2023 review: Five questions. Five answers.
6 December
Q: My best moment of the 2023 season?
A: “I’ve had a few highlights this season, such as finishing P19 in the Final of the European Championship round at Cremona, and qualifying P2 in the Italian Championship round at the same track. But my best moment has to be winning my second successive Swiss Championship title at Wohlen. Having a disqualification at the first round in 7-Laghi and an engine failure in the final race at Levier meant I lost quite a few points. I don’t like losing points – especially when it’s 38 during a season – and I definitely felt the pressure after that.
“But I never stopped believing in myself because I know I am quick. I managed to fight back and I had a good lead in the points as we headed into the final round. I still needed to finish the Wohlen races in P2 or above to secure my second championship but I managed to do that and secure two titles in two years.”
Q: The most important lesson I learned during 2023?
A: “I think that’s to believe in my team and my equipment at all times. At the World Championship, we had some challenges during the training sessions and everyone was under pressure because of the structure of the weekend. It was a hard moment for me – particularly as it was my first time at such a big race.
“However, I changed my mindset and things started to improve. I got to know my chassis and gained a better understanding of the difference in the feeling between the feedback from my chassis and the engine. For sure, Franciacorta didn’t produce the results I hoped for, but I did learn some valuable lessons that I know will help me to move forward in my career.”
Q: The unsung hero of my 2023 season?
A: “This is probably the Alpine F1 Team. Being part of the Rac(H)er programme gave me an opportunity to travel to England, to meet and work with lots of new people in my sport, to benefit from some top-level coaching and mentoring on and off the track, and to see how big motorsport is in the UK.
“These were experiences that helped expand my knowledge and I know they made a positive contribution to my racing this season. Just visiting the Alpine F1 factory at Enstone was hugely inspirational. I’m racing to get to the top in motorsport, so seeing where F1 cars are designed, built and developed was a privilege. It’s the kind of environment where I’d like to go to work in the future!”
Q: My favourite place to race in 2023?
A: “I have lots of good memories from Lonato. The track is very close to Lake Garda in Northern Italy and the atmosphere in the paddock and at the side of the track is always good and friendly.
“Being in Italy, the food is a highlight as well. My favourite place to eat in Lonato is at the Ristorante da Giovanni Rana. It’s a family-run pasta restaurant in the Il Leone shopping centre. The pasta is absolutely amazing and it gives you lots of energy for racing!”
Q: How’s my motivation ahead of 2024?
A: “I’m really excited for the new season and to continue my development. If I stay in the OK Junior category – which isn’t confirmed yet – my target will be to score my first international podium in Champions of the Future or in the FIA races.
“There’s never been a female driver on the podium at that level before so that’s something I would like to change. During the last year, I feel like I’ve got much closer to some of the other OKJ drivers I’ve raced against in terms of experience and I know that every race makes you stronger. If I race OKJ in 2024, this is something I’d like to use to my advantage.”