“I want to become the fastest woman in the world.”
Saturday 25 April 2026
Rosanne den Drijver has admired Max Verstappen for many years. Both began their careers in karting before making the step up to Formula 4. Verstappen made that transition years ago and went on to become a Formula 1 legend. Now, Den Drijver is following the same path.
She already completed several Formula 4 test sessions last winter, but now the real work begins. The racing driver from the Westland region is delighted to be competing in the Nordic4 Championship, a Formula 4 series held in Scandinavia.
“The championship consists of eight race weekends in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and I will compete in seven of them,” Den Drijver explains. “I see it as an excellent opportunity to gain experience in this category. Formula 4 cars can reach a top speed of 230 kilometres per hour.”
HAVO FINAL EXAMS
Den Drijver will only miss the second round on 9 and 10 May, and for good reason. She will be taking her HAVO final exams next month.
“It means I will lose valuable championship points, but I would prefer to earn my diploma straight away. I could have taken the exams in June, but that would not have been ideal. Because of my elite athlete status, I am allowed to drop one subject. In my case, that is business economics.”
After completing her HAVO diploma, Den Drijver hopes to make her breakthrough in motorsport. Her main goal is to secure a place in the F1 Academy, the all female racing championship.
“Ultimately, I want to become the fastest woman in the world. There is a rookie test in September. Hopefully, I will be invited to take part.”
ENTRY FEE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP ALONE IS €150,000
During her final school year, the Naaldwijk driver was already working hard to secure a Formula 4 seat as a stepping stone towards the F1 Academy.
“That had been my goal for a long time. Together with my mother, I approached several teams. Eventually, STEP Motorsport showed an interest. They were already competing in the Nordic4 Championship, and I immediately had a good feeling about them.”
Why did she choose this particular championship?
“It was partly a budget decision. The entry fee for a championship alone is €150,000. Larger championships, such as the British series, are even more expensive and can cost up to €400,000. The Nordic4 Championship was the best option for me.”
She actively searched for sponsors to make her racing dream possible and has already secured approximately €100,000 in sponsorship.
“We have a list of more than twenty benefits we can offer sponsors. Should I manage to raise additional funding, I would also like to compete in a round of the British Championship.”
In addition to the races, the budget also covers testing and equipment.
“You learn a great deal from every test session. After each session, the data analysts immediately review my performance and give me advice on areas such as how to approach certain corners. In the following session, I usually set faster lap times straight away.”
Alongside her physical training, Den Drijver also practises using a racing simulator.
“Since last October, I have had a simulator seat and screen at home. It allows you to drive every circuit virtually. Almost every Formula 4 driver has one. A simulator is also much cheaper than a real test session, although I would always prefer the real thing.”
This weekend, the big moment finally arrives as she makes her Nordic4 debut at Padborg Park in Denmark. Qualifying and the first race will take place on Saturday, followed by the second race and the final on Sunday. It is set to be the beginning of her breakthrough in Formula 4.