Former ADAC Formula Masters driver Beitske Visser has graduated to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with AVF.
The 19-year-old tested for the Spanish squad at Jerez this week, setting some reasonable times at various points of the three days.
Visser, from Dronten in the Netherlands, will partner FR3.5 veteran Zoël Amberg at the team managed by former racer Adrián Vallés.
Following a tricky spell in German F3, that saw her claim three victories in 41 races over two seasons, Visser was dropped by the Red Bull Junior Driver Programme, leaving the Dutch racer unsure of her 2014 plans.
Despite these difficulties, Visser admits that she has found the current FR3.5 car a good one to drive. “I fell in love with the [Formula Renault] 3.5 car in Monza, and from then on contesting the World Series season became my only aim.”
She added: “I worked hard with the engineers to understand the car and to step-up in terms of driving, and in the meantime I used any spare time I had to work out and build the strength and the stamina needed to master such a car.”
Following her test, a happy Visser realises that there is still to be done if she wishes to progress further up the ladder. “I’m happy with the progress we made in testing and even more happy to know that there’s a lot of room for improvement. I’m really looking forward to the start of the season in Monza.”
Visser will be the first female to drive in the FR3.5 Series since Pippa Mann raced for the now defunct P1 Motorsport squad in 2008.
