Abbi Pulling will compete in the Formula Renault Eurocup round as the only support series for the upcoming Formula 1 Imola Grand Prix.
A big announcement arrived earlier this week: the upcoming F1 Grand Prix will see the participation of a new female racing driver - despite not (yet) in its main category.
The top motorsport series is in fact ready to made its return to the historical Italian circuit of Imola for the first time since 2006, as one of the few new tracks added to the revised 2020 F1 calendar due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
With the Internation F3 championship over and F2 not scheduled for this event, the Formula Renault Eurocup will hit the track as the only support series at the next Emilia Romagna Gran Prix and, joining the other competitors that has been battling in the highly competitive championship this season, we will get the chance to see another female driver who will also make her debut in a F3 car: we're obviously talking about young British lady Abbi Pulling.
At only 17 years of age, Abbi is already considered one of the most promising British talents in the formula racing scene. In 2020, she has been protagonist of a superb British F4 rookie campaign, as member of the JHR Developments team.
After 23 races contested so far in the series, Abbi Pulling is currently sixth in the British F4 overall championship standings: she was able to clinch three podium finishes - a third place in Brands Hatch and in Croft, plus a second position at Thruxton.
Before her F4 debut experience, Pulling was a big name in national karting and competed also in the Ginetta junior and GT5 Challenge, always showing remarkable potential until rising to international recognition in 2020.
She now joins the Fernando Alonso Racing Team for the upcoming F1 weekend - a team that has often looked towards female talents in recent years and supported young promising drivers. W Series race winner Marta Garcia was among the drivers to test for the team in the Valencia pre-season test.
"Excited to announce that I will be racing in Imola this weekend in the Formula Renault Eurocup with FA racing.", said Abbi after her big announcement.
"Huge thank you to those have given me this opportunity. It will be the first time driving this car and circuit, but I am looking forward to the challenge. Let's go!" - she added.
Abbie can take advantage from the important support of one of the most famous female names in motorsport, Alice Powell, who will once again return to the role of driver coach and will travel to Italy with Pulling.
Among the leading protagonists of this Formula Renault Eurocup season, which earlier this year also saw Italian Vicky Piria making a two-events appearance for team Bhaitech, we should mention French racer Victor Martins who currently is leading the championship, followed by Brazilian Caio Collet.
Spaniard David Vidales, Argentian Franco Colapinto and British driver Alex Quinn were all race winners this year as well - a proof that we can surely expect another big show in the upcoming double-header in Imola on the Formula One stage.
Formula Renault Eurocup will hit the Italian track on Saturday early morning for the first Free Practice session, followed by Qualifying 1 at 12.00 am, while Race 1 will going live at 15.30.
Sunday's action will start with the second Qualifying session, as Race 2 will see the green lights at 10.30 a.m.