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Williams Racing, competing in the F1 World Championship, has announced that Sara Matsui, who has excelled in the All Japan Kart Championship, and Alessandro Giusti, the French F4 champion, will join their development program, the Williams Racing Driver Academy.
The Williams Racing Driver Academy, which Matsui and Giusti will now be a part of, aims to support the growth of promising drivers and enhance their skills both on and off the track, necessary to compete at the highest level of racing.
Matsui, who has participated in the Honda Racing School Suzuka (HRS) kart class and showcased her talent in the All Japan Kart Championship, will now join this development program.
In 2022, Matsui was also selected as a finalist for "Girls on Track - Rising Stars," promoted by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, and participated in training held in Europe at the age of 13.
Additionally, she competed in the mixed-gender kart race organized by the "F1 Academy" called the "Champions of the Future Academy Program" in the OK-N Junior class (11-14 years old). She achieved an overall 8th place out of 24 participants from around the world, demonstrating her talent on the karting stage.
Recognized for her performances in karting competitions on a global stage, Matsui earned the opportunity to join a team's development program for participation in F1. She stated, "It is a great honor to be a part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such a historically significant team."
She further expressed, "I am looking forward to gaining experience in Europe and can't wait for the new season to begin!"
In the 2024 season, Matsui will compete in the OK Junior class of the FIA Karting World Championship, representing the prestigious Italian team Kart Republic. She also plans to participate in the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy.
Joining Matsui in the Williams Racing Driver Academy, Alessandro Giusti, a 17-year-old French driver, competed in the French F4 Championship in his second year in 2022. He achieved 6 pole positions, 12 podium finishes, and 2 victories, ultimately becoming the champion.
In the following year, he participated in the Formula Regional European Championship and secured 3 wins and 4 podium finishes. Despite it being his debut season, he ranked 6th in the driver standings, garnering attention and successfully joining the academy. In 2024, he plans to compete in the Formula Regional European Championship from the ART Grand Prix team.
