Joanne Chaconte, a 16-year-old Australian driver in the F1 Academy, shares her journey from go-karting to the international racing scene. Discussing her inspirations, including her father and the support of figures like Susie Wolfe, Joanne reflects on the challenges of racing at such a young age, including living away from home and the pressures of sponsorship. She emphasizes the importance of resilience in motorsport and her commitment to inspiring future generations, while preparing for the final round in Las Vegas. Her story highlights the evolving landscape for women in motorsport.
Joanne dropped by the Garage studio before heading to Las Vegas for the final round. It’s been a big year for the Aussie teenager leaving the comforts of home to immerse herself in the Academy and everything it offers.
Buoyed by a strong weekend in Singapore last time out Joanne is determined to finish the season on a high.
The learnings in one of Motorsport’s fastest growing classes and who has helped her along the way. How she already feels a positive sense of responsibility to inspire the next wave of young Women in Motorsport. And why she is just getting started on the road to achieving her goals at the very highest levels of the sport. Spend a moment getting to know this emerging racer….a raw talent who is keeping it real as she continues to climb the ladder. Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know what you want to hear about in future Motorsport Brief episodes with Rusty.
"...The F1 Academy with Susie Wolfe in the driver's seat is doing some great things as you'll hear. Joanne is making the most of the opportunity..."
The F1 Academy is a program designed to help young female racers get better training and opportunities in motorsport, especially in Formula 1. It's all about supporting women in racing.
The F1 Academy is a new initiative aimed at promoting female drivers in motorsport, providing them with the necessary resources and opportunities to compete at higher levels. It focuses on developing young talent and increasing diversity in Formula 1.
"...he did a little bit of go-karting himself, nothing more than a passion and then he had..."
Go-karting is a fun type of racing where people drive small, fast go-karts on tracks. Many professional racers start with go-karting before moving on to bigger cars and competitions.
Go-karting is a popular motorsport that involves racing small, open-wheel vehicles called go-karts. It is often seen as a stepping stone for drivers aspiring to compete in higher levels of motorsport, including Formula 1.
"...so Formula 4 is the first proper single seater out of carts and stuff and and did..."
Formula 4 is a type of car racing that helps young drivers learn how to race in single-seater cars, which are small and fast. It's often the first step for drivers who want to compete in bigger races.
Formula 4 is a category of single-seater auto racing that serves as a stepping stone for young drivers aiming to reach higher levels of motorsport, such as Formula 3 and Formula 1.
"...when I drove it it was the suspension you know the steering just everything was so completely different..."
Suspension is the part of a car that helps it ride smoothly over bumps and turns. It keeps the wheels in contact with the ground for better control and comfort.
Suspension refers to the system of springs, shock absorbers, and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. It plays a crucial role in handling, ride comfort, and stability by absorbing shocks from the road and maintaining tire contact with the surface.
"...when I drove it it was the suspension you know the steering just everything was so completely different..."
Steering is how you control which direction the car goes. It involves the steering wheel and other parts that help turn the wheels.
Steering refers to the system that allows the driver to guide the vehicle's direction. It includes components like the steering wheel, steering column, and linkages that connect to the wheels, enabling precise control during driving.
"...I met them at a Grand Prix in this box on on a grandstand..."
A Grand Prix is a big car race that happens in different locations around the world. It's part of a series of races where the best drivers compete, and it's known for being very exciting and fast-paced.
A Grand Prix is a major international auto race, typically part of a series such as Formula 1. These races are held on closed circuits and are known for their high speeds and competitive nature, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.
"...it's always important to look for such a long game you know I'm only in Formula Formula 4 I'm 16 years old I'm trying to get into Formula 1..."
Formula 1 Academy is a program that helps young drivers learn how to race better and prepare for professional racing. It's like a school for future Formula 1 drivers.
The Formula 1 Academy is a developmental program aimed at nurturing young racing talent, providing them with the skills and experience needed to progress to higher levels of motorsport, including Formula 1. It focuses on training drivers in various aspects of racing, including technical skills and mental resilience.
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Welcome to the Motorsport Brief with an Aussie teenager chasing a big dream on the world stage.
Good day everybody, Rusty here. Earlier in the season we had Ava and Agnostiades on the
short cast during a gap in the F1 Academy schedule. The final round is coming up in
Las Vegas so we thought we'd get the other Aussie in the field in for a chat to Joanne
Chaconte in just a moment. Quick mention about a couple of recent eps that dropped. There
is a Gary Rogers tribute that runs nearly two hours. Thank you to everybody that we
asked to come on and share some stories and anecdotes about their time with Gary. The
moment we put that idea forward, they all said we're in. From Lee Holdsworth talking
about a two page handwritten contract that was faxed to him from GRM, James Golding sharing
a moment where he caught up with Gary shortly before his passing. That's a very special
memory for James. And Garth Tander basically saying he was done out of options after Formula
4 until Gary gave him a go. There are 12 or so guests in there and that's our little
way of keeping the memory of a great man burning bright. Hope you enjoy it. There's also a
catch up with Shane Van Gisburgen as he neared the end of the NASCAR season which is just
wrapped up. His thoughts on Bathurst. We put lots of your questions to him as well. Shane
was in fantastic form. That is a great chat. Noted historian, author and commentator John
Smales is in there with a feature episode, a two parter as well. And so is on the two
wheels side Peter Doyle, the boss of Motorcycling Australia. He's had a very successful career
as a team boss in the United States and in World Superbikes too. In recent weeks, Joanne
Chaconte dropped into our Melbourne studio. She was home briefly to C Family and for corporate
activity with her sponsors. It's been a huge mission for the teenager, leaving Australia
for lengthy periods away from family during the year to kind of learn the ropes and make
the right impression ultimately for an international career at the very highest level. The F1 Academy
with Susie Wolfe in the driver's seat is doing some great things as you'll hear. Joanne
is making the most of the opportunity and already inspiring others too.
Hello Joanne Chaconte, how are you? I'm good, how are you? It was great to meet you and
to chat with you in Singapore and I'm pleased that we've been able to put this together.
Where did the love of motor racing all come from for you? It's funny you say that. It
came from I think inherited by my dad. So he was a motorsport enthusiast like my family
but he did a little bit of go-karting himself, nothing more than a passion and then he had
a family and I have a younger brother who is younger and he got my brother into go-karting
and I was always a sporty person when I was younger. Like what? What are we talking? Swimming,
basketball, tennis. So competitive. I just like to keep active. And then seeing my brother
do go-karting was something new and it was so exciting in the family and it's not like
an everyday sport you can do in your backyard. So it was really intriguing and it was fun for
me to watch and seeing him enjoy it so much. So does dad go would you like to have a driver at
Oakley or Todd Road or something or where did you get your first taste of it? It was at Oakley
so it was a bit interesting because I had to convince my way there because he wouldn't really
you know let me have a drive. I feel like he didn't have any females to kind of reference from.
There was no girls, mechanical or anything so for him he thought I just naturally wouldn't enjoy it.
And that's not a because I mean our world has changed so much the way we embrace that which
is great and that's not a criticism of dad it's probably just how things. I would have mentioned
there was probably quite great pride for him too when you. Yeah 100% because I just I fell in love
with it completely and I wanted to pursue it, continue it and my brother lost interest and he
kind of came to me saying would you like to continue racing and I said yeah of course and
I kept racing and you know I think for him it was more like a power move to have this one girl like
in a field of 50 boys and kicking it out there I think for him it was like really good. The
are we talking age nine to onwards? When did it first really sort of launch for you?
Oh my brother was seven I was about nine years old. Okay yeah and did you feel like it was a
duck to water? Did it come easily? What reaction did you have? It's hard to kind of
sit here and remember but I just remember just falling in love with it completely like experiencing
speeds like that at nine years old and you know the vibration of the cart going through your body
is just like a new level of adrenaline and I completely loved it. It was so like I wanted
more. Excellent but um yeah that was it was a phenomenal feeling back then. The path to where
you are now and you're still only in your mid teens which is crazy for me. I love the fact that
you're on the world stage now there is a whole heap of learnings in that which will come to.
How did the notion of going from carting to F1 Academy come about and you are I think
correct me if I'm wrong here you are the you are the youngest in 2025 in the lineup aren't you?
Yeah um it came up like quite conveniently because I participated in the 2023 girls on track
for our driver academy um thing and. Giancarlo Fisichella was there exactly.
You were in Italy for this, weren't you? Yeah but it's funny how it came about because I participated
for the Ferrari thing and I like had to do my own preparation so I did like some sim work
over in Italy and the trainer at the sim he sort of said like because he knew I have no experience
at all he said you know if this doesn't work out for you I have a management team Giancarlo
Fisichella Marco Cioci that run it they he said you know check out these guys I'm sure they would
like to support your journey um if things don't work out and unfortunately didn't work out but I
feel like plan B was almost better than plan A so. So how did they help? Um you know we kind of
discussed with them about management um and they gave me opportunities like participating in the
championship um the Spanish and that was a huge milestone in my development as a driver.
Okay so Formula 4 is the first proper single seater out of carts and stuff and and did
how eye-opening was that how exciting was that where were you and so on? Yeah I was in Italy
when I first drove a Formula 4 car and I just came out of carts and I thought I was driving a
go-kart for the challenge for the girls on track challenge and I didn't have any idea what's
going to be in a Formula 4 and it was so like a little bit scary to see this huge machinery
and knowing that I was going to drive and it was with prema but mega at the same time mega team
100% I was so like excited to get on track and drive and when I drove it it was the suspension
you know the steering just everything was so completely different but it was like oh my gosh
I need to do this more more more it's all I could ask for. I was talking to a colleague who
has worked with me here at the podcast studios from from time to time on some automotive stuff
Nadine Armstrong who is at Motorsport Australia now she's a great operator and she said to me
you know did you ever contemplate a plan B or have you only ever been like all in for motor racing
did you think oh maybe I'll go and I don't know pursue an IT career or something was there ever
plan B? For me no I always just seen that like motorsport is my passion and it's almost become
like my whole life you know I've always had to miss out on weekends birthdays you know I don't
see my family as much anymore because I've moved most of my life overseas so for me it's just it's
what my life revolves around and my goal is to be in Formula 1 one day so I'm trying to give
everything I can to achieve that goal. Great stuff so do you kind of come you're here in
Australia now which is great we can we can talk to each other face to face before you ultimately
go to Las Vegas for the final round and so on when you're in in Europe where are you basing
yourself are you good with other languages how you going with all that stuff? I'm mostly like
all around the world to be honest there was a period where I'm traveling every four days which
was absolutely crazy and I think where I do most of my training if I do train if I have that chance
is in Italy ideally but I do like a lot of stuff with MP which is in Netherlands but I am half
Italian so I can understand Italian but when I'm in pressure I get scared and I got like
if someone speaks really fast to me as most Italians do you know I kind of just sit there
and I'm like oh Sisi but you know it was great as they use their hands so then it helps me
understand it more you know they could be angry about something and they're very like
open with their hands about it so I'm like okay I can understand where he's coming from
that's an asset that's an asset that's a huge thing in your in your back pocket
the difficulties in getting to this point because now we're talking kind of serious money I mean
even in karting it can be expensive at times so you're lovely folks who are here you know no
doubt there's been a lot of commitment from them behind the scenes but now you're starting to play
at a you know business a motor racing business sense at a whole new level
aren't you what's that been like yeah as a 16 year old it's a bit crazy to say that like
at the same time I'm a driver and like almost a business woman because it's most what's so
political as well it's important to build yourself a platform on as many areas as you can like
social media is very very important to build yourself on and sponsors I wouldn't be there
I wouldn't be where I am now without them and I think they've just helped me grow as a driver but
come to F1 Academy as a driver I am today tell me a little bit more about them because you've got
some good sponsors on board that are assisting you in this process and and some of them are
not what we might consider to be like like standard motor racing sponsorships either
there's some real kind of cutting-edge stuff there isn't it yeah for sure um I have Wella on
board with me in the F1 Academy they're my car sponsor but alongside that I have Kaboodle Kitchen
they're a kitchen company and they've actually been my day one sponsor have I loyalty I love it
it's crazy how I actually met them it's a funny story actually I met them at a Grand Prix in this
box on on a grandstand yeah but I got these tickets kind of by an accident and I was there
with my friends more for like business people you know good clients they sing two kids there and
try to kick me out so I tried to you know pull out a card and say yeah I'm actually a driver I'm
here in this box to watch the race and the guy goes huh let me sponsor you and it was just unbelievable
you know I just came out of carding and I wanted to transition to cars so that was unbelievable
how that chance came to me but it's a bit funny because he tried to kick me out but I came you
know they said I'm a driver I'm a huge I'm a huge believer sometimes in this business there are
little almost like sliding doors moments you were clearly you were clearly meant to be there which
is excellent so F1 Academy has gone through this almost stratospheric growth you are there at a
really cool time of it um Suzy Wolfe is a driving force of this whole initiative what has it been
like being around her has she been great from a support and advice standpoint a hundred percent
Suzy is like the boss woman in the F1 Academy and to see her supporting our races on the grid
always watching every move we do like in a way it's a little bit scary but it's so amazing to
see this role model like supporting us um when I was young I didn't really have anyone to aspire to
and now that she's just like always in front of our eyes it's incredible to see that she's really
really like taking action to bring a female into Formula One um and having a few conversations with
her here and there I mean she's always busy but it's it's still so real to have her that's great
that's I mean you know given what she achieved in her own driving career and and you know making
it with Williams and and so on that's uh great more than just a role model I think in in some
ways because she's she's got such a grasp of um the areas beyond the the car and beyond the the
cockpit itself but you and I spoke in Singapore you then went on to have a fantastic race which
I was so pleased um for you what is that kind of a season highlight how did you feel about
Singapore and and so on yeah I think Singapore is definitely one of my favorites on the calendar
this year I just enjoyed the track crazy like it was it was the definition of a gamble in that last
race um with the rain having on like with the rain on half of the track yeah I think that was
really hard to manage as a driver um did you enjoy the style of track because it's a it's a
brutal unforgiving place isn't it you know yeah I think it's really a driver's track and to like
it's about adapting quickly because we had one practice and for us rookies we've never been to
that track as well so for me I really really enjoyed that thrill of having to adapt quickly and
to make moves in a race have there been other mentors for you we've just talked Susie obviously
but it'd been other people along the way maybe someone here from Australia that have
that have given a bit of guidance as you go yeah 100% I think my two managers John Caller
and Marco Cioci they've guided me in the best ways possible that they can um but I've also
have um like a driver coach over here Tim Macro I think he's he's helped me along my way um Rowan
Ambrose I'm sure you know of um he's helped me in my carding career immensely and I wouldn't
be the driver that I am today without him you have some great people in your your corner which
I'm so pleased about what's the toughest thing you've had to deal with in this this process because
you know all of these women are intensely competitive they're all from different nations
we are very lucky we have two Australians um in the field as you climb as you go here what's been
the the kind of toughest thing you've had to adapt to maybe it's something as simple as living away
from home for example at 16 um I think yeah definitely moving my life over to Europe my
sporting life over to Europe has been like one of the toughest things I don't get to see my family
that often but I think knowing that motorsport can have more lows than ups is like definitely huge
you know it takes a lot of mental space um you can have high hopes for a race and unfortunately
that can all go crumbling down out of your control I think like one of my toughest races was in
Shanghai I qualified six starting third on the grid and unfortunately I got a few penalties out of my
control um and then I tried to give it another shot in the second race and I got taken out so
it's just really unfortunate how motorsport can always you know go wrong or you but but what I like
about that is it sounds as though you're good at framing it and parking it are you like are you good
at going okay that that's happened I have to move forward is that is that a learn thing because of
where you are in F1 Academy 100% I mean it's it's common sense you get beaten down about one thing but
it's always important to look for such a long game you know I'm only in Formula
Formula 4 I'm 16 years old I'm trying to get into Formula 1 it's such a long road ahead of me
great job great job I love that I wish I had that as I've said a couple of times lately to
different people I wish I had that outlook at your at your age how do you go from conversations
because it is um it is so important what F1 Academy is doing here but what I've come to
appreciate from a lot of women in all areas of motorsport is that the gender-based conversations
that they are important but you also want to move away from that to skills-based stuff and and focus
on your your own ability irrespective of the fact that you're female is that right yeah 100% I think
for me like gender doesn't really play out in your performance I like carding with men
boys my age it's always been like who have like whoever's older or you get put into a category
and I think everyone has the same talent it's just how much you can like put down that performance
so I think gender doesn't I think motorsport is one of the only sports that it doesn't really show
girls I mean sorry men are more naturally stronger which is probably one of our only
disadvantages in motorsport but I think that girls are capable of being as good as the men
we are not done yet on this edition of the short cast stick around more with joanne
chiconte in just a few moments you're listening to the motorsport brief keep an eye out in the
coming weeks for a new feature episode with Colin Bond Australian touring car great who was equally
talented in a rally car factory success with Holden and Ford and a whole lot more he has a
great new book out just in time for Christmas too it's called full tilt check it out when you can
let's get back to the convo with joanne chiconte now where to next have you started to have
conversations about 2026 how are you going with with all of that with the partners and so on um
yeah I think there's definitely conversations for 2026 I think my sponsors are doing an amazing
job I have now um fleet space which is a space company um they tell us about that and that's
that's super cool of course they um provide technology and data from space and you know
it's that's incredible and I love how they've paired with you on this this journey they've
obviously seen a nice synergy yeah motorsport again it's it's all about budget it's very very
expensive sport so not only I decided to pick a a cool sport but a very expensive one so my parents
are a bit they're struggling with that one but um fleet space I have now caught it on I have
Nike on board with me yeah I have a blue chip for sure I'm really really I can't be more grateful
enough to have them on board with me in my 2026 um season yeah so nothing's really confirmed yet
but I hope good news okay cool let's keep our fingers crossed for you on that let's talk about
the team that you're with this season maybe some of the people in the the pit line there that are
a bit more experienced in f1 academy that you might have been able to draw from and so on yeah
my teammates um especially Maya she's yeah she's competing um in the f1 academy this season and
almost trying to win the championship and I did super well in Singapore she did she she knows how
to assert her dominance and she's she's quite good it's honestly so inspiring and she's always been
like an inspiration but to be like teammates with her is nice it's incredible and she's such a nice
friend as well to have um for both Elba and I but to have her data and her experience is incredible
I couldn't ask for anymore so are you learning twofold from her then maybe about the moment it's her
you know she's been in it for a couple of years now so are you learning about the car and what it
can do and maybe Singapore centric things but on the flip side she strikes me as an assertive
person and the importance of that too yeah yeah for sure she's got so many years of experience
underneath her belt and I think even racing in Europe is another level of experience that you
have to kind of learn so good for that for you that isn't it yeah you know I'm we're from Australia
and we're so far away and the action in Europe is so much so different the intensity of it yeah
and you know the level of competition is so different but yeah I learned so so much from Maya
and to have her as a teammate is incredible Vegas is next what I mean it's a little way away as we
record this what are you doing from a preparation standpoint how excited are you about that and so
I can't believe we're racing in Vegas Vegas baby but um it's yeah it's incredible so I'm going to
try and do as much gym work as I usually do um we're going to fit in some sim with the team as
well but yeah I can't wait to race in Vegas and prepare heaps for next year good is the name
Joanne Chaconte back home in Australia resonating a bit more do you feel like because of what you're
doing that you can see a difference I know it's not um you know uh f1 level or or you know the
craziness that perhaps oscar piastri might be experiencing at the moment but have you seen
the growth and that not just in the partners but even even in a general sense yeah I mean I like to
try and keep my head high about it but I like to focus on what I'm doing obviously I am grateful
it's it's hard to acknowledge what I've achieved and sit back and be like wow I've actually done a lot
but it's it's good to see that I'm a role model in motorsport for girls or boys but I'm I like to
be like a role model and I like to see my messages that I receive or fans that come up to me and say
oh you've made me want to start in motorsport fantastic for me this is the best thing I could
ever hear it's honestly it's amazing you are great in that regard and the thing that I love
about it collectively is it doesn't matter if someone isn't pursuing a driving career they might be
wanting to be an engineer or something over that it does showcase women in motorsport at all sorts
of levels amazing to think at age 16 as we wrap this up that you're that you're already understanding
the importance of role models not just for you but what you can perhaps do to the next
nine year old that is coming through cutting what would be the advice to someone who might be
aiming to get a pink plate or to you know to perhaps one day get to f1 academy what would you
say to them you know just like I said to you before um for people who are wondering if they
should start motorsport I always say just do it and I can relate to that in some sense because my
dad he only saw it as a passion and he regretted not keep going and seeing what it could turn out
to and that's why he gave that opportunity to us and now it's the best decision he's ever made in
his life and he's giving us this chance and I would always say you know just do it you'll never
regret it it's such an experience that you can never forget and you have such a long way ahead
of you if you are in motorsport don't worry about the mistakes just keep your eyes forward and I'm
sure the next opportunity you get will be even better than the last one that you had great job
you well done yeah your lovely mum and dad are outside and um you know congratulations to them
for all the hard work they're they're putting into help make this happen but I love the fact
that you have this internal drive at your age to to pursue this keep boxing hard and we hope the
rest of the year and 2026 is good to you thank you for coming in today thank you Rusty thanks for
everything we have a brand new short cast in the Rusty's garage library absolutely thrilled
to have 16 year old Joanne Chaconte here with us to tell a bit of her story as you get set for the
final round of f1 academy in Vegas you excited now if this chat with Joanne has inspired you a little
can I direct you to the f1 academy socials and the f1academy.com website you may not necessarily
want to be a driver and that's fine there's opportunity in the sport beyond that engineering
data analysis perhaps even on the tyre or category management side if you're in high school check out
stem racing it used to be known as the f1 in schools program the world final was in
Singapore while I was there recently in the Aussies start and the Kiwis fared incredibly well too
before we go a quick shout out to Ava and Agnostiades we wish her a speedy recovery
she missed the Singapore round of f1 academy through injury Ava's had surgery on her left
foot and as she continues to recover it means that she won't be behind the wheel for the season
finale in Vegas either sadly we had a great chat with her about mid-season you can find that in
our library we'll catch you next week everybody bye for now
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