Susie Wolff set to retire

Susie Wolff has announced her intention to retire from motorsport at the end of the season.

The 32-year-old Williams test driver has made her decision after deciding that her dream of competing in Formula One was not going to happen.

She has participated in several practice and test sessions for Williams, but was looked over when an opportunity for a race seat arose.

Valtteri Bottas suffered a back injury during the opening race weekend in Australia, this meant that he was potentially going to have to sit out the next race in Malaysia.

But rather than consider Wolff for the drive, Williams opted to sign Adrian Sutil instead.

In the end Bottas only missed the Australian Grand Prix, but it was a clear indication from Williams that Susie Wolff was never going to be considered for a race seat.

‘I don’t think it was the pivotal moment, but it was one of the moments where I could just see it getting harder and harder, But I said to myself ‘is this ever going to happen?’ It was the harsh reality that the dream wasn’t going to come true.’ she told the BBC.

Speaking to Sky Sports she added: ‘In the summer after I had driven the car for the last time I looked at my options for next year and I always said if I couldn’t keep progressing, and the next natural progression was to be on the starting grid, then I would call it a day and it became clear that I wasn’t going to get onto that start grid, so the decision was pretty easy in the end to make.’

‘I am a competitive sportsperson and I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t believe I was good enough, I showed everybody I was good enough every time I was in the car and I was in a competitive team, so of course I would like to have thought I was good enough. But I didn’t get the chance, I fought very hard for the chance and it didn’t come. And that is what I have to live with now.’

Speaking to the BBC Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams said: ‘It has been a pleasure to work with Susie over the years and see her develop as a driver within the team.

‘Her feedback and knowledge of the car has been an important part of our recent development and we will be sorry to see her go.’

Wolff will be best remembered for her seven seasons in German touring car series DTM.

Wolff made 73 starts with a highest place finish of 13th.