GIRL POWER FOR VOLKSWAGEN: CALDERÓN LINES UP FOR CARLIN IN THE FORMULA 3 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

February 23, 2015 by Volkswagen Motorsport

◾Tatiana Calderón drives for Carlin 'powered by Volkswagen' in the 2015 Formula 3 European Championship

◾Columbian shows impressive pace and technical understanding at tests

Tatiana Calderón (CO) will be 'powered by Volkswagen' in the coming FIA Formula 3 European Championship. The 21-year-old Columbian driver will join team-mates George Russell (GB) and Callum Ilot (GB) in the Carlin team. Calderón is no stranger to the Formula 3 European Championship, having already raced in the junior series in 2013 and 2014. And with success: last year, the flying lady from Bogotá's best result was a fifth place in Spa-Francorchamps. Calderón ended the season 15th overall with 29 points to her name.

'Tatiana Calderón is a very talented driver, and we are delighted she will line up in 2015 with Volkswagen Power behind her,' said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. 'She caught the eye last year with some great results in the Formula 3 European Championship. Tatiana not only showed impressive pace during the winter tests in Valencia and Monteblanco. The engineers were also impressed by her feedback and technical understanding. I am confident that she will cause the odd shock this season.'

Tatiana Calderón is supported by the FIA 'Women in Motorsport' campaign, with which Volkswagen has cooperated from the word go. In recent years, several female drivers have taken their first steps in motor racing in the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup. The cooperation between Calderón, the FIA and Volkswagen is a logical continuation of the successful cooperation between the International Automobile Federation and Volkswagen.

Ladies first: podium in British Formula 3 and victory in the Florida Winter Series

'I'm extremely happy to be joining such a successful team as Carlin for the 2015 FIA F3 European Championship season,' said Tatiana Calderón. 'I love the team's working atmosphere and everyone's determination to succeed; I'm sure together with the support from Volkswagen Motorsport we will achieve great things. I'm in a great position, surrounded by great people and I want to make the most of this opportunity.'

In 2005, Calderón won the national karting championship in Columbia. She has since appeared in such series as the Star Mazda Series, Alpine Formula Renault and the British Formula 3 Championship, in which she became the first lady to stand on the podium courtesy of a third place at the Nürburgring in 2013. Last year, Calderón lined up in the Florida Winter Series, alongside her appearances in the Formula 3 European Championship. She promptly won a race on her first race weekend in Sebring.