After 22 years, Susie breaks F1 male bastion

Silverstone (England), July 4 (IANS) Scottish racing driver Susie Wolff became the first woman in 22 years to participate in an official Formula 1 World Championship meet when she drove the Williams of Valtteri Bottas in the first practice session of the British Grand Prix here Friday.

The last time a female participated in a Grand Prix weekend was when Italian Giovanna Amati failed to qualify her Brabham at the 1992 Brazilian GP at Interlagos.

However, Wolff's car went fastest very early, clocking one minute and 44.212 seconds, but then her engine lost oil pressure and she had to pull off the track after four laps around the 5.891 km circuit.

Wolff, wife of Mercedes' executive director Toto Wolff, is the sixth woman to participate in an F1 weekend after Maria Teresa de Filippis, Lella Lombardi, Divina Galica, Desiré Wilson and Amati.