Simona: GT, Indy and soon Nordschleife 🎥

A few days ago, Paretta Autosport introduced MoneyLion as one of the main sponsors for the Indy 500. Simona will test with the Dallara Chevy for the first time on April 8/9.

No, Simona de Silvestro will certainly not be bored in 2021. Some gentlemen who make their living from motorsport can only dream of her program.

In a last-minute move, the Porsche works driver traveled to Saudi Arabia at the end of February for the Formula E World Championship opener. The 32-year-old takes her testing and simulator work in Weissach seriously, but she can only prove her skills in races, for which she was at best a substitute driver in Formula E.

Change to the champion team of 2018
As a debutant in the ADAC GT Masters, she unfortunately only managed to do so to a certain extent in 2020. This year, however, the signs are much better.

In the meantime, all this is no longer new territory for them. Almost everything, at least: Together with her racing partner from last year, Klaus Bachler, she is switching from Team Bernhard to Herberth Motorsport through Porsche.

The Austrian contested a successful race weekend in Lausitz (2nd place) with the racing team from Jedenhofen in Upper Bavaria in 2020 as a replacement for Sven Müller, who had fallen ill, and could only report the best to Simona de Silvestro afterwards.

With co-team owner Robert Renauer, Herberth provided the ADAC GT champion three years ago. Müller and Renauer will form a duo again in 2021.

Difficult apprenticeship year
The Vaud native, who lives in Küsnacht on Lake Zurich, believes she has now eradicated her initial weakness in qualifying.

Simona de Silvestro: "Learning to understand a GT3 car on Pirelli tires and then battling with veterans in such a top-class field was very difficult. But towards the end of the season things got better and better. If I can pick up where I left off and implement what I've learned, we should do well in the championship."

Trust gained
The fact that it didn't work out with the first podium was not only due to her.

Simona de Silvestro: "Klaus had handed over the car to me a couple of times in a top position. When you're new to a series, like I am, others want to show who they are. If it hadn't been for a bump or two, a podium would have been possible. I hope we'll make up for that in 2021, because I've got a lot more confidence now. I'm confident and can handle this pressure of expectation."

Since Herberth Motorsport is also involved in other racing series (GT World Challenge, 24H Series), one or the other endurance race could be added for them.

Return to Indianapolis
In April and May, however, her focus will not only be on her first GT3 races, but above all on her planned appearance at the Indy 500. On April 8/9, she will take part in the official test drives at Indianapolis in Paretta Autosport's Dallara Chevrolet.

As reported, the team is managed by women with Beth Paretta at the helm. It receives technical support from multiple champion team Penske.

Simona de Silvestro: "This is a mega opportunity. I always had my eye on Indy after my last race in 2015 and I'm enormously happy to be returning there. I also have Porsche's goodwill to thank for this."

Broad support
What pleases them most is the enormous backing from all sides.

Simona de Silvestro: "The constellation with Penske is enormously good. I feel that everyone believes in me and the team. All the prerequisites are there, as is the case with Porsche."

No fear of high speed
There's no question that the 2010 Rookie of the Year Award winner has some confidence in her sixth Indy start.

Simona de Silvestro: "Turning into the first corner at 380 kilometers per hour for the first time will certainly seem very fast to me after such a long time, so I'll have to get used to it right away. But the good thing about Indianapolis is that you have plenty of time to prepare on and around the track. A good result should be in the cards, although you also need a lot of luck, especially at the Indy 500."

Nürburgring missing from the collection
The most prominent Swiss racing driver wants to fulfill another wish as early as this year. After her return from the Indy test drives, she wants to start the e-learning course to obtain the Nordschleife permit. The long-term goal is to take part in the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Simona de Silvestro: "So far I've only driven one lap alongside Klaus. I'm fascinated by this track. I'm still missing one Nürburgring race in my palmarès - I want to tick that off at some point..."

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