Esmee Kosterman Debuts at Zandvoort with Special Livery

Dutch racer Esmee Kosterman will make her debut in the F1 Academy during the Grand Prix weekend in Zandvoort, the organization announced on Wednesday. The 20-year-old driver from Wijk bij Duurstede has been granted a wildcard to participate in the sessions with TeamViewer. She will also drive with a special livery as a tribute to all women in leadership roles.

Esmee Kosterman began car racing in the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup Benelux in 2021. Two years later, she made history as the first woman to win a race in the series, after which she came second in the Junior Cup and third in the overall standings. Last year, she transitioned to single-seaters, scoring points in her debut in the Indian Formula 4. This season, she has competed in the British Formula 4 Championship, among others.

Special Livery

During her F1 Academy debut, Kosterman will drive a car with a special livery, in honor of a TeamViewer campaign for women in leadership roles. The names of more than two hundred women who ‘inspire in various sectors’ adorn the vehicle, according to an official press release. “Our sport has the power to bring about change, and we are incredibly proud to support women both on and off the track,” responded Karin Fink, head of commercial operations at F1 Academy.

Emely de Heus, who made a name for herself in the F1 Academy for two years, recently announced a short break from racing. The 22-year-old driver from Mijnsheerenland has been competing in the German Porsche Carrera Cup since February. “Due to health reasons, I cannot race this weekend,” she wrote on social media on Wednesday. “I fell ill earlier this year and I’m struggling to fully recover. Therefore, I’ve decided to step back from racing, hoping to be back in the car as soon as possible. This season has also been tough for me, which makes it extra difficult when you’re not feeling fit.”

Schedule for the Dutch Round of the F1 Academy

*The schedule for the Dutch round of the F1 Academy*