Susie Wolff to head up Venturi’s Formula E team
Oban’s very own racing sensation, Susie Wolff, has been appointed team principal of Venturi Formula E team.
Susie, who is married to Toto Wolff, team principal and CEO of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team, retired as a professional driver in 2015, was awarded an MBE last year for services to women in sport. Her charity, Dare to be Different, encourages and helps women working in, or want to launch a career in motor sport.
Susie will be in charge of Venturi’s preparations in the lead up to the ABB Formula E Championship, set to begin in December this year in Saudi Arabia.
Formula E is the Formula 1 of electric powered racing.
Speaking about her new role, Susie said: ‘When I decided to stop as a professional driver in 2015, I knew that I wanted to continue with the challenge of competitive racing, just not behind the wheel.
‘You can’t just switch off your competitive instincts when you stop driving and that determination and desire to achieve still burn brightly inside me.
‘I took time to carefully decide the right direction for that challenge and I have now found the perfect next step, with the opportunity to become both a shareholder and Team Principal of Venturi Formula E Team.
‘I’m really looking forward to working with Gildo Pastor who is rightly recognised as a pioneer in electric automobiles and who saw the potential of the series from the very beginning.
‘He has built a strong team that has earned its place on the Formula E grid and features many talented people who I’m excited to work with.
‘Formula E is the perfect environment for this step into team management: it is full of potential, breaking the mould for traditional racing series, and the series is enjoying an exciting phase of expansion at the moment.
‘I can’t wait to begin this next chapter in my racing career and to tackle all of the challenges ahead.’
Gildo Pastor, CEO of the Venturi Formula E team said: ‘I am delighted to welcome Susie on board as Team Principal and shareholder.
‘Her energy and expertise will help us to grow by strengthening the team and introducing a new approach to management.
‘Thanks to her personal experience Susie takes a unique strategic view of the team, the championship and motor racing in general.
‘She will certainly lead the Venturi Formula E Team to the top. Her desire to become a shareholder illustrates an unwavering commitment which warms my heart. Venturi and the Venturi Formula E Team are proud to welcome Susie at a key moment in the history of the group.’
Oban-born Susie, whose parents John and Sally Stoddart still stay in Oban, will be based in Venturi’s Monaco headquarters.
Susie retired after reaching the position of development test driver for Williams Formula 1 team.
Before that, she spent seven years racing in the DTM touring car championship with Mercedes-Benz.