BRABDS HATCH — Reema Juffali, the first Saudi Arabian female to compete in motorsport — only four months after the country granted women the right to drive on the roads — will graduate to the Formula 4 British Championship certified by FIA powered by Ford EcoBoost this year with Double R Racing.

Marking a hugely significant moment for the history making 27-year-old from Jeddah, Juffali will make her competitive British Formula 4 debut in April at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent with the 2018 championship winners from Woking.

Juffali, who studied in America before moving back home, only took her first steps in motorsport back in October at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi where she achieved two class podiums on her debut in the TRD 86 Cup.

Winning her first race in December, Juffali then took the decision to switch over to single-seater racing and debuted in the MRF Challenge where she contested the last round of the championship earlier this year in Chennai, India. Additionally, Juffali continued in the TRD 86 Cup where she is currently leading the Silver category and is placed third overall.

As well as being a major development so soon in her fledgling-racing career, the graduation to British F4 with Double R just six short months after her race debut in the Middle East shows how the Saudi Arabian is continuing to pave the way and break down barriers for women in her country.

Juffali is relishing her maiden season of racing in the UK with Double R in what is, arguably, one of the most competitive junior single-seater categories in Europe and a true proving ground for the stars of the future.

“I’m happy to be joining Double R Racing, a championship winning team with such a great history, and to be competing in British F4 where many great drivers have started,” said a delighted Juffali. “It’s going to be a tough year in such a competitive championship, but I’m ready for the challenge.”

Double R’s home track, Brands Hatch, will host the opening three races of the new British F4 season over the weekend April 6-7as part of the support package to the high-profile British Touring Car Championship. Juffali joins Sebastian Alvarez and Louis Foster in the team’s three-car line-up.

“We’re really looking forward to working with Reema in British F4 this year and delighted she’s joined Double R for her first full season of racing at any level,” said team principal Anthony Hieatt. “I know there’s a huge amount for her to learn – the car, the style of racing and all of the British tracks which are very unique – but Reema has shown a great deal of promise already.

“It’s fantastic to be working with someone who is breaking down barriers as Reema is, and has been over the past few months, since she decided to start racing. The aim at this stage is to try and make continued progress every weekend, and I’m sure she will.”

2019 British F4 Championship Calendar

6/7 April – Brands Hatch Indy, Kent; 27/28 April – Donington Park National, Leicestershire; 18/19 May – Thruxton, Hampshire; 15/16 June – Croft, North Yorkshire; 29/30 June – Oulton Park Island, Cheshire; 3/4 August – Snetterton 300, Norfolk; 17/18 August – Thruxton, Hampshire; 14/15 September – Knockhill, Fife; 28/29 September – Silverstone National, Northamptonshire; 12/13 October – Brands Hatch GP, Kent. — SG