W Series, the international single-seater motor racing championship for female drivers, today announces that Emma Kimiläinen will compete for the Puma W Series Team in 2022 as the brand extends its team title and global racewear partnership this year.
Emma has won two races in her two seasons with W Series, the latter victory – at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium last August – starting a run of four consecutive podium finishes which saw the 32-year-old Finn end the season in third place in the championship standings. Emma will now look to take that excellent form into the 2022 W Series season, which consists of support races at eight Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends, starting in Miami, USA, in May. The Puma W Series Team finished sixth in last year's inaugural teams' championship, and Emma's team-mate will be announced in due course.
Puma Motorsport broke the mould during W Series' second season in 2021 by tailoring racewear specifically for female drivers for the very first time. As part of their women's platform, She Moves Us, Puma will supply bespoke racewear during W Series' third on-track season. Puma Motorsport has supplied high-performance, flame-retardant racewear for W Series' drivers since the inaugural season in 2019. Puma is associated with the highest levels of motorsport and their tailored, triple-layer Nomex race suits ensure F1 standards of safety, performance, and comfort.
Catherine Bond Muir (Chief Executive Officer, W Series) said:
"I am delighted that Puma will continue to support W Series' mission in 2022. Our brands are perfectly aligned – W Series aims to change the face of motorsport and increase opportunities in our industry for girls and women all around the world, while Puma is committed to celebrating females who inspire others, as shown by their support of W Series since our inaugural season. All of W Series' drivers are inspirational and none more so than Emma Kimiläinen, who has competed against and beaten the world’s best drivers throughout her career and continues to do so whilst juggling her life as a businesswoman and a mother.
"Like us, Puma is determined to do all it can to help our drivers showcase their talent on motor racing's greatest stage, and W Series' drivers will once again be equipped with racewear tailored to their exact specifications, enabling them to feel comfortable in the car and perform at their best."
Emma Kimiläinen (Puma W Series Team) said:
"I am very proud to be racing for the Puma W Series Team this year. With their She Moves Us campaign, our brand and values fit together perfectly and, being a professional athlete at the top level and a mother, I hope to inspire girls and women chasing their dreams in sports. It's amazing to be recognised by Puma and the fact that they believe in my talent even though I'm a 32-year-old mum speaks volumes. Together we can show the world that, irrespective of your age or gender, you can always pursue your dreams.
"After finishing fifth in the inaugural W Series season and third last year, I'm aiming to continue my progress and win the title in 2022. The first half of last season was difficult, but I know what I need to succeed this year and I'm certain that the Puma team will provide that and enable me to launch a strong bid for the title – nothing less will do.
"Pre-season has been good so far with lots of snowmobiling at home in Finland and I've been training really hard. I'm looking forward to pre-season testing in Spain this week – we are a tight family in W Series so it will be lovely to see some old faces and greet some new ones."
James Clark (Head of Sports Marketing Motorsport & Operations, Puma) said:
"It is fantastic to join forces with W Series and our own Puma W Series Team again this year, and I would like to thank the entire W Series team for embracing our vision. W Series has become one of the key pillars of our women's campaign, She Moves Us, which celebrates females who move culture and sports forward and inspire women around the world. Passion for motorsport is in Puma's DNA and we are excited to watch W Series grow worldwide. Through the She Moves Us campaign, we will provide comprehensive support and endeavour to drive women in motorsport forward, celebrating the success of the Puma W Series Team and the series as a whole."
Maura Everett (Senior Brand Strategist, Women's Performance, Puma) said:
"We are excited to have Emma Kimiläinen join the Puma family as she is the embodiment of She Moves Us - excelling as an elite athlete in a male dominated sport while being a full-time mother. Emma's winning attitude on and off track will inspire the next generation of women in motorsport."
Puma: She Moves Us
She Moves Us is Puma's women's platform, celebrating the females who move sports and culture forward and inspire other women around the world. Puma's female athletes are the embodiment of She Moves Us – women moving together to achieve greatness while leaving it all out on the pitch, court, and track. W Series brings the fastest women in the world together to drive change in the world of sport and the Puma W Series Team drivers connect She Moves Us with Puma's sports DNA.
The Puma woman is a force to be reckoned with. Her philosophy: Keep moving. She's active in her life, her workouts, and her world. Be it fashion or sport, she leaves her mark and makes her move. Moving with confidence and style. Turning heads. Stirring conversation. She inspires the women around her to get active and get with the movement – and they inspire her right back. It's her crew that brings her joy and meaning – and when they win, she wins too. Moving the needle. Moving the conversation. Moving her community. She moves us.