Emma Kimilainen shares her thoughts on racing 2022 WSeries on eve of Round 4 main race at Formula One Grand Prix of France this weekend. Known for her calm yet disciplined approach to fulfil her best potential on and off the track, Emma remains resolute that racing WSeries provides a once-in-a-life time opportunity to develop skills as a driver at the pinnacle of racing – selected Formula One Grand Prix’s.
From competing in debut season of WSeries in 2019 – finishing 5th Overall, to taking on board COVID disruptions in 2020 – which meant no racing – to firing on all cylinders racing 2021 WSeries finishing 3rd step of podium – Emma has loads of experience under her helmet to rise to whichever situation occurs on track.
For starters, Emma endured the disappointment of sustaining an injury in 2019 Opening Round at Hockenheim – leaving the Finnish driver out for the next 2 Rounds, only to come back and claim P5 in Round 4 at Norisring and then win in Round 5 at Assen.
Similarly, having tasted below par performance in 2021 Opening Round at Red Bull Ring, the #7 driver blasted her way up the points table with P3 in Round 2 at Silverstone, P1 in Round 4 at Spa, P3 in Round 5 at Zandvoort, finishing the 8 race season with P2 and P3 at Coata, USA. Overall 2021 WSeries Championship standing: 3rd.
This season has produced mixed results, upward in trajectory from P15 at Race 1 in Miami, to P5 in the double header R2, followed by P4 at WSeries Round 2 at Formula One Spanish Grand Prix. Racing Round 3 at Silverstone on July 1-2 proved to be catalyst for change, not only in results finishing 2nd step of podium, but also for overcoming lack of practice time through-out the season.
As Emma states, getting seat-time is paramount for developing skills on the track. Taking part in testing and racing alternative Championships not only clocks up the hours on the track, but also extends the learning curve on honing race-craft behind the wheel – a distinct advantage when up against stiff competition in WSeries all female grid.
Racing Round 4 at Paul Ricard circuit this weekend proved how factors converge to either elevate performance on track, or challenge driver’s ability to deliver results when on the back foot. For sure, Emma entered the weekend knowing the following: she was unfamiliar with the track, other WSeries driver’s had raced the track previously, and driver’s who had clocked up mileage in testing programmes held definitive advantage to those who waited off track, from one Round to the next.
MXLink spoke with Emma via Zoom interview- post Qualifying, to find out how she would confront racing with such high track temperatures, what were main areas of focus during Practice, and how has the development of WSeries over past 3 seasons influenced racing, for the Championship and herself?
Emma: ‘With high temperatures on track, managing tyres will be really important. Usually, the car gets quite alot of oversteer from mid-race onwards, I’ll have to see how to manage that. I’m starting from P10, so basically I need to race all the time with no possibility of cool-down, which makes management of tyres more difficult. We will see how the other cars evolve. If I can’t pass, maybe leave a little gap to manage tyres, though at the start there will be good grip to race for track position’.
‘I haven’t been to the track before, and obviously I’ve watched videos on previous driver’s, made notes, little bit of SIM work, walked the track and tried to figure a good way to take the corners – which all makes you as prepared as possible. But, when you go out on track it is not comparable, you usually have to find a pace and rhythm that works. This track is pretty technical so I struggled in Practice on how fast I can actually go into the corners. It’s a really heavy car.
I was a little bit behind in practice compared to the other girls who have been here before, and have raced different cars and tested a lot. You see in Qualifying, I did 10-13 laps, in Practice it was 10-11 laps, so it’s not alot of lap time.
The changes WSeries has made from debut season in 2019 through to 2022 has elevated the Championship’s marketability and exposure to global audience along with increasing the development of female driver’s at races. In the first year we were changing the cars for driver’s every race weekend to be fair to everyone.
Even though the cars are from the same manufacturer, they are different from one another, little details that a driver notices. Then, you would get a new Team every race, new mechanics, and new engineers – it was interesting and it was equal. In 2021, we changed – we stayed with the same Team, same cars, same engineers and same mechanics, but engines were changed. In 2022, we have the same set-up, but we do change engineers, mainly because some engineers are alot more experienced than others, which makes it more equal.
Track time is limited – in 2019 we had more track time because we were racing along-side DTM, but in 2022 we are along-side F1. Racing as support category at Formula One Grand Prix’s has been huge for WSeries – for exposure, marketing, and Media presentation it is absolutely amazing. And, we definitely belong here.
We try to climb the ladder with them, and hopefully within the next few years we will have more track time. Now, we have 90 minutes through-out the whole weekend and that is not enough to develop yourself as a driver. For me, only racing WSeries, 8 weekends this season, is not enough. Hopefully, I can pick up some testing to step-up my game as well.
I’m still really determined to race as a professional driver, that has been my goal as a child, and hopefully I can continue racing for many years. To be the best person of myself and to be the best racing driver, possible now and in the future’.
WSeries Round 5 Budapest July 29-31. Header photo: Emma Kimilainen Image: WSeries.
Special thanks to Emma and Joe Downes for interview.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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