On the back of some skeptical commentary directed towards Lotus F1 development driver Carmen Jorda, the 27-year-old Spanish driver has received the enthusiastic support of one Bernie Ecclestone.
The attractive Jorda's past credentials include a spell in the American Indy Lights series in 2010 as well as three seasons in European GP3, and all were marked by lack luster results and relative anonymity.
As a result, critics have questioned her merits and subsequent nomination earlier this year as a Lotus development driver, something many view as a mere public relations ploy on the part of the British squad.
Former WRC winner and FIA Women in Motorsport head Michèle Mouton was particularly vocal on the matter, saying that while she respected drivers like Suzie Wolff and Danica Patrick, she was not interested in female drivers rising to prominence for purely marketing reasons, although she later specified that her comments were not directly aimed at Jorda.
But Formula 1's supremo disagrees with Jorda's critics, underlining her sense of commitment and the quality of her current work with Lotus.
“She is very good," Ecclestone told Motorpsort.com. "We asked Lotus to see and she has done a good job for them. She wants to be in F1. We have to try to find the right way, but she is not alone. There are plenty of other people."
Mister E. would welcome an appealing female driver in F1, for obvious reasons, but also underlines the necessity to uncover an individual who incorporates all the right qualities.
“I saw the American girl, Danica Patrick, and I said we would be able to do something for IndyCar driver Simona de Silvestro, but they don't want to come to Europe; they want to stay in America. So you have to get the person who has enough talent and wants to do it, and is prepared to give up what it takes.”
The last women to enter a Grand Prix was South African Desiré Wilson in 1980, while the last female driver to effectively start a World Championship F1 race was Italian Lella Lombardi in 1976.
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