Gosia Rdest returns to Alpine Europa Cup
Polish fastest woman will return to the Alpine Europa Cup in 2021, as Gosia Rdest will again try to combine the French one-make series with her national Polish Touring Car Championship.
Former W Series racer and Polish touring car championship runner-up in 2020 announced in a social media live conference her plans for her 2021 racing season: streamed inside the Alpine Katowice dealership, the 28-year old lady confirmed that she will be back for a second season in the Alpine Europa Cup series.
Having spent several years in GT and touring cars, Rdest was brought to international attention during the inaugural season of the all-female W Series championship. In 2020, she became brand ambassador for the Alpine brand and joined the one-make series at the wheel of the A110 Cup car. The series was scheduled to travel to some of the most prestigious racetracks in Europe, but the Covid19 pandemic forced the series organizers to reschedule most of the events within France.
At her first year in the championship, Rdest was eighth in the drivers' points table, finishing 9 out of the 10 races in the top ten. Her best result was a sixth place – obtained in six consecutive races in the second half of the season.
"This season I'll do the Alpine Europa Cup, on beautiful tracks starting from Nogaro, then moving to Magny Cours, Spa, Paul Ricard, Barcelona and Portimao." – said Rdest in the conference.
"The first racing weekend is coming up in less than a month: in three weeks we will kick off the season at Nogaro, which will also host pre-season testing."
"Just like last year, my main partner for this season will be Bahco. It is thanks to their support that I have the chance to compete in the Alpine Europe Cup."
The French manufacturer has a long history in motorsport: created in 1954, Alpine famously won the constructors' title in the World Rally Championship in 1973 with its iconic A110 model. Once merged with the Renault Sport department, production was discontinued in 1995. The brand was revived in 2017 and has since returned to the forefront of global motor racing: Alpine will make its debut in F1 in 2021 and will also be part of several prototype projects in endurance racing.
The Alpine Europa Cup format features two 40-minute practice session, followed by two 20-minute qualifying sessions that will shape the grids of the two 25-minute races each meeting.
Having also finished Vice-Champion in the Polish WSMP touring car championship in 2020 – driving both in the sprint and endurance series – Rdest will try to combine again the two racing schedules in 2021.
2021 Alpine Europa Cup calendar:
April 3-5: Nogaro (France)
May 7-9: Magny-Cours (France)
June 18-20: Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)
September 2-4: Barcelona (Spain)
October 1st-3: Le Castellet (France)
October 22-24: Portimao (Portugal)
