Stéphane Kox (28) from Eindhoven is allowed to do a Formula 1 test for the Alpine team. She is a pit reporter for streaming service Viaplay that broadcasts Formula 1 in the Netherlands. She entered a karting competition between Formula 1 journalists and won it. She will therefore be allowed to drive a Formula 1 car next year.
The first Dutch woman who is allowed to drive a Formula 1 car comes from Brabant. Stéphane Kox has won a test with the Alpine F1 Team. During four Grand Prix this season, the French team organized kart races for journalists traveling with the Formula 1 circus.
Kox from Eindhoven has been a pit reporter at Viaplay since this year. She reports during the Formula 1 races from the starting grid and from the pit lane and behind the scenes. She is also allowed to interview F1 world champion Max Verstappen on behalf of the streaming service every weekend.
False start
This weekend is the last Formula 1 race of the season in Abu Dhabi. The last kart race of ‘media championship’ was also held there. It was still a matter of time whether Stéphane would win the title. In the first race, which she did win, she made a false start and that earned her a penalty.
For the all-decisive race, the Eindhoven driver was put back five places on the starting grid. Still, she managed to win. “But I really owe it to Melroy. He really helped me,” says the champion. Her Viaplay colleague held up her direct competitor a bit, allowing Stéphane to eventually overtake him and win the title and test.
To the gym
After the win, Stéphane had to ‘sink in’ for a while that she is going to test a real Formula 1 car. “Oh my God, I won a Formula 1 test,” she responds on Instagram. “Alpine, if you’re looking for me? I’m in the gym working out my neck.” Driving a Formula 1 car is very physically demanding, especially for the neck muscles.
Before Stéphane followed Formula 1 closely, she worked hard as a racing driver. From 2013 to 2019, she competed in various touring car classes. She just failed to qualify for Formula W, a racing class especially for female drivers. She is the daughter of the successful Eindhoven racing driver Peter Kox.
At the end of May next year, Stéphane will be allowed to test a few years old Formula 1 car from Alpine on the Paul Ricard circuit in France.
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