Every week in the past, Tatiana Calderón was sat at dwelling making an attempt to map out the following steps in her racing profession. Now, seven days on, she is gearing up for her return to System 2 at Spa-Francorchamps.
The Colombian will likely be racing with Charouz Racing System for the rest of the 2022 marketing campaign, a prospect she is delighted and grateful for. Her final race within the Championship was over two years in the past again in 2019 and Calderón can’t wait to get again on the monitor.
Forward of the primary of 4 rounds she will likely be racing in, Calderón revealed that her hectic week had been a welcome shock, and now she is totally centered on the duty at hand: serving to Charouz struggle to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi.
“I am extraordinarily grateful and joyful to be again racing. I by no means thought I might have a second alternative. I felt like there was like unfinished enterprise from the 12 months I did in 2019, so I’m tremendous joyful to be right here once more.
“Every week in the past I had no thought. I used to be sitting at my home considering I used to be going to be out of racing for six months, so the final couple of days have been loopy. Rapidly, after we reached out to totally different folks to see if there was a chance, I acquired a name saying possibly I ought to journey to Europe. I took my flight, arrived and I’ve been enjoying the F1 sport at dwelling on Spa simply to be prepared in case. I’m right here to take pleasure in this chance again racing in F2. I’ve no expectations, no strain, I’ll simply attempt to adapt as shortly as I can and see the place we’re on the finish.”
She joins a Charouz staff in superb type, with new teammate Enzo Fittipaldi securing a podium final day trip in Budapest and preventing for a high 5 end within the Drivers’ Championship. Regardless of the whirlwind nature of her return, Calderón says that the environment has been an enormous optimistic for her regardless of the restricted time she’s had together with her new staff to this point.
READ MORE: Tatiana Calderón returns to F2 with Charouz Racing System
“Everybody has welcomed me actually actually properly right here. I’m hoping we will begin on the correct foot. I got here right here right this moment and the staff had already fastened my pedals as a result of I examined with them again in 2018. Lots of the folks working right here now I do know from different groups and it’s very nice to see some acquainted faces. Everybody has been welcoming and that makes you’re feeling extra prepared immediately. It’s a great feeling. It was sunny right this moment so the sensation is nice, now we’re simply finalising every little thing and it’s actually good to be again.”
After her years out of the Championship competing in endurance and IndyCar racing, Calderón believes she is best ready than ever earlier than for F2. With the long-distance occasions world wide and the expertise of heavier Indycars now constructed up, the brand new Charouz driver is assured that she is best geared up than her first time round a number of years in the past.
It’s not simply her racing expertise although that could be a optimistic in line with the driving force herself. This weekend at Spa-Francorchamps would be the first of three consecutive race weekends, one thing that Calderón says will truly be a bonus for her.
With none testing time with the staff since 2018 and none of a System 2 automotive this season, having the monitor time rack up instantly will likely be a useful gizmo somewhat than a frightening prospect.
“It’s tough to leap right into a Championship midway by means of a season with out testing. I’ll be joyful to complete however being a racing driver, you at all times wish to intention larger. It at all times helps to have extra time within the automotive. You get into the rhythm and one other weekend developing shortly is nice after having such an enormous break. Final 12 months F2 didn’t race right here so I believe that’s one other alternative to attempt to be nearer immediately, however we see it’s a case of development all through these three race weekends.
“I’ve been fortunate sufficient to race in different sequence like Tremendous System, which is a very excessive downforce automotive, tough tracks and a brand new tradition. I’ve found a variety of issues as an individual but additionally as a driver. I’ve to adapt actually shortly to sure circumstances. In IndyCar I used to be a rookie this 12 months and the automobiles are very bodily, the tracks are nice so I believe that was the proper preparation to then come again right here. I really feel a thousand occasions extra ready in comparison with how I used to be again in 2019.”
An enormous driving issue for Calderón is representing younger women and girls in motorsport at such a excessive degree. The Charouz driver has been following the 2022 season to this point and is anticipating a hard-fought time on monitor however believes the aggressive and unpredictable nature of System 2 may rely in her favour.
Together with that, the prospect of inspiring the following technology of feminine racing drivers was an enormous motivation to proceed her profession and return to the Championship.
“I at all times attempt to sustain with F2 as a result of the races are a number of the finest and most enjoyable round. You by no means know who’s going to win. It’s been an intense season and many groups have been successful and that’s what you wish to see coming right into a sequence. Hopefully we will soar in and if issues go effectively, do a great job. That exhibits the competitiveness of the sequence.
“I wish to present that we will carry out at a very excessive degree, that though the automobiles are bodily that we will do a very good job. I’m grateful for this chance Charouz has given me, however to additionally ship that message of ‘we might be right here too.’ It’s a course of and clearly it’s not simple however I’m joyful to symbolize younger women that wish to be racing drivers and attain System 1 and to encourage them. It’s one thing that I’ve wished to present again as a result of it’s a lot accountability to have nevertheless it’s a great one and a great motivation to have.”
In fact, her return to Spa brings combined feelings for Calderón after the tragic occasions of 2019 and Anthoine Hubert’s accident. Calderón says that maybe it was destiny that meant her F2 return coincided with a spherical on the Belgian circuit.
She says she will likely be aiming for an incredible lead to honour of the Frenchman and that he’s an additional motivation to carry out effectively this weekend.
“It’s a monitor I like and that brings good reminiscences but additionally dangerous ones. I believe it’s an incredible place to begin and that destiny determined for me to return again right here to honour Anthoine as effectively. He’s at all times on my thoughts in all places I’m going so hopefully it’s an indication and I can do a great job on the monitor.”