The newly named Formula E team Amlin Aguri, once Super Aguri, have announced their first of two drivers. Katherine Legge will drive for the Japanese team, and takes the total count of drivers announced up to eleven.
Legge, importantly, becomes the first female driver to join the series. While the series promotes sustainability, electric power and the push for new technology, the series now looks to push equality and increased female participation in motorsport.
“I’m delighted to welcome Katherine to the FIA Formula E Championship,” said Formula E CEO, Alejandro Agag. “It’s fantastic to have our first female driver too and we very much hope she is the first of many to join the championship.”
Legge is not only breaking the mould in Formula E, but back in 20o5, she broke down the barriers in Formula One to become the first woman to drive a F1 car since Minardi‘s Sarah Fisher in 2002.
The 34 year old began her racing career in single seater junior categories, before making her break in 2005 when she placed third in the Toyota Atlantic Championship. She took victory that year at Long Beach, a circuit that will make it’s Formula E debut this year.
Following on from third, Legge has taken part in DTM and IndyCar, before moving into the American Le Mans series. Now Legge joins the inaugural season of the Formula E series, an opportunity she describes as exciting.
“For me this is a really exciting opportunity,” said the female driver. “The car is fantastic, it looks amazing and it will be very quick. Racing through the streets of the world’s leading cities will be an incredible experience and I think it’s a great chance to bring racing to the people. We will be driving in their cities on their streets.”
The series has now announced over half of its drivers, with nine left to be announced as the teams move to Donington Park ahead of next week’s testing.
