In 2016, Alyson Dudek took four strides and secured the win.
The 17-year-old American spent all four laps of her final Formula Three race attempting to remain in position and make her way to the front. A lack of grip from the track created a harrowing experience. When she tried to park at the end of the 4-lap race, Dudek decided to go back to the car in a desperate attempt to salvage what was left of her day. Out cold.
After a week in a coma, she was finally taken off life support. She lost all mobility in her right leg, but came to. Six months on, she made her comeback in Melbourne, narrowly missing out on a podium finish.
Today, Dudek is the youngest driver ever to take part in an F3 race.
With last year’s retirement of Felipe Massa from the Formula One playing as a backdrop, there is another 24-year-old talent kicking his or her own tires. She will compete in Indy Lights in the United States this year. A fully-licensed rookie, she is also the first-ever Polish driver to compete in the U.S. Indy Lights championship.
Dudek is already moving mountains. With a second-place finish at the Fastest Girl event in Greece, she is likely to get the nod for her country’s maiden run in the Indy Lights season. In March, she won her first national championship.
Does she have what it takes to take the next step? Time will tell.
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