
Tatiana Calderon
Formula racing // Colombian
It just takes one (GRRL!) to make all the difference. And hopefully, we’ll get that opportunity at some point in the near future.
Tatiana Calderón is a trailblazing Colombian racing driver who has broken barriers as the first Latin-American woman to drive a Formula 1 car and the first woman to compete in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.
EARLY YEARS
Born on March 10, 1993, in Bogotá, Colombia, to Alberto Calderón Palau and María Clara Noguera Calderón, Tatiana’s passion for racing began at age nine when her older sister Paula introduced her to a rental go-kart track. Growing up in a family that operated a Kia Motors dealership in Bogotá, she was exposed to the automotive world from an early age while balancing her education at Colegio Helvetia, where she learned English and German alongside her native Spanish.
EARLY SUCCESS
Tatiana began her remarkable journey in motorsports at age 9, competing in local karting events in Bogotá. In 2005, she became the first woman to win a Colombian National Karting title in the EasyKart National Championship. Her transition to open-wheel racing came at 17 when she joined the Star Mazda Championship with Juncos Racing. Her talent was immediately evident as she finished 10th in her first season with five top-ten finishes, later becoming the first woman to stand on the podium in Star Mazda Championship history.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2005: Won the EasyKart National Championship in Colombia, becoming the first woman to win a Colombian National Karting title[1].
- 2011: Finished 6th in the Star Mazda Championship with Juncos Racing, including becoming the first woman to stand on the podium in the Star Mazda Championship[1].
- 2012: Participated in the 6 Hours of Bogotá, where her team finished 3rd overall and 2nd in class[1].
- 2014: Became the first woman since 1983 to compete in the F3 Macau GP, finishing 13th[1].
- 2016: Finished 3rd in a GP3 Series race at Red Bull Ring, her highest finish in the series[1].
- 2019: Became the first and only woman to compete in the FIA Formula 2 Series and the only woman to lead a lap during the Baku Feature Race[1].
- 2020: Participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with an all-female crew, finishing 9th overall[4].
- 2022: Debuted in the IndyCar Series with A.J. Foyt Enterprises, driving the No.11 car and accumulating 58 points in her rookie season[1].
REPUTATION
Known for her aggressive and bold overtaking style shaped by competing predominantly against male drivers, Tatiana counts Juan Pablo Montoya and Ayrton Senna among her racing idols. Her versatility across different racing disciplines—from open-wheel to endurance racing—has established her as one of the most successful women in motorsports. The mentorship she received from racing figures like Susie Wolff and Anthony Hamilton has further refined her skills and shaped her reputation as a determined competitor who consistently breaks gender barriers in the sport.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
For 2025, Tatiana is set to return to the IMSA Endurance Cup with Gradient Racing, driving the new Ford Mustang GT3 alongside teammates Joey Hand, Till Bechtolsheimer, and Harry Tincknell in the five rounds of the Michelin Endurance Cup. This partnership reflects her ongoing commitment to endurance racing as she continues to seek success and make history as a pioneering female driver.
References:
A History of Firsts: A Look At Tatiana Calderón’s Trailblazing Career
Old Racing Cars – Tatiana Calderon
Wikipedia – Tatiana Calderón
IndyCar Racer Tatiana Calderon Says F1 Rules Stacked Against Women
Sunday Conversation: Tatiana Calderon On Quest To Prove Her Worth In F1
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