Wolff gets expanded Williams role 28 Jan 2013
Williams have confirmed that Susie Wolff will continue in her role as the team’s development driver during the 2013 season. The 30-year-old British racer will have an increased programme in the team’s simulator and a greater amount of in-car testing, beginning with the first straight-line test run of Williams' 2013 machine, the FW35, at Idiada in Spain next month.
‘’Susie has proved herself to be a valuable addition to our driver roster and her feedback during simulator sessions is second to none,” said Mike Coughlan, Williams’ technical director. “As a result we will be stepping up her role this year and I’m looking forward to the progress we can make with Susie’s input in conjunction with that of Pastor (Maldonado) and Valtteri (Bottas).’’
Wolff, whose husband Toto recently left Williams to become head of Mercedes’ motorsport activities, joined the Grove-based team in April 2012 after seven years in the DTM, Germany’s popular touring car series.
"I really enjoy my time working with Williams and feel very much at home here," she commented. "Last year was a valuable experience and I certainly feel that I’ve developed a lot as a driver. Increasing my role this year will further this progression and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the FW35 for the first time next month. I’m showing that women can play a role at the top level of motorsport and would like to thank Sir Frank Williams and the whole of the technical team for the trust they continue to show in me.’’
Williams will launch the new Renault-powered FW35, which Wolff helped to develop, at the start of next month’s second pre-season test, at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. However, the team will be running their 2013 race livery - and key development parts for the new car - on last year’s FW34 at the opening Spanish test in Jerez from February 5.
For details of other 2013 car launches, click here.
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