Alice Powell, a 21-year-old racing driver from Chipping Norton, is in contention to drive alongside the likes of Lewis Hamilton at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after her grandfather said he would pay to turn her dream into reality.
Her opportunity has come about after Leafield-based Caterham went into administration at the end of last month.
The administrators have since launched a ‘crowd-funding’ project whereby the public can contribute towards a target of £2.35mi that would allow the team, who have missed the last two races, to compete at the championship decider in Abu Dhabi on Sunday week.
Powell’s grandfather, Jim Fraser, a retired Royal Air Force sergeant, saw an opportunity to get Powell her Formula One debut.
He wrote to the administrators, Smith & Williamson, offering to pay £35,000 in exchange for Powell driving in the first practice session on the Friday of the grand prix weekend.
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