She started with a minibike when she was 4 years old. Now, she is 25 and part of the official FIM Enel MotoE World Cup grid. Under the Openbank Aspar Team colors, her talent will be seen on the electric two-wheeled category tracks, sharing breathtaking sceneries together with the MotoGP World Championship.

From Toledo to the world, she was born on August 26, 1996, and recently attended the preseason tests at the Circuito de Jerez, just where she will start a new adventure on MotoE next May. Herrera is and wants to continue being an example for all those girls and women who want to have a career in motorsports.

At the age of 12, she realized that motorcycling was her passion. As years went by, she experienced more speed and powerful motorcycles, while her enthusiasm grew and found out that competition had to be part of her daily life. However, on more than one occasion the road was not easy to carve.

Related Content | MotoE: Title Defense Begins for Jordi Torres in Preseason Testing

“When I put on my helmet, I’m just another driver”, said the Spanish rider throughout her career to break into a male-dominated world, but when it comes to her talent, on-track results speak for themselves. “As the years went by, people start to notice you, putting more pressure.”

Stability on a team, fighting, proving her talent and battling to win races. That is what María Herrera expects from MotoE, and for that, she is getting ready to prove her worth. The last test in Jerez was just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting and action-packed season.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post María Herrera: The Only Woman to Compete in MotoE appeared first on Green Racing News.

In 2020, the firm of electrified, luxury and high-performance cars was unveiled. From that moment on, the brand was known to pursue high goals, and so it was. The beginning of a journey for clean energy came with Fulminea, an incredible model that captivated from the moment it was unveiled.

However, to reach Automobili Estrema, Gianfranco Pizzuto had to carve a path from scratch, like anyone who wants to reach the top. Since 1983, business was part of his life, but it was not until 2007 that he showed the first gesture towards sustainability by becoming the initial European investor and distributor of Fisker Automotive, a luxury plug-in hybrid vehicle.

Related content: Automobili Estrema: Luxury, Sportiness and Prestige at Zero Emissions

Seven years later (2014), that company was sold to Chinese parts manufacturer Wanxiang America, Inc. Since that time and following the Fisker experience, Pizzuto served as a consultant to the automotive sector involving electric mobility projects around the world.

His voice, weight and vote built over the years, becoming increasingly noticed after being openly seen as a speaker and passionate about sustainability. Jaguar took notice, and appointed him in 2018 as an official brand ambassador in Italy following the launch of the Jaguar I-Pace model, a 100% electric vehicle.

Preparation is everything: Five languages under his belt (Italian, Spanish, English, German and French) and a lot of dedication have served Pizzuto, who now, as CEO of Automobili Estrema, hopes to continue contributing to the construction of a sustainable path that will completely change the way we move around the world.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post Gianfranco Pizzuto: Genius and Pioneer of Electric Vehicles appeared first on Green Racing News.

The two teams finished equal on points (155). However, Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson (RXR) took the glory after having more victories than their rival (3-1). However, X44 showed a great competitive level during the five X Prix of the campaign, but a touch of luck was missing at key moments that may have sealed the title in their favor.

Loeb was born on February 26, 1974 in Haguenau, Alsace (France), where he started motor racing at a very young age and, unlike many, decided to opt for rallying instead of single-seaters, something really strange for those who dream of becoming professional drivers. However, his decision was more than right.

His first official rally races came in 1995 at the “Rallye Jeunes” operation. What Loeb didn’t know was that he was being heavily watched by Dominique Heintz and Rémi Mammosser, who took him to be behind the wheel of their team called Ambition Sport Auto.

It didn’t take long for his talent to shine at a regional level, jumping to compete nationally in France, where he won the French Rally in 2000. He also successfully competed at the German and Monte Carlo Rallies, as well as racing alongside one of the biggest names in the category, Spain’s Carlos Sainz.

Related Content: Extreme E Drivers Special: Cristina Gutierrez

The Frenchman progressed further through his career to become one of the best. In 2011, he set the record for the winningest driver in World Rally Championship (WRC) history, when he won his eighth crown out of the nine he currently holds. Notably, all his titles came consecutively, from 2004 to 2012.

Reaching Extreme E

Faced with his impressive talent, Lewis Hamilton and the X44 Team could not turn a blind eye, so Sébastien Loeb arrived with all the prestige behind his name in rally with nine championships in a row, and 79 races won, to form an imposing duo with Spaniard Cristina Gutiérrez.

“Joining the X44 team is an opportunity to continue doing what I love, which is racing, and I’m looking forward to competing on an EV. Cristina is a fantastic driver and I can’t wait to partner with her and see what we can achieve together. I’m really impressed by what Lewis is doing within Formula 1 as well, so to be able to work with him on this is an honor,” said Loeb when he joined the team.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post Sébastien Loeb: Rally History and Prestige Available for X44 and Extreme E appeared first on Green Racing News.

The team opted to give a chance to Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou, while the Italian was excluded from the top category of world motorsport. However, after one obstacle, a new clear path presents itself. DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT saw a great talent in him and immediately started contacts to make him an ABB FIA Formula E driver.

It didn’t take long between saying goodbye to Formula 1 and receiving the FE; in fact, more than one was surprised by the quickness of the confirmation, but when a driver is really good, things like this happen. Now, after a great experience loaded with learning for Antonio Giovinazzi, a new beginning awaits him starting from the 2022 season of the electrified division.

Related content: Antonio Giovinazzi Swaps Combustion for Electricity and Joins Formula E

The journey of Antonio Giovinazzi

Karting was part of his life between 2001 and 2012. There, he managed to claim victories from regional and local championships, and consequently, recognition and third-party gazes were not long in coming. Formula Pilot China was Giovinazzi’s next step in 2012, becoming champion after winning six times.

British Formula 3 followed the next year, being runner-up. The European Formula 3 also appeared on his young but promising career, scoring points in eight out of a possible 30 races.

Other categories such as Formula 3, GP” (now called Formula 2) and endurance championships were also challenges overcome by Antonio Giovinazzi until Formula 1 came along in 2017 as third driver of the Ferrari team. He made his Grand Circus debut for Sauber F1 Team at the first race of the year (Australian Grand Prix) after the accident suffered by Pascal Wehrlein during the Race of Champions.

In 2019, he became official driver for Alfa Romeo and there began the story that practically everyone knows. Several performances to highlight on the most recognized circuits in the world, having as teammate 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen

Now, the journey into Formula E has begun, where Antonio Giovinazzi will have a lot to learn to get in tune, because on his first contact during preseason testing, the Italian said that driving the electric single-seater was not as easy as he expected. “I admit that it is especially complicated under braking, it was difficult for me to get used to this aspect. There is also no downforce, no noise. Everything is different”.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post Antonio Giovinazzi: The New Face in Formula E appeared first on Green Racing News.

Blume was born in Braunschweig, Germany. After graduating from high school, he studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Technology, and graduated from an international training program at Audi in 1994.

At the age of 28, he was a body and paint planner at Audi. Three years later, he took over responsibility for Audi A3 bodywork, and then became Executive Production Assistant. He received his doctorate in Vehicle Technology. For five years, Blume was in production planning at SEAT, another five years at the Volkswagen brand.

His Path at Porsche

In 2013, Blume’s journey at Porsche would begin when he was appointed to the executive board, where he was responsible for production and logistics. 

Related content: Susie Wolf: a F1 Icon Leading a Formula E Team

Since October 1, 2015, he has served as CEO of Porsche, a subsidiary of Volkswagen; the company’s Supervisory Board appointed him to this position on September 30, 2015 to replace Matthias Müller, who became CEO of VW Group.

Since his arrival, Blume increased Porsche’s operating profit by 60%. He also successfully completed the development and commercialization strategy for the Taycan, the first electric vehicle in its modern history. And all while maintaining the company’s internal operations despite the ravages of the coronavirus.

In addition, the company has reduced its pollution impact by 75% in the last five years, and is auditing its development, production and supply chain processes to implement its vision of being a zero-emission manufacturer. For Blume, current battery production is insufficiently green, but Porsche Digital’s mindset will help find another way.

Written by I Jhonattan González

The post Oliver Blume: The Great Driving Force Behind Electrification at Porsche appeared first on Green Racing News.

One such case is Susie Wolf, Director of ROKIT Venturi Racing, who has already carved a path within the electric single-seater series, after her time as a driver where she also shone breaking paradigms.

Since he was 8 years old, she already knew that his life would be linked to motorsport, debuting in karting. Between 2001 and 2004, she competed at Formula Renault, getting three podiums, while in 2005 she moved to the British Formula 3. However, her season was interrupted by an ankle injury suffered during the winter.

Related content: Augusto Farfus: Extensive Motorsport Experience to Shine at PURE ETCR

In 2006, Wolf competed at DTM until 2012, where she scored points thanks to two seventh places that made her thirteenth in the final table of the 2010 season, her most outstanding performance.

Formula 1 Experience

In 2014, the Briton became the first woman to participate at a Grand Prix in the last 22 years, after Giovanna Amati who did so in 1992 aboard a Brabham. Wolff was in the first free practice session of the British GP, although she had to stop after 20 minutes due to an oil pressure failure and could only do four laps.

However, 15 days later in Germany, she was able to do 22 laps and finished 15th during the first free practice session. In addition to these two opportunities, she also had another one in the preseason tests in Montmeló.

On November 28, 2014, Wolff received her particular award. Williams appointed her as the team’s test driver for the 2015 season, thus relieving Felipe Nasr, who had vacated his seat after moving to Sauber. 

At the end of 2015, Wolff decided to retire from the track as a driver to focus on inspiring other women to break with patterns and prejudices after becoming the only woman in motorsport’s top category in the last 20 years.

Written by I Jhonattan González

The post Susie Wolf: a F1 Icon Leading a Formula E Team appeared first on Green Racing News.

Born on September 3, 1983, in Curitiba, Brazil, Farfus came to the PURE ETCR with a long track record behind him. He has competed in touring and grand touring cars for the official teams of Alfa Romeo and BMW. 

He won 15 races at the World Touring Car Championship, finishing third in 2006 and 2009, and fourth in 2005 and 2007. He also achieved four victories at the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), emerging as runner-up in 2013.

Where it all Began

His first encounter with motorsport was on minibikes. Then, he competed in karting where he was Paraná’s Cadet Champion, and from 1993 to 1998, he participated in the Paulista Championship. Then in 1999, he successfully made the leap to Europe and North America.

Farfus switched to single-seater racing in 2000, when he entered the Italian Formula Renault and the Eurocup. He was Champion of the latter in 2001, with four victories in ten races. 

The Brazilian moved up to the European Formula 3000 in 2002, ending up ninth, racing for the Draco team. In 2003, he won the tournament by triumphing in four races and finishing on the podium on eight out of nine rounds.

Read also: Emma Gilmour will be McLaren Driver in Extreme E

By 2004, Alfa Romeo, at the European Touring Car Championship, signed Farfus. That year he scored six podiums in 20 races and finished sixth in the championship. The event became the World Touring Car Championship in 2005. The Brazilian continued to race on an official Alfa Romeo 156, placing fourth with a win at the prestigious Macau Grand Prix and four podiums.

In 2007, Farfus made the switch to BMW as an official driver of the World Touring Car Championship. Behind the wheel of one of Schnitzer’s BMW 3 Series, he won three races, finished on the podium in six and ended the year in fourth place. He also won two races in 2008, scored four podiums and finished sixth.

Farfus began racing for the Bavarian brand on the endurance in 2010, participating in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with a BMW Z4. In 2010, he raced the 1000 km of Spa-Francorchamps and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a GT2 class BMW M3, where he finished fourth and sixth in class, respectively.

One of the Fastest

The Brazilian joined the PURE ETCR adventure in 2021, a tournament that started with uncertainty due to the novelty and the strong restrictions because of COVID-19. However, the competition ended in style in France and Farfus was one of the main protagonists.

The Hyundai representative won two TAG Heuer Best Lap Trophies as the fastest racer, praising the work of his team, which made the Veloster N ETCR a formidable opponent throughout the event.

Written by I Jhonattan González

The post Augusto Farfus: Extensive Motorsport Experience to Shine at PURE ETCR appeared first on Green Racing News.

This is the case of Rachel Jacobson, who has burst into the sports world in a big way and currently serves as president of the Drone Racing League (DRL), an innovative series due to the high level of technology used in the vehicles that star in the competition.

Jacobson did not come as a surprise, since she has extensive experience as an Executive in Business Development and the creation of strategic partnerships, a virtue that she has implemented very well in the league, achieving alliances with a large number of sponsors.

Related content: The Drone Racing League Prepares a Big Show in Las Vegas for Final Race

Her journey on the Planet of the Giants

The current president of the Drone Racing League has spent her experience in sports at no less than the NBA, where she learned all aspects of licensing, marketing, account management, event planning, business development and carried out countless roles within such an important company. 

As Head of Business Development for the world’s top tier of basketball, Jacobson secured global partnerships with some of the world’s most prominent companies including PepsiCo, ExxonMobil, Under Armour, Marriott, Harman & Kaiser.

In 2017, she ended her NBA journey to join Landit, the market leader in customized career path technology to increase the success and engagement of women and diverse groups in the workplace. There, she served as Director of Business Development and helped revolutionize women’s professional development with a new approach to career acceleration and management. 

Today, in her new role at the DRL, she joins a small but powerful group of female presidents of professional sports leagues. Like a real-life video game, the Drone Racing League crosses everything Jacobson wants to blend from traditional sports with innovative technology to bring futuristic and immersive competition to tens of millions of passionate fans around the world. 

The Drone Racing League has a large global fan base, broad media distribution and an uninterrupted focus on innovation. Jacobson remains on a massive growth trajectory to continue to raise the profile of women in the sporting world.

Written by I Jhonattan González

The post Rachel Jacobson: Girl Power at the Helm of the Drone Racing League appeared first on Green Racing News.

Ducati history is a journey of more than 90 years, which tells the passion for speed through its origins, the beauty of the motorcycles and the charm of a company that was born in Bologna and carries the spirit of motorsport all over the world. 

Several people have contributed since 1926 to the emblem that is the brand today, and one of them is Domenicali, who in the new millennium has played an important role through the history of the “red Borgo Panigale”, the model of the franchise.

All His Steps

Domenicali was born on November 3, 1965 in Bentivoglio, Bologna province. After graduating from the University of Bologna with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he joined Ducati in 1991.

After a growing career within the company, he was appointed CEO of Ducati Corse in 1999. By 2001, Ducati decided to entrust its racing structure with a study for the construction of a 4-cylinder V-twin engine. A year later, the “Desmosedici” engine project came to fruition, and in August of the same year, the first tests were carried out on the “Ducati Desmosedici”, destined to take part in the MotoGP championship in the 2003 season.

Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss were the riders who mounted the two motorcycles for their debut. During the first season, the Italian bike stunned the world with competitiveness, despite being only in the first competitive campaign. 

Related content: MotoE: Ducati to be the New Supplier of Electric Motor

In 2005, Domenicali assumed the position of Director of Product R&D at Ducati Motor Holding, to be responsible for the technical direction of motorcycle production, as well as product marketing. While remaining CEO of Ducati Corse, he left the day-to-day management to Technical Director, Filippo Preziosi.

When 2007 arrived, the 990 cc MotoGP era came to an end at the World Championship. The displacement drops to 800 and the new Desmosedici GP7 is ridden by veteran Loris Capirossi and the young Australian, Casey Stoner. The latter, on September 23, 2007, led Ducati to win their first MotoGP World Title, breaking the dominance of the Japanese manufacturers.

Following the successes achieved, Domenicali became CEO and Member of the Board of Directors of Ducati Motor Holding in 2009, and in 2013, following the acquisition of the company by the Audi Group, he was appointed CEO of Ducati Motor Holding spa, succeeding Gabriele Del Torchio.

Today, the Ducati CEO has been one of the key players in implementing new technologies with the creation of Physics in Motion: the interactive didactic physics laboratory dedicated entirely to high school students to implement innovations on vehicles.

Domenicali has now taken another big step further by signing a contract with MotoE, the electric motorcycle series, to be the official supplier of the championship from 2023.

Written by I Jhonattan González

The post Claudio Domenicali: The Architect of Ducati’s Electric and Sustainable Change appeared first on Green Racing News.

Behind the scenes was Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the most important automobile organization in France. 

Fillon is at the helm of the highly ambitious Mission H24 project, launched in 2019, when the partnership between Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT), the Formula 1 team’s technical support, and Oreca, a French chassis and engine builder, was introduced to manufacture the prototypes to be used on the Hydrogen class, starting at Le Mans in 2024.

Related content: Doubts persist over McLaren’s entrance in Formula E

The World Endurance Championship also has a new top class this year, called Le Mans Hypercars (LMH) hybrids, where Toyota has already introduced its car for this season; Peugeot announced that will join in 2022, and Ferrari’s triumphant and surprising return, which will be at Le Mans in 2023, after leaving endurance racing for 50 years. 

A History-Making Announcement

For the ACO executive, the addition of hydrogen to Le Mans vehicles represents unprecedented news considering the broad public appeal of the Mission H24.

“With Oreca, a legendary participant in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, a company successfully involved into motorsport, ACO brings together the best of endurance and technology to guarantee maximum performance for the hydrogen category in 2024,” added Fillon.

“This collaboration proves the compelling decisions made by ACO regarding the future of motorsport, and underlines our ambition to have a carbon-free racing for future generations,” he pointed out.

Brilliant and Surprising Profile

One side that few know about Pierre Fillon is that he is an ophthalmologist by degree, but all his life has been linked to the world of motorsport. Since 2012, he has been president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, responsible for organizing the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Fillon is also a racing driver. Having studied at several French driving schools (including Le Mans), he has been participating in the V Series of the French Federation since 2009. 

Read also: Hydrogen Vehicles Impact at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

A motorsport enthusiast in general and cars since childhood, he attended his first 24 Hours of Le Mans back in 1966. Since then, he has not missed a single edition of the great event from the international motorsport calendar. 

He joined the Automobile Club de l’Ouest in 1995 before becoming Director in December 2003, a Steering Committee member in November 2006, and took over as President on May 31, 2012.

Written by I Jhonattan González

The post Pierre Fillon: A enthusiast to bring sustainability to 24 Hours of Le Mans appeared first on Green Racing News.