Colombian racing star Tatiana Calderon will make her return to Formula 2, as she joins Charouz Racing Systems for the remainder of the 2022 season, starting from this weekend in Spa Francorchamps.
FIA Formula 2 announced the return of Colombian racing star Tatiana Calderon for the remainder of the current season, as the 29-year-old replaces Cem Bölükbasi at Charouz Racing Systems effective from this weekend at Spa Francorchamps. Calderon entered her sole F2 season in 2019, when she raced with BWT Arden. She had graduated to the top F1-feeder series after three solid seasons in FIA F3, where she consistently scored points - especially in the second half of the 2018 season in a Jenzer Motorsport entry. She would then venture into sportscar territory, as she was part of the first all-female effort in LMP2 in ELMS and then WEC for Richard Mille Racing Team. Calderon partnered Sophia Floersch and Beitske Visser in a star-studded line up in endurance racing, claiming a top-10 in class at her first ever Le Mans participation. At the same time, Tatiana competed in another top-tier championship: the Japanese Super Formula. Despite the logistical challenges of the first year of the pandemic - when Calderon lost out on valuable track time and a few races - she showed promising progression in her first season with Drago Corse with ThreeBond. A driver with experience in almost all the most prestigious racing series and events in the world - including a stint as Development Driver at Sauber/Alfa Romeo F1 Team - Calderon had the chance to test IndyCar machinery in 2021 and would become the first female racer in IndyCar - except Indy 500 - in over 7 years. Having joined AJ Foyt Enterprises, Calderon contested 7 races in the premier American single seater championship, scoring her first top-15 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after a really strong race in mixed weather conditions. With Turkish racer Cem Bölükbasi mutually terminating his contract with Charouz, Calderon will therefore have her chance to return to Formula 2, at the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps. “I’m really excited about my return to the Formula 2 Championship, I still can’t believe I’m back", commented Calderon. "It’s been a long while since I drove the car, but it is an amazing opportunity which I want to make the most out of." "I'm very thankful to the Charouz Racing System and I'm really looking forward to this busy triple-header of races and beyond." F2 is in fact heading for a triple-header of back-to-back races, where Calderon's experience is surely going be help the Czech team: after Belgium, the series will travel to the Dutch GP in Zandvoort and the Italian GP in Monza - a circuit where Calderon has historically done well and scored her best finish in FIA F3 - a sixth place in 2018. Calderon is also no stranger with Charouz Racing Systems: the Colombian had tested with the team in the 2018 post-season testing at Abu Dhabi, where she had a really strong debut in F2 machinery. “We’re very happy to welcome Tatiana", added Antonin Charouz, team owner. "We have been following her for a long time, she’s a very competitive driver and her experience will surely be really valuable for the team. This weekend will be very important for us, because we have four rounds left and a demanding triple header ahead, that will require our best effort in order to arrive at Abu Dhabi to close the season on a high.”