In the spotlight: Bianca Steiner

Six things you have not yet heard about Top Speed pilot Bianca Steiner (27, from Wiener Neustadt).

1. Dad’s daughter

Clearly: Dad’s genes. Rudolf Steiner never raced himself, but fast cars are his passion. At the age of 9 Bianca was allowed to race for the first time with a kart. Next to the kart track, a formula car was on display – an urge had already burned into Bianca’s young head. At the age of 11 she debuted in a formula racing car, at 14 she went to Italy for the Formula Renault 1.6 championship: “Because the strongest and best drivers drive there”.

2. In the slipstream of Ricciardo

After two years in the 1.6-litre class, Bianca was promoted to the next higher category, the Formula Renault 2 Litre at the age of 16. For three years, until 2009, she made her laps there, always in the middle of the field. “What I learned then, even by mistake, no one will take away from me.” A guest start in the Eurocup at the Hungaroring should remain the most exciting experience: Daniel Ricciardo and Brendon Hartley were the competitors of the young Austrian – what has actually become of them?

3. Cause I’m a girl

Girls in racing are, as we men have learned in the meantime, more than just pretty finery next to racing cars. For Steiner it was sometimes an advantage and sometimes a disadvantage. She was often underestimated as a child. But sponsors found the quick girl hip. But Bianca always knew: “In the end, the stopwatch counts.”

Nice and fast: Bianca Steiner made a strong BOSS GP debut at Hockenheim in 4th place

4. Who says no?

In 2009 Steiner was on the Rechberg – without previous experience and without fear. Lionel Régal was named at the same time at another race, so the Frenchman’s Reynard was free. Since Régal and Steiner knew each other, he spontaneously asked, “Aren’t you going to drive?” “A matter of honour”, said Steiner and finished ninth overall. Régal, one of the best mountain racers of the 2000s, had a fatal accident one year later at a mountain race in Switzerland.

5. Let’s go whole hog

After an eight-year financial break and a reassurance of the bank official, the time had come again last year: A racing car was purchased. The Steiners had long considered buying a used car from the World Series by Renault. “But I wanted to enjoy it longer,” said Bianca, preferring the GP2 Dallara.

6. Career highlight

The 612 hp car has a glorious history: it is Timo Glock’s 2007 GP2 championship car, whose iSport team mate was Austrian Andi Zuber. Originally only intended for testing, Steiner competed in the BOSS GP at Hockenheim at the end of April. Perhaps the strong performances at the start of the season at Hockenheim will help to find a sponsor or two.