After a three-month hiatus, the all-female racing series resumes with Mercantile Campos Racing fielding their three cars for Nerea Martí, Lola Lovinfosse and Maite Cáceres
The F1 Academy will resume in Austin this weekend for the its seventh and final round of the 2023 season, which takes place in the frame of the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix. Mercantile Campos Racing will be entering their Tatuus machinery for full-season drivers Nerea Martí, Lola Lovinfosse and Maite Cáceres.
After six rounds, which were celebrated in Europe from April to July, Martí sits fourth in the drivers’ standings on 157 points. The Spaniard scored two top-5 finishes in Spielberg during the curtain-raiser event before clinching two second-places at her home round in Valencia. From then onwards, Martí has emerged as a solid points-scorer in the series including two third places at Zandvoort and Monza and her maiden triumph in Le Castellet. Martí will be expecting to fight for top honors at Circuit of the Americas – COTA once again.
Frenchwoman Lovinfosse is 10th in the standings thanks to three podiums throughout the season. Lovinfosse made a brilliant start to the season by taking third place at the Red Bull Ring and made her way back to podium at her home round in Le Castellet. There, she finished third twice just before the summer break. Uruguayan Cáceres has made massive improvements race by race in the series. Cáceres scored her first points at Zandvoort and continued the streak at Monza and Paul Ricard with two 8th-places, her season’s high so far. Both Lovinfosse and Cáceres will be two other drivers to take into consideration in Texas.
The “COTA” circuit has become one of the most beloved new facilities in motorsports. The first sector resembles Silverstone with several fast corners in quick succession. Besides, it also features elevation changes like those at Spa-Francorchamps or Algarve. Last but not least, third sector is sometimes described as a kind of Turn-8 at Istanbul Park due to its multi-apex nature.
Friday will be devoted to two free practice sessions in the morning with both qualifying sessions scheduled at 17:30 and 17:55. On Saturday, Race 1 (12 laps) is set to start at 09:45 and Race 2 (8 laps) is scheduled at 15:30. Race 3 (12 laps) will bring the curtain down on the season at 09:40. Local times.
Adrián Campos (Campos Racing Team Principal): “We are delighted to contest the season finale of the F1 Academy series in Austin. After such a long break, we are very motivated to put a great performance in the United States. The Circuit of the Americas is a new challenge for everyone, but we have prepared this round for weeks and in my opinion we will able to bring some strong results home. We have made great progress this season and our results just prove it with podiums and wins. So, our goal is to finish in the best possible way.”
Nerea Martí (Campos Racing Driver of F1 Academy): “After a long break since Paul Ricard, I’m looking forward to racing again this weekend! We have worked a lot focused on the season finale in Austin. Besides, to be joining the Formula 1 Grand Prix is exciting. It’s a great opportunity and we will give our 100% to be back on top.”
Lola Lovinfosse (Campos Racing Driver of F1 Academy): “Last dance of the season and I’m super excited. I can’t wait to hit the track again. It’s the last one, besides alongside the USA F1 Grand Prix. We have a big chance ahead and I will give everything for the last one. Let’s go!”
Maite Cáceres (Campos Racing Driver of F1 Academy): “It’s time for the season finale in Austin, in which I truly feel at home. I’m amazed to be racing at the same weekend as F1 does. It’s my very first time, so I’m looking forward to putting on track everything learnt this season.”
