Ana Carrasco: "This championship is something special"

At the tricky and demanding track where Ana Carrasco took her victory in 2017, Females in Motorsport sat down with her following her closely contested win in Race 2 of the WorldWCR Round 3 at the weekend.

"I don't know why it's always felt really good for me,” Ana tells Females in Motorsport. “Just my racing style, it's really good for this track - the fast corners are always where I can make the difference between others, especially the last sector was really important.”

While talking, Ana pointed to her tattoo of the circuit on her arm, emphasising just how special this race weekend is to her.

“Even I have a tattoo of the circuit!” she says. “It means a lot to me to win here, because it was my first victory. . . For me, it was important to win here. It's the middle of the championship so it's important to be close between Maria, because we will fight with her until the last race for the title. So to go to the summer break with this victory is important. . . when we come back in Cremona, it'll be a good target to try to lead the championship."

In the first half of this season, Maria and Ana have already been locked in an intense competition for the inaugural World WCR championship title. Three rounds in, Ana is second in the championship - trailing Maria by a mere seven points. Both have been incredibly consistent, with fellow rider Sara Sanchez also demonstrating her talents - having finished every race on the podium.

In the blazing summer with a track temperature of over 45 degrees Celsius, the physical demands of the Portimão must have been immense.

"It's really hot, but honestly yesterday was worse, because with the red flag, it was only seven laps, so it was very fast - the race,” she says. “With this track, it's always difficult because the temperature is so high. Also, the asphalt - it's really, really high, with the tyres and everything. It's difficult to manage and it's quite easy to make mistakes. The most difficult thing is that we are, the four riders always, in the same positions, so it's difficult to gain a lot of advantage. So yeah, it'll be a tough championship, I know."

In 2018, Ana sported the iconic phrase ‘Ride Like A Girl’ on the back of her Kawasaki. We wanted to hear how it feels to now be part of a championship that is so centred on visibility and inclusion.

"This championship is something special, because it's the first time ever that Dorna and the FIM just to help women to grow inside this sport,” Ana says. “It was important to me to be here in this first edition because we have to make this championship quite important, to have more riders in the future, to have more sponsors, more brands. 

“Maria and me racing here is really important because we are both riding in world championships since a lot of time ago. We are the most experienced riders, so we are putting a lot of good level inside the championship. The other girls are always improving because they have a good target, so the championship is really nice and we will keep working to make it bigger."

Around the World WCR paddock, Ana’s fellow riders frequently cited her and Maria as inspirations they had looked up to throughout their careers. 

Before WorldWCR, many of the riders in the series were either the only woman or one of few racing from their respective nations. Sponsorships and securing the funding to enter championships is a difficulty, so the spotlight and attention that World WCR has garnered is so critical.

In such a strong start to the season by Ana, we spoke to her about what she deemed her greatest strength.

"The best thing for me was that I had the experience to fight for a world championship. . . I know you don't win or lose the championship in a good or bad weekend, so it's important to be consistent, to not make any mistakes because we are all very close and what can make the difference is a mistake during the season,” Ana says. “I know until the end, it's never gone. I won the 2018 [championship] by one point in the last race. In my mind, at some point it's difficult because you want to win always but I'm clear that I want to keep calm and wait. . . this is my best strength because for them maybe, it's the first time they fight for a world championship. 

“I know it's a lot of tension, it's difficult to manage. But for me, it's not the first time so I can have an advantage on this."

In talking to Ana, it became clear that she’s focused on one goal going into the summer break. The championship title.

"I want to win races,” she says. “This is the most important, to try to be consistent. It's also important to be always on the podium. Yesterday, I had problems on the bike, but I achieved third position. So in those kind of races, it's important to get all the points you can and then wait for your opportunity to win. 

“It's my second victory of the season, so it's important for me. But I want to focus now on Cremona, race, race, race, try to be stronger there because the circuit is quite [a bit] smaller so the difference between all the races will be closer. So, it can be a good circuit to get some more points of difference because there will be more riders inside the fight."

Round 4 of the championship will take place in Cremona, Italy on September 21-22.

As always, stay tuned on our website and social media for more championship news and updates. We can’t wait for more close battles and last lap overtakes!

All photos are courtesy of WorldWCR and Dorna.