Capital racer Rachel Robertson is off to a good start on what is arguably the biggest weekend of her Formula One Academy career.
The 18-year-old, who recently graduated from her Wiltshire College with a degree in Motorsport Engineering, ranked seventh out of 18 at Friday morning’s practice sessions for an event which forms part of the back up to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday.
That provided encouragement ahead of qualifying on Friday tea-time for the two F1 Academy Sprint Races on Saturday (6.05) and Sunday (10am).
Rachel’s dad Colin, who has accompanied his daughter to Silverstone, says: “It is fair to say this will be Rachel’s biggest race weekend given it is a home grand prix and the attention that goes with it (for a British driver in any category).”
Rachel will be looking to pick up her first points for the Hightech Pulse-Eight team backed by Puma and Colin adds: “The pace is certainly there; she just needs a few breaks.”
In Shanghai and Montreal earlier this year technical issues undermined Rachel’s potential but as this morning’s practice showed things can quickly turn in her favour looking beyond Silverstone to concluding races in Zandvoort, Austin and Las Vegas.
Meanwhile Rachel will have to factor in a “replay” of her college graduation ceremony with the original having to be cancelled due to the extreme hear down south.
Explained Colin: “It was felt that shoe horning around 120 people into a limited space with temperatures running so high represented a health risk. So it was decided to cancel that particular event at that time!”
