P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A year and a half since her last race, Alice Powell will return to the cockpit by driving for teams’ champion Envision in the Berlin Formula E rookie test. She joins F1 Academy champion Marta Garcia in the test, which marks progress of sorts, but could FE do more to encourage female participation?
After nearly 18 months without being in a contemporary racing car, Alice Powell will make her return to the cockpit with the Envision Racing team for the Formula E rookie test at Berlin Tempelhof later this month. Powell will be accompanied by BMW World Endurance Championship driver Dries Vanthoor at the test, marking Vanthoor’s first single-seater drive in almost a decade. Due to her competitive absence, Powell was not considered for the vacant seats left by Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns for the Berlin races, which clashed with the Spa WEC round. Jaguar reserve driver Joel Eriksson and Formula 2 driver Paul Aron filled those spots. Powell expressed understanding, stating that she is grateful for the test opportunity and emphasized her support for the team’s success. She aims to provide valuable feedback during the test to assist the team, acknowledging that setting fastest laps may not be the primary focus. Powell’s racing career has seen breaks due to limited opportunities and financial challenges, but she remains appreciative of opportunities like the Envision rookie test and continues to focus on her long-term goals.
