Emma Kimilainen
Emma Kimilainen
PUMA W Series Team
W Series Career Stats
- Age: 32
- Nationality: Finnish
- Hometown: Helsinki
- Date of birth: 08/07/1989
- Career highlight: My racing comeback in 2014 after having 4 years hiatus. To come back winning after so long break in a competely new life situation as a new parent was mentally the most demanding during my career and that’s why I value it the most. I grew a lot as a driver and as a person during that time.
- Favourite circuit : Fast circuits with relief are my favourites, lucky that there are many tracks like that in the W Series 2021 calendar such as Spa or COTA.
- Sporting hero: I don’t have one specific athlete as a hero but Finland’s national ice hockey team gives me goosebumps and a wide range of emotions when they play in the World Cup or at the Olympics. I’m also a fan of the Finnish ice hockey team Jokerit who plays in the KHL. I love ice hockey!
- Favourite animal: My rescue dog, Tyson.
Biography
Emma’s father, Hannu, introduced her to motorsport when she was only a year old and she started racing karts aged THREE when her family began their annual caravan trips around Finland visiting go-kart tracks. SHE DROVE HER FIRST RACE AT THE AGE OF FIVE. By the time she was 15 she had moved from go-karts to single-seaters and competed in the Northern European Formula Ford Championship in 2005. Three years later she joined Audi as their factory driver and competed in the Formula Masters Series in 2008. A year later she funded her own way into Formula Palmer Audi, finishing fifth after four podiums. Emma then took a break from racing due to financial crisis and started a family with her husband and the couple had a daughter in 2013. Emma returned to racing the following year in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship. She finished fifth in the 2019 W Series Championship, winning the race at Assen. In Finland she is also known as a media personality hosting TV and radio shows but her goal is to continue being a professional racing driver for as long as possible.
“I’m very proud to be racing for the Puma W Series Team this year. With their She Moves Us campaign, our brand and values fit together perfectly and, being a professional athlete at the top level and a mother, I hope to inspire girls and women chasing their dreams.”