Circuit ambiance. May 6, 2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Round 5, Miami Grand Prix, Miami, Florida, USA, Qualifying Day.
The F1 Academy has announced that American driver Courtney Crones will be the Miami Wildcard entry for Round 2 of the series’ second season.
This weekend, Crones will be returning to single-seater cars for the first time in four years and will be driving the fourth Prema Racing car.
Through a partnership with American retailer QVC, Crones will be sporting a unique QVC livery and race suit at the Miami International Autodrome.
Two weeks ago, she participated in the F1 Academy in-season test in Zandvoort, where she prepared to operate the reigning Championship-winning team car.
Starting her karting career in California at the age of three, Crones drew inspiration from her father’s involvement in a vintage race car team.
With experience racing various vehicles, including speedway motorcycles, LMP3 prototypes, and junior Formula cars, the 23-year-old driver has achieved five top-six finishes in the LMP3 category since August 2023.
Introducing your Miami Wildcard entry! ???????? American racing driver Courtney Crone will be joining the grid for the second round of the F1 Academy season this weekend. Courtney will be teaming up with shopping channel QVC, driving their branded livery. We can’t wait to have… pic.twitter.com/xh23FlGeDM
Crones stated, “I believe that the Wild Card opportunity provided by the F1 Academy is huge, especially in America. There may be a stigma that it is very difficult for American girls or girls from outside Europe in general to enter a series like this.
“The support I have received from the F1 Academy and PREMA Racing so far is a major positive for me, and I want to share it with girls who may not be from Europe. If they want to come here and race, this series is very accessible. It’s an incredible opportunity to grow the sport and this series.”
She will be the second Wildcard Entrant of the 2024 F1 Academy season, following Saudi driver Reema Juffali, who took the first spot of the season in Jeddah.
The all-female series has evolved since its successful inaugural season, and its Wildcard initiative provides young female racers with the opportunity to compete on the world stage.
Susie Wolff, Managing Director of the F1 Academy, said, “It can be challenging for young girls from outside Europe to know how to enter international series like this, and the support I have received from the F1 Academy and the PREMA Racing team has been incredibly positive.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to QVC for their support of the Wild Card initiative here in Miami. I believe this is an amazing opportunity to grow both this series and the sport.”
Crones will make her first appearance in the F1 Academy during FP1 on Friday at the Miami International Autodrome.