At her 18 years, the Dianense pilot Marta García has a dream: to participate in the 1 Formula. This young student who attends 2º of high school in Barcelona, is a lover of the world of cars. A hobby that she discovered with just 8 eights, when her parents took her to a karting in Sueca. Since then her ambition has led her to be one of the women who has the closest opportunity to get on a single-seater in the 1 Formula.
Who instilled the love for cars?
One afternoon my father took me to ride a kart and when I tried the experience I told him I wanted one. I bought it and with 9 years I started my career in karts. I have gone through all the categories and the truth is that I had good results at national, European and even global level.
After your stage in the karts, what did you do?
When I thought that my stage in karting was over, and thanks to my results, I joined the Renault Junior Team. There I was a year competing in Formula 4, but things did not go as expected and I left.
What did this setback mean for your racing career?
The truth is that I have a hard time, very badly. We had no budget to compete and I thought about the worst, that my career was over. My illusions as a young man thrown to the ground. It was honestly hard. This sport is very expensive and my father could not give me more, and everything became complicated.
What did you cling to at that moment?
I thought about focusing on studies, I like letters and I will try to do something that has to do with the world of marketing or advertising. Well, in that, and I returned to the world of karting to run the Spanish Championship.
When did you get the great opportunity to compete again?
Everything changed at the beginning of the year, when I received a call to go to try an F3, in an Austrian circuit. There I had to compete with 60 more women. I was lucky to pass the cut and later, in March, another selection arrived, this time in Almeria. There I dazzled again because of my driving style and definitely entered the 18 women who dispute the women's World Cup.
Are you a very competitive driver?
Within the track I am very competitive, the fact of having run together with men makes you strong, since most of them do not support a woman forward. Then I have to admit that I have good friends in both women and men, but always when I get off the car.
Are you happy with the third place in Hockenheim?
I'm happy but I think he could do better. I am the one who wants to win even when I play a board game. But I also think that, having been without running for so long, it's a very good result, but I want to win and that's what motivates me the most for the next W Series women's world race.
Do you combine studies well with competition?
Before it was all easier, now I'm quite busy, in fact I was running in Germany and this week I have it full of final exams of 2º of high school and I am overwhelmed.
Do you usually come a lot for Dénia?
Yes of course, whenever I can I come to Dénia, my parents live here, they have a store, Original Pik and I give them a hand.
Do people usually stop you on the street?
Not for the moment. I am very lucky that when I walk through Dénia I can do it with total normality. When I come here I always call my friends to go out and I do it with total peace of mind.
Do you get to the 1 Formula you see it as a dream?
I see it difficult because it is a very expensive sport, now it is true that I am competing in a championship that is free, but next year I will have to do other things, Formula Renault, Formula 3 and it all depends on me doing results and doing well, Step by Step. But everything is more complicated and it would be impossible to get to the 1 Formula.
At the moment, the Dianense, who enjoys her first podium of the season, is already thinking about her next appointment in the women's W Series, which will be the next 17 and 18 in May at the Belgian Zolder circuit.
