Susie Wolff

Susie Wolff (born Stoddart) is a former British racing driver who has competed in the various championships but never fulfilled her dream to compete in Formula 1.

She spent most of his career in the DTM, driving for Mercedes from 2006 to 2012. After that, she was development and test driver for Williams F1 Team before retiring from racing at the end of 2015. Currently she serves as Team Principal of the Venturi Formula E Team.

In October 2011, Susie Stoddart married Toto Wolff, an executive director of Mercedes F1 Team, and changed her surname.

Susie Wolff

Susie was born in racing family

Susie Stoddart was born on December 6, 1982, in Oban, a small town in the Western Scotland. It wasn't surprising that this girl became interested in racing knowing that her father John Stoddart competed in the various motorbike events. As a girl, Susie competed in karting and was even named British Woman Kart Racing Driver of the Year in 1996.

Next year, Susie Stoddart entered various karting competitions and was very successful. She has won many titles and again was named Woman Racing Driver of the Year. In 1998, she was awarded for the third time in a row after she has achieved quite good results at the national level. Over the years, her results were constantly improving and in the season of 2000, her last year in karting, Susie was named Top Female Kart Driver in the World.

Susie Wolff started her career in karting

Move to Formula Renault

When she left karting, Susie debuted in Formula Renault Winter Series in 2001, which was a preparation for the following year. In 2002, Susie competed for full time at the Formula Renault UK Championship. The results weren’t impressive after she collected 45 points from 11 races, without a victory, podium finish or pole position.

Things have improved in 2003 when Susie was 9th overall. She managed to earn her first podium and was among nominees for the prestigious BRDC McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year award. She missed that award but her efforts were recognized and she received the BRDC Rising Star of the Year trophy. Her final season in Formula Renault UK was in 2004 and that was her best season in the series. Susie took 5th place, finishing three times on the podium and scoring 284 points.

Susie Wolff has competed in Formula Renault UK and Formula 3

An ankle injury forced Susie to miss most of the 2005 season. She debuted in British Formula 3 Championship but participated in only two races. She also appeared as a guest in Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain event at Brands Hatch which was an overture for what will happen next year.

Seven years in DTM

Next challenge for bonnie lassie from Scotland was German DTM championship. She spent seven years in the one of the most competitive touring cars series in the world, but without notable success. In 2006 and 2007 she was the pilot of Mucke Motorsport’s AMG-Mercedes C class but, unfortunately, she hasn’t scored a single point.

Susie Wolff, DTM Mercedes

In 2008, Susie Wolf changed the team. She moved to Persson Motorsport, one of the Mercedes teams, but that move hasn’t changed anything. In her first season with a new team, she again failed to win a point, just like in 2009. The results were really poor and Susie barely finished in Top 10. Precisely, during four years in DTM,  she only once managed to finish a race in Top 10.

Marriage with Toto Wolff

Finally, in 2010, Susie for the first time earned some points. She took twice the 7th place, at Lausitzring and Hockenheim, collected 4 points and finished 13th in the Drivers’ championship. In autumn of 2011, Susie married Toto Wolff, former Austrian racing driver, investor and shareholder of the Williams Formula 1 team who will later become owner and Executive Director of Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 team.

Toto and Susie Wolff

Susie Wolff’s last two years in DTM were again poor. In 2011, her best result was 11th place in Valencia while in 2012 she couldn’t finish better than on the 12th place in two races.

Race of Champions

She sat out the season of 2013 in which Susie had to become a first woman to compete in the Race of Champions but the event in Bangkok was called off due to safety reasons. Luckily, Wolff did it in 2014 when she was driving alongside David Coulthard, representing the United Kingdom. They reached the final in the Nation’s cup but lost to Team Nordic. The same year Susie Wolff was awarded an Honorary Fellowship at the University of Edinburgh for her role as an ambassador for women in sport.

Michele Mouton and Susie Wolff, 2015 Race of Champions

Test driver for Williams F1 team

In 2014, Susie Wolff appeared as a development driver for Williams Formula 1 team, becoming the first woman to drive during Grand Prix weekend since 1992. She clocked notable results during free practices at the British and German Grand Prix. In 2015, she again appeared as a test pilot at Friday free practices at Catalunya and Silverstone, as well in two tests.

But, in November of 2015, Susie Wolff announced her retirement from Formula 1 and all forms of motorsport. Susie stated that she doesn't expect to see a female driver on the F1 grid in the near future adding there were too many sexist comments about women racing abilities.

Susie Wolff retired from Formula 1 and racing at the end of 2015

“I can only tell you, I gave it my all. Do I think F1 is ready for a competitive female racing driver who can perform at the highest level? Yes. Do I think it is achievable as a woman? Most definitely. Do I think it will happen soon? Sadly no,“ commented Susie Wolff after her departure from the world of racing.

Video - Susie Wolff sees no boundaries

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