Francesca Linossi

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  Francesca Linossi is an accomplished Italian racing driver who made history as the youngest competitor in Italian saloon car racing and has built an impressive career spanning Ferrari Challenge, Italian GT Championships, and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.

  EARLY YEARS

  Born and raised in Brescia, Italy—a city with rich racing heritage—Francesca grew up immersed in motorsport culture through her father, Luciano Linossi, a well-known figure in Italian racing. From age five, she was captivated by Formula 1 on television and absorbed racing knowledge through her father’s career. Unlike most children her age, her first significant childhood request wasn’t for dolls but for a go-kart, which her family promptly provided, revealing her natural inclination toward racing. At 15, she made the unconventional decision to bypass formula racing due to budget constraints, heading straight to touring cars—a choice that reflected both practicality and determination to forge her own path in motorsports.

  EARLY SUCCESS

  Francesca’s racing journey began with immediate impact when she entered the Citroen C1 Cup at just 16 years old, making her the youngest competitor in Italian saloon car racing at that time. By 17, she had already made history as Italy’s youngest driver under 18 to race GT cars with engines above 2000cc, competing in the Ferrari Challenge. This early plunge into high-performance racing revealed her exceptional ability to adapt quickly to powerful vehicles without the traditional progression through formula categories. Rather than viewing her accelerated entry into GT racing as a disadvantage, Linossi turned it into a strength, developing a distinctive driving style characterized by consistency and tactical intelligence. Her NASCAR Whelen Euro Series performances further demonstrated her versatility, where she regularly finished in the Top 10 and achieved the best-ever championship finish for a woman in the Elite 2 standings—a record that still stands.

  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 2007: Began senior racing career in the Citroen C1 Cup as Italy’s youngest saloon car competitor[1].
  • 2019: Crowned Italian GT Pro-Am champion at the Mugello Circuit[2][3][5].
  • 2022: Secured fourth place in Italian GT Endurance GT3 Pro-Am with Antonelli Motorsport, including multiple podiums and a race win with Mercedes-AMG[2][4].
  • 2022: Partnered with Vicky Piria to form an all-female racing crew in Italian GT Championship[4].

  REPUTATION

  In the competitive world of European GT racing, Francesca has earned respect as both a versatile competitor and a groundbreaker for women in motorsports. Known for her adaptability across different racing disciplines—from touring cars to Ferrari Challenge, Porsche Cayman Cup, Lamborghini series, and even NASCAR—she’s regarded as a driver who can extract maximum performance from any vehicle she pilots. Her racing approach combines tactical intelligence with consistent performance, qualities that have made her a valued teammate in endurance racing. Within the Italian motorsport community, she’s recognized as the “queen of Italian GT” following her 2019 championship, having proven her ability to compete against and defeat veterans with decades more experience. What particularly distinguishes Linossi is her practical, no-nonsense attitude toward racing challenges—she’s known for confronting obstacles directly rather than seeking detours, whether those challenges involve technical difficulties, budget constraints, or gender barriers in a male-dominated sport.

  FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

  Looking toward 2025 and beyond, Francesca aims to expand her racing portfolio beyond Italian GT to more international endurance racing events. While specific team arrangements remain unconfirmed publicly, her track record suggests she’ll continue seeking competitive seats in high-profile GT championships, potentially in both all-female and mixed crew configurations. A primary ambition driving her forward is becoming a more prominent ambassador for women in motorsports, using her platform to highlight that persistence and skill—rather than background or connections—are what ultimately define racing success. Francesca is particularly focused on addressing the financial barriers that women face in motorsport, working to create more opportunities and visibility for female racers at all levels. Her ultimate goal remains straightforward but ambitious: to compete at the highest levels of international GT racing while inspiring the next generation of women to pursue careers in motorsport.

  References:

  [1] Sports Interview
  [2] GT Racing Profile
  [3] Italian Motorsport Journal
  [4] Women in Racing Magazine
  [5] European GT Championship Records