Discover more
Welcome to Paddock Pass – the series in which we delve deep behind the scenes of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship to bring you the latest interviews and insight from the world of all-electric city street racing.
We catch up with Francesca Valdani, Team Coordinator at Techeetah about getting hooked after her first taste of motorsport, growing up next to Monza and her three tips for starting out in motorsport.
What's your role?
I'm the person that organises everything for the race, for the travel, for the team and for the drivers. There are about 27 people that travel around the world and I'm trying to match up everyone and make sure they're in the right place! We have Portuguese, Italian, French, Austrailian people, so it's a good challenge to organise everyone.
How did you get into motorsport?
I lived close to Monza in Italy, so I started to work at the circuit about five years before I took my degree. I started to work as a traffic coordinator in the car park, then, after one year, I became Chief Security Officer for the Paddock for the Formula 1 race and I did that role for five years or so.
My goal was to become a member of a motorsport team. My parents weren't involved in motorsport at all, so I saw this as a good way to get into the industry.
Then, after my degree, I started working in a single seater championship in Italy, then I moved into a European championship, then four years ago, I started to work in WTCC, where I stayed two years as Team Manager and then I started to work here because it was a great championship.
Did you find the process challenging?
For sure, if you try to start in motorsport with no experience, then it's difficult. When I started, I didn't know exactly what I could do. But I had to work a lot to get to where I am.
What inspired you and how long did you know you wanted to work in racing?
I remember I went to go and see a Formula One test when I was 12 years old at Monza. I saw a car spin and immediately I was interested. Then I moved on to the paddock - everything was so coordinated and clean, and everyone was working together, so I said to myself, 'okay, I want to work here!'
People tried to make me stop, saying it was too much work but I said, 'I don't care - I want to go there.'
Was more challenging as a woman?
For sure it's not easy, and it's still not easy, but now you can see many girls in motorsport. You can see that things are changing, you can see female engineers - we might not be at the same level at the moment but it's better.
Any role models along the way?
When I was younger and I would see some girls in motorsport, I would think, 'wow!'. When I would see women in the paddock, they were my role models.
What's the best part of your job?
I don't know - I love everything about my job! I feel very lucky because I'm doing what I want to.
...and the not-so-good?
It's not easy to have a normal life in motorsport as you are always away. I'm lucky that I still have some friends at home, so when I come back I go and see them. Sometimes, when I see that they have a normal life, I think I'd like that but, when I get back on the flight, I think, 'no, this is my life' - I don't have the time to think about it really.
Formula E involves a lot of travel. What do you miss the most when you're away at races?
I miss my friends and my family but we are lucky to have this life and have experiences all around the world.
What's your day-to-day like both on and off-race weekends?
When it's not a race weekend, I need to work on the logistics and coordinate with the travel agency but, when it’s a race weekend, I care about the drivers, so I'm making sure they're in the right place at the right time and, I'm generally the problem solver! When someone has a problem to solve, they can ask me, and I will find a solution! It's quite stressful but it's good.
What's your career high point to date?
I think this is it - I'm on a good level and I think this championship has grown up a lot, very quickly. I wanted to get into Formula One but now I don't care. Formula E has the best races, in the middle of the city - it's cooler than Formula One - they're in the middle of nowhere!
What’s your favourite race in the Formula E calendar?
Monaco, for sure but also Punta del Este was very cool because of being right next to the sea. But all the cities are nice in their own way.
Where would you like to see Formula E race in the future?
I think Australia - I've always wanted to go there but I think that Rome is the best city to have a race in, even though I'm from Monza!
Top three top tips for someone looking to start a career in motorsport?
- Be strong and not care about the judgement of others.
- Focus on your goal.
- Work hard and be serious about it!
Previously on Paddock Pass;
Delphine Biscay, Venturi Formula E
Leon Price, DS Virgin Racing