The first Formula E race in the Middle East was held in the historic town and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ad-Diriyah on 15th December. It hosted over 40,000 local and international spectators. The international all-electric racing event constituted an exemplary step towards the KSA Vision 2030 goals. This ambitious merger of the past and future was a successful celebration, entertained by numerous international music artists.
The race featured drivers from across the globe, including seven female drivers who participated in the testing session on the 16th of December. Amongst these pioneer female drivers was Beitske Visser. Being the first woman to join the BMW junior program in 2017, she started her motorsports career at the age of 6. Ever since she was given a kart for her fifth birthday, she has been spending more and more time on the race tracks. She participated in European races at the age of 13, then moved to the European series at the age of 19 and has already participated in numerous international races. She has raced in kart, single-seater, GT series and spent the previous three years racing in the Formula Renault 3.5 World Series.
On Friday, 14th of December, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Riyadh held a lunch reception to welcome Beitske Visser. Mascha Baak, the Deputy Head of Mission, remarked in her introduction that this event is strongly in line with the Dutch priorities on women empowerment and on sustainability and that e-cars are the future as the Netherlands is greatly investing in enhancing climate change. She noted that the Formula E offers opportunity for both the entertainment and tourism sectors, in which the Netherlands are strong and which are a priority in the KSA Vision 2030 to diversify the economy. She was delighted to welcome Beitske as a tremendously talented racer.
Beitske remarked that what motivates her to race is the thrill she gets from being on the track. She noted that she feels honored to be part of the BMW i Andretti Motorsport team and humbled to be amongst the first females to do so in this country. She spoke of her rigorous six days a week training, and how her focus, determination and strive for perfection has been crucial in forging her path forward. Beitske also said that she really enjoyed her time in KSA and enjoyed participating in the race with all her esteemed colleagues. Furthermore, Beitske is the first woman to be admitted onto the Red Bull junior program, and when asked, she said that she was very grateful for this unique opportunity. With numerous accolades and many more years of racing ahead, Beitske is bound to be an inspiration to all while she proves that practice and hard work lead to success.
