Winter Olympics: the racing driver turned bobsleigh driver

Simona de Silvestro’s journey from Porsche racing driver to aspiring Olympian

The racing driver on her dream of competing in the Winter Olympics in a bobsleigh

August 20, 2024

Woman sitting on ground leaning against Formula E racing car

Simona de Silvestro has competed in global motorsport series such as IndyCar and Formula E. Now she’s focusing on a new challenge – competing in bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics for Italy

Simona de Silvestro’s love of speed began at an early age – perhaps no surprise given that she grew up around cars at her father’s car dealership. Her motorsport career has seen Simona compete globally in some of the best-known and most competitive race series. She drove full-time in North America’s famed IndyCar series – winning Rookie of the Year in 2010 – before taking on Formula E with Team Andretti. Here, she became the first female driver ever to score points in the all-electric motorsport series with a ninth-place finish at the 2016 Long Beach ePrix.

Now Simona has set her sights on a new challenge – the Winter Olympics, where she plans to compete in the women’s monobob event in bobsleigh for Italy. And it’s a challenge she’s attacking with zeal, fuelled by a relentless pursuit of excellence. Life is about living your passion to the fullest, says Simona, whatever you decide to do. From a young age she’s had speed running through her veins. Adding an injection of ice seemed only natural, as she explains.

Tell us how your motor racing career started, Simona

“I got my first go-kart when I was six or seven years old. I was lucky because my parents let me try a lot of different things and supported me every step of the way. I played everything from tennis to football – but go-karting was always the sport I loved the most. So, I stuck with it.

“I did karting for about 10 years before I switched to racing cars. I then went to the USA and worked my way up to IndyCar. I ended up being Rookie of the Year at the Indy 500 and earned a podium, which was pretty exciting. After that I spent three years racing in Australia and did a couple of F1 tests in between. At the end of 2020, I joined Porsche with the Formula E programme and raced in GT. Today, I’m still very involved on the Formula E side.”

Two men and a woman talking by side of racetrack — “My very first race was in France,” says Simona, talking about her motorsport career. “It was raining and there were a lot of good drivers there. But I won that race. From then on, I just kept going” Photo: Porsche

You were racing cars in the US when you were just a teenager. What was it like living so far from home and on your own?

“For a long time, I wondered whether I should move to America at all. But it was the only way to keep my career alive. I remember sitting with my parents when I was still at school and we were like, what are we going to do? But then I said, you know what? This is the only way to go.

“I was in the USA with an Italian team that I ended up living with. It was interesting, being 17 and alone in a new country. But to be honest, when you’re an athlete you don’t really notice you’re alone because you’re doing what you love. It never occurred to me that it was a bit crazy to be where I am, because I was so focused on racing cars.”

Was it difficult to establish yourself as a racing driver, Simona?

“I was a racing driver first and foremost and I just tried to win races and be successful. I never felt different. But I think, as a woman, you have to prove yourself a lot more. Luckily for me, when I was in IndyCar I was pretty fast and I got the results. So, at the end of the day, the drivers accepted me in the field. But, certainly, I think it can be difficult to get the right opportunities. In racing, if you’re not in the right car, you’re not going to win a championship. Hopefully, the next generation of women won’t have to go through that and will be picked early and given the time to develop.”

Woman with Porsche racecars, under dust sheets, in the background — There was never any doubt in Simona’s mind that she would become a racing driver, who moved to America to race professionally in IndyCar when still a young woman Photo: Porsche

Have you still got plenty of racing dreams to achieve?

“I think there are more milestones to come. F1 has been a goal for me since I was seven years old. So, when I got the opportunity to test for F1, it felt like a dream. But then it didn’t work out and that was a difficult moment. As an athlete, when you have a goal, it’s easy to just trailblaze towards it and be super focused on what you want to achieve. And when it suddenly doesn’t happen because of something out of your control, it’s hard to deal with that. But after a while I realised that I’m still lucky to be racing cars and I love what I’m doing. I changed my perspective. I found a new focus. But I still feel I could fight for a championship if the right opportunity came along.”

It’s a big change to go from racing cars to driving a bobsleigh. Why did you decide to make the switch?

“I think it all comes down to the fact that I just love sport. When I was a kid, I used to watch the Olympics and I always felt inspired by the Games. And to be able to do that once in my lifetime would be amazing. So, at some point I started going through all the Olympic sports to see which ones I could realistically take part in. That’s how I came to bobsleigh, because I feel it’s the closest thing to driving a racecar.

“Three years ago, I finally decided to go for it 100 per cent. I managed to find a way in, after a lot of awkward phone calls. Now I’m part of the Italian national team, trying to qualify for the Olympic Games. It’s a hard dream to achieve for sure, but I think it’s quite uplifting when you have something completely new to strive for. So far, it’s been a fun but challenging journey.”

Woman in racing suit pushing a bobsleigh — Training to drive a monobob for a chance to represent Italy at the next Winter Olympics – to be held in February 2026 in Milano Cortina – is a challenge, says Simona, but already incredibly rewarding Photo: Steffen Hänsel/IG @steffensphoto

How are you preparing for the Winter Olympics with the Italian bobsleigh team?

“There’s definitely a lot to learn. The driving part of the bobsleigh makes a lot of sense to me because I’m used to speed. But I don’t have an engine in the bobsleigh – I am the engine. So that’s the biggest challenge.

“Everyone who comes to bobsleighing usually comes from track and field. But the next step is to learn how to run and push the bobsleigh as fast as possible. Now I do a lot of explosive training, which you don’t really do in racing. It’s been interesting. A lot of my body hurts most of the time. It’s a whole new world. Luckily, I have a lot of good people around me who know what they’re doing to make it possible.”

How does bobsleigh racing compare to racing in a car?

“It’s funny because I raced in the Indy 500 where the top speed is around 380km/h (236mph). But in bobsleigh, what is impressive is that you stand up there, and you go from zero to full focus in seconds. In motorsport, you have the race that is unfolding, and it’s quite long. A lot of things are happening on the track. But in bobsleigh, it all comes down to a few short minutes, and getting everything out of that first push. If you make one tiny mistake, it can hurt quite badly. In one sense, with the speed, it’s comparable, but the way you approach bobsleigh compared to car racing is way different.”

What’s next for you, Simona?

“At the moment it’s the Olympics, of course. At my age it won’t be possible to do it any later. And I’d like to do the Indy 500 again. I still have big goals.”

TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E 99X Electric covered in confetti

Download Porsche motorsport posters celebrating its 2024 title wins

Motorsport and Porsche have gone hand in hand since the company’s earliest days. But, even by Porsche standards, 2024 has been a great one. Find out why – and then grab yourself some specially-created wallpapers

Watch the new all-electric Porsche Macan film written, co-directed by and starring Dua Lipa

“Everything you’d expect from Porsche. And a few things you’d never imagine...” Global pop powerhouse Dua Lipa on the latest all-electric Macan film, which she co-wrote and co-directed

Women sat in boot of Porsche Cayenne with kitesurfing equipment

Kitesurfer Rita Arnaus x Porsche

For kitesurfing and Porsche athlete Rita Arnaus, the sea determines where she will be every day of the year. This is the story of how she followed her dream – and why she’s become an inspiration for women in her sport