Author
Susie Wolff
Birth Date
December 6, 1982
(43 Years)
Associated Country
United Kingdom
Susie Wolff is a British former racing driver, motorsport executive, and author who has become one of the most influential women in modern motorsport. Born in Oban, Scotland, she grew up in a family involved in the motorcycle business, where an early exposure to racing sparked her passion for competitive motorsport. She began karting at the age of eight and quickly progressed through the junior ranks, competing in British Formula Renault before moving into Formula Three and eventually the German Touring Car Championship (DTM). Her determination and skill earned her widespread respect in a sport traditionally dominated by men.
In 2012, Wolff joined the Williams Formula One Team as a development driver and later became a test driver. In 2014, she made history by becoming the first woman in more than two decades to participate in an official Formula One Grand Prix weekend, driving during practice sessions at the British and German Grands Prix. Although her Formula One career was brief, her achievements helped inspire greater opportunities for women in motorsport. Following her retirement from racing in 2015, she founded Dare to Be Different, an initiative encouraging girls and young women to pursue careers in motorsport, engineering, and related fields. The program later merged with the FIA's Girls on Track initiative, expanding its global reach.
Wolff transitioned into motorsport management in 2018 as Team Principal and later Chief Executive Officer of the Venturi Formula E Team, overseeing one of the championship's most successful periods. In 2023, she became Managing Director of the F1 Academy, an all-female racing series created to develop young driving talent and strengthen the pathway to higher levels of motorsport. Alongside her work in racing, she authored Driven: My Story, sharing the challenges and triumphs of her journey through elite motorsport while advocating for greater diversity and inclusion within the industry.
In 2012, Wolff joined the Williams Formula One Team as a development driver and later became a test driver. In 2014, she made history by becoming the first woman in more than two decades to participate in an official Formula One Grand Prix weekend, driving during practice sessions at the British and German Grands Prix. Although her Formula One career was brief, her achievements helped inspire greater opportunities for women in motorsport. Following her retirement from racing in 2015, she founded Dare to Be Different, an initiative encouraging girls and young women to pursue careers in motorsport, engineering, and related fields. The program later merged with the FIA's Girls on Track initiative, expanding its global reach.
Wolff transitioned into motorsport management in 2018 as Team Principal and later Chief Executive Officer of the Venturi Formula E Team, overseeing one of the championship's most successful periods. In 2023, she became Managing Director of the F1 Academy, an all-female racing series created to develop young driving talent and strengthen the pathway to higher levels of motorsport. Alongside her work in racing, she authored Driven: My Story, sharing the challenges and triumphs of her journey through elite motorsport while advocating for greater diversity and inclusion within the industry.
Books
Driven 2026
As a young girl in Scotland, Susie Wolff was fascinated by motorsport. The obsession began with the thrill of driving go-karts, which led her to dream of one day racing in Formula One—the pinnacle of...