Karting de la Comunidad Valenciana series, in the junior category.
Marti’s ascent up the motorsport ladder continued, and she made her single-seater debut in the 2019 Spanish F4 Championship. She had a dream start, securing a second-place podium at her debut race. She finished the season 16th in the standings.
The Spanish youngster debuted in the inaugural W series season, achieving her first and only podium of the season at the Hungaroring. She finished fourth in the standings as the best rookie of the season, scoring points in all eight rounds. In her second season, she claimed her first-ever pole position at Miami, and finished seventh overall at the end of the season.
Following the winding up of the W Series championship, Marti was announced to race in the inaugural F1 Academy season with Campos Racing. She immediately showed her amazing skills behind the will, having an outstanding maiden season.
Marti secured a pole position and finished second on home soil in Valencia, before following up her Spanish showings with two podiums at Zandvoort and Monza. She became F1 Academy’s eighth different race winner when she claimed victory at Le Castellet, and closed her season with a P2 at Austin, eventually finishing fourth in the standings, behind eventual champion Marta Garcia, Lena Buhler, and Hamda Al-Qubaisi.
The 22-year-old returned to F1 Academy in 2024 with Campos, this time partnering up with iconic clothing brand Tommy Hilfiger. Nerea Marti is truly a driver to look out for, her talent and dedication always making her shine and stand out from the rest.
Speaking on her announcement, Marti said: “I am excited by Tommy Hilfiger’s approach for this season and it's amazing to wear their colours as we push the limits in every race.
“By backing F1 ACADEMY he is standing behind female drivers and helping us break boundaries. Beyond the track, I’m looking forward to activities and events that will help me grow both professionally and personally”.
Marti has also shown excellent pace during the F1 Academy season opener at Jeddah, being on for fourth in the race before an incident with Lola Lovinfosse on the last lap caused her to drop out of the points.
The next day reaped plenty of rewards, and an unlikely piece of silverware, with Marti once again finishing fourth on the road, but promoted to third after race-winner Doriane Pin was penalised for a post-race infringement.
Marti is definitely one to keep an eye on, and the distinctly-painted Tommy Hilfiger car will definitely be in the spotlight during the 2024 F1 Academy season.