SEASON REVIEW OF THE MINARDI MANAGEMENT RACING DRIVERS – VANESA SILKUNAITE

In our seventh issue (April 2024), we introduced you to Minardi Management and their female racing drivers. Minardi Management supports racing drivers on their journey in motorsport. Having an agency like this at their side is a huge relief for young talents. Minardi Management stands for precisely this kind of talent promotion in motorsport. The path in motorsport is not easy and is often dominated by big money. That‘s why it‘s important to me to report on this agency and its female racing drivers. Being visible in the media is also a very important factor for young girls in motorsport. I have been in contact with Dorothea Schulz from Minardi Management since 2024, which has given me the opportunity to offer a personal review of the 2025 season of Vanesa Silkunaite, Milla Sjöstrand, Nefeli Kosmopoulou and Julia Angelard through theier statements.

Statement by Vanesa Silkunaite:
In my opinion, the 2025 season went pretty well. In the first half of 2025, I had some ups and downs. There were good days and bad days. But I learned a lot as a racing driver from all these experiences. I greatly improved my driving style and racing skills. At the beginning of this season, we had some difficulties , but in the end we found a good pace that allowed us to aim for a few podium places, and we managed to achieve that once.

My best experience in 2025 was participating in the Champions of Future Academy programme. It made me very proud of my performance and showed me that you have to work hard, never give up and always keep moving forward.

One highlight was in the final, where I achieved a good result and drove the fastest lap. I‘m very happy about that. In the Champions of Future Academy programme, everyone has the same equipment, so it all comes down to your driving skills. If you‘re selected as a girl, it‘s even better because it gives you more opportunities in the future.

In the middle of last season, I moved from the junior to the senior class because I was a little too big for the junior class. During the season, I also changed my equipment in the Champions of the Future Academy to the senior class. That gave me new experiences and new opportunities for good results. My best result in 2025 was when I won the Junior Girls Lady Cup.

I am happy with all of my results from last season and I will see what I can achieve in 2026. I would like to participate in the Champions of Future Academy programme again this year and I will most likely also take part in OK championships. I am very happy to have finished the 2025 season well and I will work hard for the 2026 season.

WOMEN@RACETRACK #14 – Text: Petra Röhrig