Earlier this week, Alpine created history in Saudi Arabia by giving two women the opportunity to drive an F1 car for the first time in the kingdom.
Saudi driver Aseel Al Hamad and Alpine academy prospect Abbi Pulling took part in a demonstration run around the streets of Jeddah in the team’s E20 car ahead of the Saudi Arabian GP this weekend. It was the first time that women drove a Formula 1 car in Saudi Arabia.
With the assistance of the Saudi Tourism Authority, Pulling and Al Hamad took Alpine’s 2012 E20 on a tour through the Kingdom. It included the city of Diriyah and a UNESCO World Heritage site and created history in the process. F1’s official Twitter handle also posted a video featuring Aseel Al Hamad and Abbi Pulling to showcase how the two women went about achieving something special for the women in Saudi Arabia.
“I hope this inspires more generations to fall in love with Formula 1“- Al Hamad on racing in Saudi Arabia
The ban on allowing women to drive in Saudi Arabia was only lifted in 2018. Al Hamad, who is Saudi Arabia’s representative on the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission, had previously drove the E20 at the French Grand Prix in 2018.
The Saudi motorsport enthusiast said that she was extremely happy to drive the E20 in her hometown. She hopes to inspire women and future generations as well to take interest in the sport. “It was beautiful to drive with Alpine once again, and even more special to do this in my country of Saudi Arabia and my home city of Riyadh. I hope this inspires more generations to fall in love with Formula 1 and for more women to consider motorsport as a future career.,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Pulling, who will continue racing in the W Series this season, added: “I got my first experience of an F1 car last weekend and it was everything I was expecting, and more. I started racing when I was just eight years old, always with the goal of reaching Formula 1, and I am so pleased to have got that little bit closer.“
The Saudi Arabian GP will take place this weekend as the second race of the season. It will also be the second time an F1 race will be held at the Jeddah Corniche circuit after the inaugural one took place in December last year.
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