Susie Wolff
WoMo racing // Oban, Scotland
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Susie Wolff, Scottish motorsport figure, renowned as a professional racing driver, team manager, and advocate for women in motorsport.
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I never realized I was doing anything unusual. My parents supported me exactly the same as my brother and my mum never made me believe I was doing something different as a girl.
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FULL BIO: Susie Wolff
Susie Wolff is a pioneering figure in motorsports who made history in 2014 as the first woman in 22 years to participate in a Formula 1 race weekend and currently serves as the Managing Director of the F1 Academy.
EARLY YEARS
Born Suzanne Stoddart on December 6, 1982, in Oban, Scotland, Susie grew up in a family deeply connected to motorsports. Her parents, John and Sally Stoddart, owned a motorcycle dealership, and her father was an avid motorcycle racer himself. This environment naturally instilled in her a love for speed and racing from an early age. At just eight years old, she began her journey in motorsports with karting, often accompanying her parents to different race tracks where she first experienced racing in a fun kart.
EARLY SUCCESS
Wolff’s talent became evident early in her career as she excelled in karting championships throughout Scotland and England. By age 14, she had secured top positions at both European and international levels. In 1996, she was named the British Woman Kart Racing Driver of the Year, a title she would retain for four consecutive years. The following year, she won the 24-hour Middle East Kart Championship and claimed victories in both the Scottish Junior Intercontinental “A” and Scottish Open Junior Intercontinental “A” categories. Her transition to single-seater racing began in 2001 with the Formula Renault Winter Series, where she continued to demonstrate her potential as a competitive driver.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 1996: Named British Woman Kart Racing Driver of the Year.
- 1997: Won the 24-Hour Middle East Kart Championship.
- 2003: Finished ninth overall in Formula Renault UK Championship and secured her maiden podium finish.
- 2006: Debuted in DTM, finishing in the top ten.
- 2010: Finished seventh in DTM, ahead of brand colleagues Ralf Schumacher and David Coulthard.
- 2012: Signed as a development driver for the Williams F1 Team.
- 2014: Became the first woman in 22 years to participate in a Formula One race weekend at the British Grand Prix.
- 2014: Drove in free practice at the German Grand Prix, finishing 15th out of 22 cars.
- 2015: Promoted to official test driver for Williams F1 Team.
REPUTATION
Wolff is widely respected as a trailblazer for women in motorsports, known for her determination and groundbreaking achievements in a male-dominated industry. Her historic participation in F1 race weekends demonstrated her capability as a driver at the highest level of the sport. After retiring from active racing, she has built a reputation as a powerful advocate for gender diversity in motorsports through her “Dare To Be Different” initiative, which later merged with the FIA’s Girls on Track program. Her contributions have been recognized with an MBE and an honorary fellowship at the University of Edinburgh. As team principal for Venturi Racing in Formula E, she led the team to its most successful season, further cementing her legacy as both a competitor and leader.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
As Managing Director of the F1 Academy, Susie aims to develop and prepare young female drivers for higher levels of competition in 2025 and beyond. The upcoming 2025 F1 Academy calendar will feature seven international rounds, including new venues at Shanghai International Circuit, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada, and Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Her long-term vision is to create more opportunities for women in motorsport, with the F1 Academy serving as what she describes as “the rocket fuel for progression.” Through continued collaboration between her initiatives and FIA programs, she intends to inspire the next generation of women in motorsport and create clearer pathways to the highest levels of racing.
References:
Electric Scotland: Susie Wolff
GP Blog: Who is Susie Wolff
GPFans: Susie Wolff
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