Saudi Arabia yesterday lifted the ban on women driving for the very first time. Renault celebrated the decision by giving Saudi Arabian Motorsport Federation’s first female member the keys of the Renault Sport Formula One Team E20 car. Aseel Al-Hamad drove the car on the Le Castellet circuit in France, hours before the start of the French Grand Prix. This move was part of Renault’s ‘Passion Parade’ which saw Aseel parading the car once driven by Kimi Raikkonen to win the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Jérôme Stoll, President of Renault Sport Racing, commented: “Renault has always embraced pioneers and demonstrated a pioneering spirit. Equally, Renault has a long-held passion for motorsport and loves to share it through every type of competition with as many people as possible. We’re pleased to see Aseel’s passion for racing and her enthusiasm for demonstrating the accessibility of motorsport to more people around the world.”
Seeing how difficult it is to drive these professional cars, Renault called Aseel for training on June 5th at the Le Castellet circuit. The proficient team of Renault engineers and technicians gave instructions to Aseel. For that matter, Aseel was first provided a Renault road car which she drove around the track to get familiar to the turns and straights. After a few rounds around the circuit, Aseel was given the reins for the Formula1 car.
Aseel Al-Hamad holds a special place in the Saudi female community as she represents the country on the FIA Women Commission. Here duties involve promoting and training Saudi women in motorsport.
Aseel Al-Hamad said: “I have loved racing and motorsport from a very young age and to drive a Formula 1 car goes even beyond my dreams and what I thought was possible. It is a genuine honor to drive the Renault Sport Formula One Team E20 car in front of the crowds at its home Grand Prix in France. I hope to do so on the day when women can drive on the roads in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shows what you can do if you have the passion and spirit to dream.”