Former Protyre Formula Renault Championship racer Laura Tillett has confirmed she will compete in the remainder of the 2013/14 MRF Challenge season after a strong debut in the series in India just over a week ago.
The 22 year old had been on the sidelines for 12 months since the conclusion of her maiden car-racing season in Formula Renault in 2012.
An eleventh hour deal got the Caterham Motorsport ambassador on the grid for the opening MRF Challenge event, which supported the F1 Indian Grand Prix on 26/27 October.
With gearbox issues with her Renault-powered Dallara impacting her pace during practice, qualifying and the first race, the Kent-based racer, who was interviewed live on the Sky Sports F1 channel during the weekend, was able to salvage a strong thirteenth place finish in the second race.
“Racing on the same circuit, on the same weekend, as Formula One in India was the best moment of my racing career,” said Tillett. “I’m very excited to be competing in the MRF championship and to be able to visit the fantastic circuits which are on the calendar.
“I feel very privileged to be able to race in such a great class and I am really grateful to my sponsors for the opportunity. We’re aiming to make good progress.”
Tillett’s next outing in the series will come at the Bahrain International Circuit on 29/30 November, in support of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The series returns to Bahrain on 20/21 December, before the season finale in Chennai, India on 15/16 February 2014.
“I am really looking forward to racing at Bahrain,” she added. “I watched the Bahrain F1 race on TV last year and thought it would be a great place to drive – I never expected I would be driving it a year later! After racing at Buddh [in India] and seeing what a great track that was, I can’t wait to get back on track as soon as possible in Bahrain.”
