Former IndyCar and Formula E star Simona De Silvestro has successfully traded her racing career for a new challenge after qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics in bobsleigh.
The Swiss born racing driver turned bobsledder will be representing home nation Italy at the Milano Cortina Games next month after qualifying for the monobob and two-woman event.
The 37-year-old started her racing career competing in Formula Renault before progressing up to IndyCar in which she spent four seasons as a full-time driver for HVM racing and KV Racing Technology. She has also spent time competing in Australian Supercars and in Formula E, as both a reserve and full-time driver.
First Eurocup start !
— Simona De Silvestro (@simdesilvestro) November 30, 2023
I am very proud to represent Italy in my bobsleigh endeavor.
Since my great great grandfather was the first climber of Monte Civetta. My dad’s family comes from the mountain side of Italy. So it is just fitting as am sliding them down to represent them! pic.twitter.com/mbtCoLQ6pG
Speaking to Porsche, de Silvestro explained why she decided to make the switch from tarmac to ice: “I think it all comes down to the fact that I just love sport. When I was a kid, I used to watch the Olympics, and I always felt inspired by the Games. And to be able to do that once in my lifetime would be amazing.”
Since her 2022 announcement that she would set her sights on qualifying for the 2026 Olympics, de Silvestro has competed across Europe and in her first event she finished an impressive fifth.
Bobsleigh and motor racing possess a similar skillset, as De Silvestro explained: “At some point I started going through all the Olympic sports to see which ones I could realistically take part in. That’s how I came to bobsleigh, because I feel it’s the closest thing to driving a race car.”
The former racing driver starts her Olympic medal bid on 15th February.
