Danish racer Alba Hurup-Larsen emerged as the fourth and final winner of the Girls On Track - Rising Stars senior selection, in collaboration with FIA, FDA and Iron Dames.
Danish racer Alba Hurup-Larsen emerged as the fourth and final winner of the FIA Women in Motorsport-supported Girls on Track- Rising Stars selections, in collaboration with Iron Dames and Ferrari Driver Academy.
The 14-year old had been selected from the largest talent pool to date, with 116 applicants from 47 countries being assessed before the finals.
Hurup-Larsen, Mathilda Paatz, Domenika Arellano and Joanna Ciconte progressed to the final stage of the Senior selection and headed to FDA’s headquarters in Maranello, after having shown their potential in F4 machinery at the Fiorano circuit.
The assessment included on track as well as off track activities, under the eye of Ferrari Driver Academy, Iron Dames, founder and FIA Women in Motorsport Commission President Deborah Mayer, FIA CEO Natalie Robyn, as well and former program winners Maya Weug and Aurelia Nobels, who have successfully competed in F4 as part of FDA.
The ACI Scuola Federale – Italy’s motoring federation’s driving school – provided its expertise in running theoretical and practical training courses in this years edition, while continuous support also came from Pirelli, who’s been tyre supplier and partner of the program since its inception.
“I was very pleased to witness this pool of young talents in Maranello during my visit to FIA Girls on Track - Rising Stars” – commented FIA CEO Natalie Robyn. “We had the best track conditions, allowing the girls to display their full potential.”
After deliberation, the jury announced Alba Hurup-Larsen as the winner of the fourth edition.
In just two years of karting, the young Danish driver made a big impression in national and international competitions. Having contested her first race in 2021, Larsen has raced in both the Danish and Swedish karting championship, stepping up from the Mini 60 to the X30 Junior class.
With early mentoring from F1 racers Kevin and Jan Magnussen, Alba has recently increasingly raced in international competitions, including in the highly competitive Italian championship.
Towards the end of the season, she tested single seaters in preparation for the Girls On Track shootout and impressed enough to emerge as the winner - thanks to her ability to learn quickly, her consistent race pace as well as single lap skills.
The Dane is expected to make her car racing debut, although the Ferrari announcement says that she will “periodically be invited to Maranello to monitor her progress”.
Weug and Nobels therefore remain the two only female drivers part of the Ferrari Driver Academy to date.
“We are very proud of what we have achieved over four years working with the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission through the Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme” - said Marco Matassa, head of Ferrari Driver Academy. “We have played a part in making motorsport more accessible and we have provided opportunities for three young women, two of whom are still part of the Ferrari Driver Academy..”
“We congratulate Alba on winning and along with Iron Dames, we will give her the opportunity to show what she can do in a Formula 4 car, while carefully monitoring her progress.”