Official: Opel signs Sophia Flörsch as test & development driver for season 13

The Opel GSE Formula E Team has signed its first driver: German junior driver Sophia Flörsch will be a test and development driver for the new team in the electric world championship. Opel made the announcement in a press release on Wednesday morning. The 25-year-old from Munich will be involved in the development programme with immediate effect and is currently preparing for her new role in the simulator.

Flörsch has been active in car racing since 2015 and became in 2017 the first female driver to achieve a podium finish in the German Formula 4. In 2018, she had a serious accident in the Formula 3 race in Macau, but then returned to the cockpit. She continued to be active in Formula 3, DTM, sports cars and Indy NXT.

Flörsch has already tested the Gen4 car in the simulator for Opel and is also due to compete in the rookie sessions for the team in season 13. She will make her first public appearance for Opel on 21 and 22 April as part of the official Gen4 launch in Le Castellet, France, where she will be behind the wheel of the Opel car.

Team principal Schrott: "We combine talent promotion with high sporting standards"

"With Sophia's signing, we at Opel are sending a clear signal for the consistent promotion of young talents in electric motorsport," says Opel Team Principal Jörg Schrott. "Her precise technical feedback as well as her analytical way of working in the simulator and on the track will play an essential role in the further development of our Gen4 package,"

"At the same time, her fresh approach fits perfectly with our 'OMG! GSE' campaign, with which we present the emotional side of our all-electric high-performance models," continued Schrott. "We combine targeted talent promotion with high sporting standards and thus strengthen the visibility of a new generation in motorsport that combines sporting performance with public presence."

Flörsch: "Formula E is the toughest racing series in the world"

"Formula E is currently the toughest racing series in the world – and that's exactly where Opel and I are now competing together," says Sophia Flörsch. "The fact that a brand with 125 years of motorsport DNA is now taking the step into a world championship is impressive. As a German driver, being part of this factory team is more than a privilege for me."

"The Gen4 car is a thoroughbred race car: over 800 hp, all-wheel drive, ultra-fast," the German continues. "I can't wait to go into depth with the engineers, understand this car and get the maximum out of it. Together, we want to show what true teamwork can do – achieve sporting success and win the hearts of motorsport fans for Opel and Formula E."

Flörsch should have already driven the women's test at the 2024 pre-season tests in Valencia for Nissan. However, as the tests were moved to Madrid and postponed by one day due to heavy rainfall in the Valencia region, Flörsch was unable to take part due to other commitments. She had previously been due to test for HWA Racelab in 2018, but had to cancel this test due to her accident in Macau.