Carmen Jorda

Carmen Jordá Buades is a Spanish motorsports driver who became the 11th woman to hold a development driver role with a Formula 1 team when she signed with Lotus in 2015, though her career both on and off the track has sparked as much debate as it has headlines.

EARLY YEARS

Born May 28, 1988, in Alcoy, Spain, Carmen grew up with racing fuel in her veins. Her father, José Miguel Jordá, was a former motor racing driver who introduced her to the track at an early age. By age 10, she was behind the wheel of her first go-kart, and by 16, she’d earned a spot racing for BMW in karting. It was the kind of childhood that turned most kids into gearheads—but for Carmen, it was just the beginning of a long, complicated relationship with motorsport.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the cockpit, Carmen has carved out a surprisingly diverse portfolio. She served as an ambassador for *Fast & Furious 9* in 2021 and later caught Hollywood’s attention again when Tom Cruise hired her as a consultant in 2024, even taking her up in his helicopter to show off his piloting skills[1][2]. In 2025, she published a children’s book, *On Track to Win: The Carmen Jorda Story*, aimed at inspiring young girls to chase their dreams despite obstacles[3]. She’s also worked with De Tomaso as a brand ambassador and has been vocal about promoting opportunities for women in motorsport through initiatives like the FIA’s Girls on Track program[4]. Oh, and she trains twice a day—two hours in the morning, two in the afternoon—because apparently, staying camera-ready and track-ready requires that level of commitment[5].

EARLY SUCCESS

Carmen’s junior career had its moments, though “success” is a relative term here. She started in karting before moving to Master Junior Formula as a teenager, finishing seventh in the 2005 championship[6]. In 2007, she competed in the Spanish Formula 3 Championship, finishing fourth in the Copa F300 standings and scoring three podium finishes[7]. She continued in the 2009 European F3 Open Championship, where she grabbed two more podiums[8]. In 2010, she made the jump to America’s Firestone Indy Lights series—her best finish came at Long Beach, though she failed to crack the top ten for the season and retired after just one lap at Barber Motorsports Park[9]. She also dabbled in sports car racing, including the 2009 Le Mans Series, though results were slim[10]. It wasn’t a trophy case to write home about, but it was enough to keep her in the conversation.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2007: Fourth place in Spanish Formula 3 Copa F300 standings with three podium finishes[7].
• 2009: Two podium finishes in the European F3 Open Championship[8].
• 2015: Signed as development driver for Lotus F1 Team, becoming the 11th woman to hold a driving role with an F1 team[11].
• 2016: Competed in the Renault Sport Trophy Endurance series[12].
• 2018-19: Served as test driver for Nissan e.dams in Formula E, though she never raced[13].
• 2025: Published children’s book *On Track to Win: The Carmen Jorda Story*[3].
• 2025: Appointed head of Alpine F1 Academy, leading female driver mentorship initiatives[14].

INSPIRATIONS

Carmen has cited Williams F1 driver Susie Wolff as an inspiration, though she’s been clear about wanting to carve her own path in the sport rather than simply follow in anyone’s footsteps[15]. Her father’s influence loomed large in her early years, fostering her passion for racing from childhood[16]. Beyond individual drivers, she’s expressed admiration for the broader push to create opportunities for women in motorsport, even if her methods of championing that cause have been… let’s say, polarizing.

REPUTATION

Here’s where things get spicy. Carmen’s reputation is a study in contradictions. On one hand, she’s been praised by Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who defended her abilities and said she “has done a good job”[17]. On the other hand, her appointment to the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission in 2018 sparked a firestorm of criticism from female racers, including IndyCar driver Pippa Mann, who publicly questioned the choice given Carmen’s limited competitive record[18]. The controversy only deepened when Carmen endorsed the idea of an all-female Formula 1 championship, suggesting that women should compete separately from men—a stance that earned her swift backlash from drivers who believed it undermined efforts for gender equality in the sport[19][20]. Critics pointed to her modest racing CV and alleged that she was 12 seconds slower than fellow Lotus junior Marco Sorensen in the team’s F1 simulator, though she rejected those claims[21]. Despite the noise, Bernie Ecclestone and others have defended her, and she’s continued to land high-profile roles, including her recent return to Alpine. Love her or loathe her, Carmen Jordá knows how to stay in the headlines.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Carmen’s 2025 comeback to Formula 1 circles came with her appointment as head of Alpine’s F1 Academy program, where she’ll lead female driver mentorship initiatives and support the team’s F1 Academy entry launching in 2026[14]. She’s also taken on a role as a Qatar Airways ambassador, aligning with Alpine’s partnership with the airline[22]. Her focus appears to have shifted from competing behind the wheel to championing the next generation of female racers—whether the paddock is ready for that or not. She’s also continuing her work in media and entertainment, with ongoing collaborations in Hollywood and beyond[1][2]. If nothing else, Carmen Jordá knows how to keep her options open.

REFERENCES

Tom Cruise hires Spanish F1 driver Carmen Jordá as consultant
Tom Cruise shows off his piloting skills on helicopter ride with F1 driver Carmen Jordá
Former Lotus Driver Turns Her Story Into A Children’s Book
De Tomaso Welcomes Carmen Jorda
Dreaming of F1 – Carmen Jorda Q&A
2005 Master Junior Formula Championship
Carmen Jordá – Wikipedia
I Don’t Support the FIA’s Appointment of Carmen Jordá
2010 Long Beach – Firestone Indy Lights Series
Q8 Oils Hache Team Profile
Life in the fast lane for Carmen
Carmen Jordá – Driver Database
Why Carmen Jorda is making shock return to F1 in new Alpine role
Carmen Jorda makes shock F1 return with new Alpine role
Carmen Jorda’s Inspiring Children’s Book Launches in SoHo
Racing queen – Bangalore Mirror
Ecclestone defends Carmen Jorda’s F1 ambitions
Female racers ‘disheartened’ by Jorda FIA Commission appointment
Carmen Jorda: All-female series ‘the right answer’ for F1
Stop Letting Carmen Jorda Speak For All Women
Formula 1’s Latest Rumours, Talk: Manor’s Pascal Wehrlein, Carmen Jorda and More
Audi and QIA deepen F1 ties as Visit Qatar joins as principal partner