Alice Powell will make her return to racing at the Formula E rookie test in Berlin Tempelhof this month. Powell, who has not competed for almost two years, will be driving for the Envision Racing team. Joining her at the test will be Dries Vanthoor, a BMW World Endurance Championship driver who has not driven a single-seater in almost a decade. Powell was not considered for available spots in the Berlin races due to her absence from competition. However, she is not upset with the decision and understands why she will not make her Formula E debut in Germany. Powell is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the test and supports the team in their quest for the best results.
Powell has already done preliminary tests for Envision and took part in the Formula E rookie test in March 2020 in Marrakesh. She has also worked with the team in their simulator and attended several E-Prixs as a reserve. Although she acknowledges that people may focus on lap times, Powell believes the team does not expect her to make a big impact. She is eager to gain more track experience and expresses her gratitude to the team for trusting her.
Powell’s racing career has faced challenges due to lack of opportunities and financial support. She had a period of absence between 2015 and 2018 before returning to racing in the Jaguar I-Pace eTROPHY and then joining the inaugural season of the W Series. In 2021, she finished as runner-up in the W Series with three wins. Powell recognizes the importance of seizing opportunities like the Envision rookie test, but also emphasizes the need to consider long-term plans and financial responsibilities.
In addition to her racing career, Powell is deeply involved in supporting F1 Academy driver Abbi Pulling and works extensively with the Alpine F1 team. She also works as a commentator and expert on F2 and Formula 3 productions at Sky Sports and is part of Channel 4’s F1 coverage. Powell enjoys the work she does outside the car and finds it challenging to fit races into her busy schedule.
Formula E has provided racing opportunities for three women since its inception, including Katherine Legge, Michaela Cerruti, and Simona de Silvestro. However, real prospects for more significant track time have been limited. This season, Powell and Marta Garcia have had good track time, indicating progress in offering more opportunities for women in Formula E. The topic of women competing in Formula E has been a point of discussion, raising questions about why female drivers have not been as successful. The car design, historically done by men, may be a factor. Formula E is considering introducing more women into the design process of the Gen4 cars to potentially level the playing field between genders. This could attract more female talent to the championship and allow women to compete on merit, rather than for marketing or novelty reasons.
