Career
Mann began her single–seater career in 2003, after signing a three–race contract with Manor Motorsport to race in the winter series of the British Formula Renault Championship.
In 2004, she signed with Team JVA and completed a full season. She also competed a European Formula Renault event in Zolder.
In 2005, she signed a two–year contract to drive for Comtec Racing in the Formula Renault Eurocup as well as racing in that year's French Formula Renault 2.0 series. Pippa partnered Westley Barber for the UK based team and learnt a lot during the year.
In 2006 she raced in the UK Formula Renault 2.0 Championship as well as the Eurocup again for race team Comtec Racing, continuing the partnership with John Barnett and Murdoch Cockburn.
In January 2007, Mann signed for Cram by P1 Europe to become the first female to race in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. In her debut year she managed to score a point and also start from pole position. She competed in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2008 as well, still driving for P1 Motorsport team.
Mann signed to drive for Panther Racing in the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights series, the development series for the IndyCar Series.
During her debut season with Panther Racing, Mann scored a string of top-15 finishes, including three top-ten results. However a decision to close the Panther Racing Indy Lights team left her without a 2010 drive.
In December 2009, after deciding to remain in Indianapolis and find a place in another team, Mann confirmed that she would be joining Sam Schmidt Motorsports for the 2010 Firestone Indy Lights series. In 2010 she became the first female pole sitter for a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by heading the grid for the Indy Lights Freedom 100, and won her first race at Kentucky Speedway.
On Tuesday, March 1, 2011, Mann tested for the Indianapolis–based IZOD IndyCar Series team Conquest Racing at Texas Motor Speedway, and on April 19, she announced that she would be piloting the #36 entry for Conquest Racing in the 2011 Indianapolis 500. On Sunday, May 22, (Bump Day) Mann qualified 32nd for the 2011 Indianapolis 500, becoming the first British woman ever to qualify for the 500–mile race. During the race, she moved up 12 positions to finish in 20th place, despite a mechanical problem with her on-board water supply that left her severely dehydrated by the end of the race. She was sponsored in the race by Armando Montelongo, former star of the television show Flip This House.
On 13 August 2011, during the final day of practice for the MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Mann crashed and suffered an end-plate fracture of the C7 vertebra, but competed on 2 October in the Kentucky Indy 300.
On 16 October 2011, Mann was involved in a 15 car chain reaction crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mann sustained severe burns to her right little finger and was transported by ground ambulance to a Las Vegas area hospital, where she was admitted for treatment and released the next day, pending later surgery. The crash claimed the life of two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 Dan Wheldon, and also sent JR Hildebrand to hospital with a bruised sternum.
In 2012, Mann was "close" to attempt qualifying at the Indianapolis 500 for Dale Coyne Racing. The team signed her as third driver for the 2013 edition.
Read more about this topic: Pippa Mann
Famous quotes containing the word career:
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