First things first☝️🍾 2nd place and the fastest lap today in an exciting W Series race! 💪
What an amazing WSeries Emma Kimilainen has had- from having to stand down due to injury at Opening Race at Hockenheim in May, to missing the following Race 2 and 3 at Zolder and Misano, to coming back and finishing Race 4 at Norisring in 5th and there was more to come.
Not only has the Finn taken determination to the next level, the matter of fact 30 year old proved her ability to race, out-tactic and set fastest lap-times against WSeries top line-up of drivers to finish 5th Overall in Championship Series.
A rare feat indeed, considering Emma missed 3 Races for Championship points, and then went on to bank 25 points winning Race 5 at Assen, and another 18 points completing WSeries Final Race at Brands Hatch 2nd Overall. With total of 53 points, #7 rounded out the WSeries Championship 2019 5th Overall with automatic placement through to 2020 Series.
As Emma says: ‘Well it feels good that I got the chance to show my full potential but at the same time I feel I have some unfinished business as I didn’t win the Championship. That’s why I’ll work hard to be able to do it next year’.
Having blazed pundits on where Emma would sit returning to the grid in Race 4 at Norisring, not only did the flying Finn place 5th Overall, #7 went onto win Race 5 at Assen perfectly setting up confidence levels heading into Final Race at Brands Hatch on August 11th.
And FP sessions were great: ‘Flying through the W Series free practice sessions here at Brands Hatch, UK. Fastest on wet and dry so I’m looking forward to the quali and race tomorrow! 👌 Such a cool track! I’m really enjoying it’.
With such enthusiatic personality to race, it’s not surprising Emma has the capacity to mentally up her game even when under pressure to gain valuable 2020 placement points on the UK circuit.
#7: ‘I didn’t have anything special in mind. I just went to Brands Hatch to drive on my own level – to do my job. I didn’t remember the track as I had been at the GP circuit only once 10 years ago. But I had a good feeling that I’d like it because it’s fast and requires some guts because of the blind corners’.
The changeable weather conditions from dry to wet, makes level playing field for all drivers with tyre selection decided by Racing Director Dave Ryan making the call.
Neither conditions faze Emma, or racing on pre-determined tyres: ‘There’s no stress about it in W Series as everyone is driving on the same tyres anyway. So it’s actually our racing director Dave Ryan together with the Chief Engineer who is making the call for us. So for the driver it’s pretty simple. You drive with what you get and you do the best with it’.
And dealing with rise in intensity levels- Emma has ingrained sense of getting on with job at hand. No sense of panic, or adrenaline rush taking over practical racing know-how- Emma has what it takes to deliver results when needed.
#7: ‘For me it was a weekend among every other race weekend. I felt calm and happy all weekend. I enjoyed the driving and especially the track as it’s really special’.
Having achieved stellar results having missed 3 Races- Race 4: 5th, Race 5: 1st, Race 6: 2nd Emma now focuses on opportunity to place on top step of podium come 2020.
#7: ‘My performance in the last two races was what I expected the whole season. Unfortunately in Norisring I didn’t get the qualifying right with the timing (yellow and red flags) but that’s racing. I was still happy that I got to race, overtake and chase.
‘I was really grateful to all of the doctors and Hintsa Performance specialists who worked really hard to get me on track. It was a special moment to see that I’m fine again and I can finally race at my own level’.
‘Now I’ll be training physically hard for next year. I’m going to enjoy my family and my everyday life here in beautiful Finland and I’m sure that it will make me ready for next year. Because when you are happy and you have a good solid base in life, the success will follow. That has been and will be my recipe for success’.
Words: Sharon Cox
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