Zoe Florescu Potolea

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  Romanian-American karting prodigy Zoe Florescu-Potolea is making waves in European motorsport, transitioning from Mini karts to the demanding KZ2 shifter category while balancing her racing ambitions between Italy and Romania.

  EARLY YEARS

  Born on December 23, 2008, in Bucharest, Romania, Zoe holds dual Romanian and American citizenship and splits her time between her birth city and Desenzano del Garda, Italy. Her parents, Madeleine and Radu, along with sister Lara and their pets Marocco (a dog) and May (a cat), provide the family foundation for her racing pursuits. At age eight in 2016, a family friend named Constantin Raileanu from Real Racing Team introduced her to karting at Kartodromo La Conca in Italy through organized karting camps. What started as a casual introduction quickly became serious business when she competed in her first official race in September 2018 at age nine in the Mini category during the Bucharest Karting Masters at AMC Kart—an event she remembers for its “lots of drama, crashes, broken equipment… but I never gave up… I left that weekend wanting to do it again.” To balance her racing commitments with education, Zoe studies at Minerva Virtual Academy for Athletes, an online institution designed specifically for professional sportspeople.

  OTHER INTERESTS

  While racing dominates her schedule, specific details about Zoe’s interests outside motorsport remain private, though her enrollment at an athletes’ academy suggests a professional approach to balancing academic and sporting pursuits.

  EARLY SUCCESS

  Zoe’s racing trajectory accelerated rapidly after that chaotic first race in Bucharest. In May 2019, she competed in her first international event at Pista Azzura in Jesolo, Italy, marking the beginning of a serious karting career. Her first full season came in 2019 with Real Racing Team, and within three years, she had accumulated over 50 race events across various competitions. The breakthrough moment arrived in 2021 when she claimed runner-up honors at the International Karting Masters, followed by podium finishes in the Italian Championship, particularly at her familiar home track of La Conca, where she described the achievement as “a very emotional moment for me.” By 2020, she was competing in prestigious series like the WSK Euro Series and Romanian Karting Masters, typically using Parolin chassis with Vortex or TM Racing engines and Levanto or Vega tires depending on the specific event requirements.

  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 2018: First official race in Mini category at Bucharest Karting Masters
  • 2019: First international race at Pista Azzura, Jesolo, Italy
  • 2020: 13th place overall at Romanian Karting Masters Mini ROK
  • 2021: Runner-up at International Karting Masters
  • 2021: Podium finishes in Italian Championship at La Conca circuit
  • 2023: Winner of Girls On Track Junior program, earning Ferrari Driver Academy support

  INSPIRATIONS

  While specific racing heroes aren’t documented, Zoe’s early inspiration came through family connections, particularly Constantin Raileanu’s role in introducing her to the sport, and the ongoing support from her parents who facilitate her international racing schedule across Romania and Italy.

  REPUTATION

  Despite her youth, Zoe has earned recognition for her mature approach to racing and clear understanding of what it takes to succeed in motorsport. She’s gained attention for her frank assessment that girls in racing must take “no shortcuts, you must race with the best at every stage,” rejecting any notion of gender-based accommodations. The media portrays her as a promising talent with remarkable consistency and motivation, while her association with the FIA Women in Motorsport’s Girls On Track program and subsequent Ferrari Driver Academy support has elevated her profile internationally. Currently racing for Birel Art Racing Team in the challenging KZ2 shifter kart category, she’s viewed as a role model for young female racers aiming to break into motorsport’s upper levels. Her realistic perspective on Formula 1 aspirations—acknowledging that “F1 is a difficult goal, let’s be realistic!”—has further enhanced her reputation as a grounded competitor focused on step-by-step progression rather than unrealistic dreams.

  FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

  With Ferrari Driver Academy support secured through her 2023 Girls On Track Junior victory, Zoe continues racing in the KZ2 category for Birel Art Racing Team while maintaining her residence between Romania and Italy. Her long-term ambitions center on reaching top-level motorsport, though she emphasizes the importance of competing against the best competition at every stage rather than taking shortcuts through her career development.

  References:

  Vroomkart Interview
  Official Website
  Racers Behind The Helmet – Girls On Track
  DriverDB Racing Statistics
  YouTube Interview Shorts