Maya Weug has won the ‘FIA Girls On Track – Rising Stars’ challenge and has been awarded with a spot in the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Weug, who was born in Spain from Dutch/Belgian parentage, triumphed in the final four of the programme that consisted of Julia Ayoub, Antonella Bassani and Doriane Pin.
The 16-year-old is the first female driver to join the Ferrari Driver Academy and will take part in one of the F4 Championships certified by the FIA in 2021 with backing from the Italian marque.
“I will never forget this day,” Weug said. “I am so happy to be the first female driver to join the Ferrari Driver Academy.
“Winning the final stage of the FIA ‘Girls on Track – Rising Stars’ programme makes me realise that I was right to pursue my dream of becoming a racing driver.
“I will give my all to show the people who believed in me that I deserve to wear the Ferrari Driver Academy uniform and I can’t wait to come to Maranello to start preparing for my first season of single-seater racing.”
Marco Matassa, Head of Ferrari Driver Academy, added: “We are very pleased to welcome Maya to the Ferrari Driver Academy.
“We were impressed with her dedication and preparation, from a physical perspective and also with her approach to competition.
“Despite very limited experience in a single-seater, she had a good turn of speed and demonstrated a mastery of the car that meant she could immediately implement the instructions she was given.
“This attitude, along with the results she produced both on and off the track, as well as her open and determined personality, led us to conclude that Maya is ready to start her adventure with us at the FDA.”
Ferrari has outlined that entries are open for the second ‘Girls on Track – Rising Stars’ challenge, which aims to introduce another female into the academy.
