Sophia Floersch return in doubt as series folds

Sophia Floersch

Floersch return in doubt as series folds

Her team confirmed the competition won't go ahead.

Matthew Scott

Friday 22 March 2019 17:15

Sophia Floersch's return to racing has been thrown into doubt after the competition she was due to compete in this year – the Formula European Masters (FEM) – was cancelled. Floersch's Van Amersfoort Racing team confirmed the news on social media.

Formula European Masters was due to take the place of European Formula 3 in 2019 after the latter combined with GP3 to form the FIA Formula 3 series which will join the Formula 1 calendar this year.

European F3 helped launch the careers of Max Verstappen, Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon as well as Mick Schumacher, who steps up to F2 this year, having beaten Dan Ticktum to the F3 title last year.

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Black Friday, we want to call it. Our much beloved #realF3 series, that unmistakenly produced the new Dutch national hero @VerstappenNL and many, many others is dead. We will be back soon with our new plans. #nevergiveup #thereisafuture
— VanAmersfoortRacing (@VARmotorsport) March 22, 2019

FEM had been due to support DTM in 2019, but Motorsport.com reports that a lack of confirmed drivers preceded its cancellation.

One of the few drivers who had been announced as a contender in 2019 was Floersch, the German who suffered serious injuries in a massive crash at the Macau Grand Prix, having competed in European Fe last year.

Floersch's recovery has been well-documented after her incident in Macau went viral, but Van Amersfoort will need to come up with a new plan for the 20-year-old, with entries in the F4 German and Italian F4 Championships - which would represent a step down from Floersch's 2018 programme - remaining.