At only her third year in motor racing, Swiss racer Karen Gaillard will make her Mitjet series debut this weekend at Nogaro for Racing Spirit of Léman - as she aims to collect experience in her first one-make series.
Young Swiss racer Karen Gaillard will make her debut in the popular Mitjet 2L championship, having previously competed in endurance racing in both the 24H Series and in the Ultimate Cup Series, where she finished runner-up last year.
Gaillard, 20, won the Young Driver Challenge initiative in 2019 and graduated from the Endurance filiere in 2020, with the goal of reaching the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
With her goal in mind, Gaillard claimed podium finishes in the 24H Series, where she contested her first 24-hour races at Dubai and Barcelona in 2021 and had a very strong season in the Ultimate Cup racing for French team Vortex.
A new program is awaiting the up-and-coming talent in 2022, as she is set to switch to the French Mitjet 2L series, in her first season in sprint races.
“After an incredible 2021 year with my very first in 24-hour races - at Dubai with a second place finish and at Barcelona - as well as a second place in the Ultimate Cup Series Championship in Sprint GT3B, it's time to start the 2022 Season" - told us Gaillard at the eve of her first race of the season.
"For what is only my third year in motorsport, I will race in the Mitjet 2L FFSA championship with the Team Racing Spirit of Léman."
The Mitjet championship provides drivers with a platform to race a light, cost-effective yet powerful prototype vehicle that allows them to refine racecraft and potentially advance to bigger GT or endurance racing series. Several drivers have taken their first steps in this series, including WTCR champion Yann Ehrlacher.
Gaillard's team, Racing Spirit of Léman, has an important endurance background and has in recent years taken part in the biggest European and world endurance championships, such as Michelin Le Mans Cup, ELMS, WEC, GT4 Europe.
The championship calendar includes 24 races over 6 race weekends, starting from this weekend's round in Nogaro, France, for the Easter meeting at Circuit Paul Armagnac.
"I’m really happy to start this weekend in Nogaro!" - said Gaillard. "It will be my first race in Mitjet 2L FFSA and my first season in a championship like this, where all the drivers have the same car and engine."
The one-make series format and the big starting grids often topping 40 drivers are guarantee of close racing and Karen Gaillard has set her sights on learning and collecting experience - and at the same time maximising her track time in order to further advance in her motor racing career.
"This year I really want to collect some experience in a big field like this one here this weekend, with 41 cars", she continued. "I will have my number 30 for all the season. Let’s go!”
FFSA Mitjet 2L Calendar 2022:
15-17 April, Nogaro (France)
13-15 May, Magny-Cours (France)
24-26 June, Albi (France)
22-24 July, Spa-Francorchamps (Belgique)
9-11 September, Lédenon (France)
14-16 October, Le Castellet (France)
