Williams F1's Susie Wolff retires from motorsport

Wolff has been in Formula One with Williams F1 since 2012; she has announced her retirement

Susie Wolff, who has been Williams F1’s official test and development driver since the 2012 season, announced today that she would be retiring from motorsport.

The Scot became the first woman to race a Formula One race in over two decades when she drove for Williams at the 2014 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, partnering Felipe Massa.

Wolff began karting as a youngster, and at 14, she was named the British Woman Kart Racing Driver of the Year, a title she would go on to win another two times.

From British Formula A, Wolff (then Stoddart) moved to single-seater racing in 2001, making her Formula Renault debut. The following year, when she participated in the full season of the event, the British Racing Drivers’ Club awarded her the Rising Star of the Year award.

In 2005, she stepped up to Formula 3, moving then to the Deutsche Tournewagen Masters or DTM, one of the world's most major touring car championships. Part of the DTM for 6 years, she secured a seat with Williams F1 in 2012 to be a development driver.

In 2014, she became the first woman after Giovanna Amati in 1992 to be part of a Formula One weekend. Matching times closely with teammate Felipe Massa, Wolff had her role extended that year – becoming a test driver for the team.

She has since participated in the ROC or the Race of Champions for Team Scotland, partnering another F1 legend – David Coulthard, which she will do again this year.

Long regarded as one of the biggest faces for women in motorsport, Wolff mentioned across social media that she would continue to support women in motorsport although she will no longer be driving.