Reema Juffali named ambassador of first ever F1 Saudi GP
The first ever female Saudi racing driver has been announced as the Official Ambassador for the first edition of the F1 Saudi Grand Prix: Reema Juffali will open the event by driving the historic Williams FW07 car, in a significant moment for the women of the region.
Reema Juffali was named as the Official Ambassador for the upcoming F1 STC Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, as her hometown of Jeddah is set to host the first ever edition of the race this weekend (3-4-5 December). Juffali is used to write history: she was the first ever female professional racing driver from the Kingdom and embarked on a journey in the UK that has brought her up to British F3 - now rebranded GB3 Championship. Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on women driving in June 2018 and Juffali soon started her racing career soon after, quickly moving into British F4. After two seasons in F4 - she stepped up to GB3, where she has scored a fourth place at Silverstone as her best result. She has also taken part in the season opener of the 2020 Jaguar I-PACE eTrophy, a support series to FIA Formula E. On the streets of Riyadh, Juffali thus became the first ever woman to compete in an international event on home soil. “It is an incredible honour for me to be named as an Official Ambassador for the first-ever Formula 1 race weekend in Saudi Arabia." - commented 29-year-old Juffali. "Growing up in Jeddah, I walked the very same streets which will form the circuit that the world’s best drivers will now race on. It’s hard to over-state what a momentous occasion this is for the city." Certainly a role model for women in the region - and beyond - Juffali will take part in several activities at the upcoming F1 Grand Prix weekend: she will be at the forefront with world's media to illustrate the evolving state of the sport in the Kingdom and will participate in promotional activities and ceremonies across the event. In a rather significant moment, Juffali will be one of the first drivers to drive around the track and will get behind the wheel of the historic Williams FW07 F1 car. The Saudia-sponsored car earned the team founded by the late Frank Williams its first Drivers' Championship in 1980. Reema will then join the Saudi Supercar Club, where she will further showcase her driving skills. “I’m really looking forward to taking part in the activities over the race weekend and I hope that my story and journey can provide some inspiration to anyone thinking of following their dream." - she added. "I also hope that the arrival of F1 in Saudi Arabia will inspire more of the next generation to pursue a career in the sport and continue our country’s racing evolution.” Promotional activities will get underway on Thursday 2nd December, while practice sessions are scheduled to go green on Friday at 12:35 local time, with Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East officially hitting the brand-new track for the first time. Formula 1 will make its debut on Saudi soil with FP1 at 16:30 local.