IndyCar’s AJ Foyt Racing has signed Tatiana Calderon

Alfa Romeo F1 test driver Tatiana Calderon will compete in a dozen IndyCar races this season after agreeing a deal with AJ Foyt Racing.

Calderon becomes the first female driver to land at least a part-time IndyCar drive since Simona de Silvestro nine years ago, although Pippa Mann and former full-time series driver Danica Patrick have made sporadic appearances in that time.

The Colombian - who has raced in Formula 2, the World Endurance Championship and made two appearances at Le Mans - will feature in all 12 street and road races in this season’s calendar, vacating the seat for the remaining five oval events.

It’s the same approach that former F1 driver Romain Grosjean employed last year, with his pole position and three podium finishes earning him the nickname ‘the Phoenix’ after a startling recovery from that fiery crash in Bahrain late in 2020.

Grosjean, of course, impressed so much that he has now signed for one of the top outfits for the coming season.

The team - founded by four-time Indy500 winner AJ Foyt - is expanding its line-up to three cars this season, with two of them - including Calderon’s - backed by media firm and former Williams F1 sponsors ROKiT. Her teammates will be Dalton Kellet and current Indy Lights champion Kyle Kirkwood.

"Ever since I started my single seater career in the United States eleven years ago, IndyCar has been a reference for me and it’s a dream come true to be on the grid this year!” said Calderon. “I’m well aware of the challenge ahead, but this is the chance of a lifetime and I’m keen on making the most of it.”

The 28-year-old earned a test drive with the team at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in July last year, showing “a lot of potential” in the words of the owner himself. Meanwhile ROKiT co-founder Jonathan Kendrick added: "We recognised her talent and charisma early on, which we’ve seen grow and develop.

“We know Tatiana is already a role model to many young female drivers around the world and we think the huge exposure of the NTT IndyCar Series will serve only to increase her reach even further to become an inspiration to many more women to get involved in motorsports.”