From Horsepower...to Horsepower

Formula Woman is a successful motor racing competition that has returned for 2021/2022. Thousands of women of all ages with a variety of backgrounds from all over the world will enter to see if they have what it takes to become a racing driver.

This week, I chat with Gigi Mäki-Öhrn about all this and more.

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Could you be the next Formula Woman Champion? | DriveTribe

Do you have what it takes?

Tell us a bit about yourself!

My name is Gigi Mäki. I'm a 25 year old woman from Sweden, working as a logistic coordinator & supply manager (a.k.a average 9-5 office job). Besides that, I also ride and train my own horses in different disciplines, but mostly competitive dressage.

Gigi Mäki-Öhrn

Gigi Mäki-Öhrn

What first got you into motorsport?

Oh hmm, I don't know actually. Apart from loving those Hot Wheels toys when I was little, I've always liked watching street racing (but of course I've never participated myself!) and some single-seat races (not so unsurprisingly the ones on street circuits 😂).

What does the Formula Woman opportunity mean to you?

It's an adventure I'm very grateful to be able to participate in! After last year's lockdowns and restrictions, I'm quite done with never getting around to not doing or trying the things I've always wanted to do. In this day and age, we as a society also tend to put an expiration date on dreams and accomplishments, as if you haven't turned Pro at something by the time you turn 20, you can never try anything new - not even for the fun of it and most definitely not with high ambitions.

Having Formula Woman open for any woman age 16 and up is an amazing contribution to many women still seeking their calling in life. Also, being a woman in a very male dominated culture, it feels really good having your own safe room where you can share the same experiences.

What have you been doing to prepare so far?

Watching many of this year's other participants social media posts I feel like I haven't prepared at all! But that is also the premise of this journey I guess. You start with little to no knowledge to see how far you will get and how quickly it will go. Right now, I'm just focusing on being prepared mentally and physically for my assessment day in November.

Would you like to be involved in motorsport either as a driver or in another role after Formula Woman?

If I have what it takes I would love to become a driver!

Who's currently the best racing driver in the world?

Going just by results this year of course, it has to be Max Verstappen. Showing great form up until the two recent races (although finishing in points in half a car is such a great feat), but I am also in awe of the veterans such as Vettel, Hamilton and Ricciardo going into their 10th + year in F1 and then Alonso and Kimi in their 20th + year. Becoming one of twenty top drivers is hard - staying there and being sought after by the teams is even harder!

What's your favourite type of motorsport?

Formula 1! Then again, any single-seat race is awesome because I love the cars. Perhaps because they remind me of the hot wheels toys I used to play with😂🤔 .

Gigi Mäki-Öhrn

Gigi Mäki-Öhrn

You ride horses, is this something you'd like to do professionally?

I used to think that being a professional competitive rider was what I wanted, but being competitive on the expense of a living animal's well-being is hard. I'd much rather chase 1st place and trophies in a car that is a machine and has no feelings.

Who are your role models?

Any historical female figure that made a great impact, but also fictitious female characters from movies and games I grew up with such as Ellen Ripley, Lara Croft and Sarah Connor.

If you could only eat three foods for the rest of your life, what would you choose

Sushi, any type of fast-food really and ice-cream haha.

What did you think of our chat? Let me know in the comments below.