Meet Aston Martin's new Driver Ambassador

©AstonMartin

W Series charger and James Bond stunt driver Jessica Hawkins has joined the Aston Martin F1 team as the outfit's new Driver Ambassador.

Hawkins, who enjoyed several points-scoring strong drives in the 2019 W Series championship has raced in Formula Ford, Formula 4, the British Touring Car Championship, the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, and the Mini Challenge UK Pro Class, in which she scored five wins in 2017 and finished runner-up in the championship.

But the 26-year-old has also worked extensively as a stunt driver, first for Fast and Furious Live and then for the James Bond movie franchise, including for the upcoming Bond epic No Time to Die.

"I am incredibly excited to be joining Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team as its new Driver Ambassador, and I am really looking forward to working with Lance Stroll, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Hülkenberg and the rest of the team," said Hawkins.

"In fact, although it will surely be a hell of a lot of hard work, it is a dream come true for me. Besides, I am definitely not afraid of hard work.

"I will continue to race with W Series this year, and, despite my super-exciting new position with Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team, I will remain fully focused on driving my heart out in an effort to score as many points in the 2021 W Series championship as I possibly can."

Aston Martin team boss Otmar Szafnauer is delighted to welcome Jessica to Team Silverstone.

"She has not had it easy in her racing career so far, always having to fight for drives as all young drivers do, especially young women, and her determination to beat the odds is as obvious as it is admirable," said Szafnauer.

"Jessica acquitted herself well in the inaugural season of W Series, 2019, finishing in the top 12 in the series’ standings, which success allowed her to progress to the next season of W Series, which will be run on the support card of eight Formula One Grands Prix this year."

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.