OCTOBER 16, 2005

Katherine Legge to test F1 car

Britain's top female racer Katherine Legge is to test for the Minardi team at Vallelunga at the end of next month. The 25-year-old from Northampton will be the first woman to have a meaningful F1 test since the days of Giovanna Amati back 1991. Legge has made a big impression this year in her first year as a professional racer, driving in the Toyota Atlantic Championship. Legge has been setting new standards throughout her career, dating back to 2000 when she was the first woman to take pole position in a British Formula Ford race. She struggled to find money to compete in Britain and in 2004 went to the United States to race in theNorth American Formula Renault. She then convinced Kevin Kalkhoven to sponsor her this season with his PKV racing team. Legge made the most of it with three Atlantic wins as a rookie, notably in her first race at Long Beach where she went from seventh on the grid to win. This was followed by wins in Edmonton and San Jose, and ended the year third in the championship.

Legge plans to compete in the Atlantic series again next year and hopes to move up to Champ Car in 2007. However, if she can impress in Formula 1 she may be able to fulfil her original ambition to become an F1 driver. The test has come about because of Legge's connections with Kalkhoven who, in addition to running PKV Racing, is also the owner of Cosworth, which supplies engines to Minardi.

Legge will be joined by three other young drivers in the Vallelunga test.