Mercedes has officially welcomed French driver Doriane Pin to their Junior Programme for the 2024 season, and she is set to represent them in the F1 Academy with the backing of Prema Racing. Pin, a notable talent in endurance racing, gained recognition through her involvement in the Iron Dames project, dedicated to advancing women in motorsport.
Expressing her excitement about joining the Mercedes Junior Programme and participating in the F1 Academy with Prema Racing, Pin emphasized the significance of this step in her career. The Parisian driver highlighted her pride in joining such a prestigious team and acknowledged the honor of racing for the Iron Dames project.
Pin’s journey in motorsport includes winning the 2019 French Championship and securing support from the Iron Dames after transitioning from karting. In 2022, she achieved remarkable success by becoming the Ferrari Challenge Europe champion, winning nine out of 14 races. Additionally, Pin triumphed at the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa and secured a historic win at the European Le Mans Series season-finale in the GTE-AM class.
Her accomplishments in endurance racing led to a move into the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2023, competing in the LMP2 category. Pin, alongside Mirko Bortolotti and former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, claimed a podium at the season-opening race and earned the title of the first woman to win the ‘Revelation of the Year’ Award.
Pin concluded the year by venturing into single-seaters, participating in the Formula 4 South East Asia Championship. She finished second overall and secured a race win, showcasing her versatility as a driver.
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, expressed enthusiasm about Pin’s inclusion in the F1 Academy, highlighting her consistent impressive performance. Gwen Lagrue, Driver Development Advisor for Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, echoed the excitement, noting Pin’s promising talent and encouraging results in both endurance racing and single-seaters.
The F1 Academy, featuring all 10 F1 teams, aims to provide increased opportunities for female talents in motorsport. Pin, at 20 years old, is set to race under the Silver Arrows livery, symbolizing her affiliation with Mercedes in this exciting venture. The F1 Academy season kicks off at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah in March.
Leave a Reply