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from https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/tatiana-calderon-2023-plans-foyt/10406659/

Calderon: ‘All options open’ for 2023 after IndyCar sojourn
Tatiana Calderon feels she has “unfinished business” in IndyCar
following the abrupt end to her 2022 campaign, but is open-minded about
her 2023 options.
Jamie Klein
Dec 1, 2022, 5:42 AM

Calderon: ‘All options open’ for 2023 after IndyCar sojourn
Calderon was signed up to race a third car for AJ Foyt Racing this
season on all the road and street course events, but was only able to
make seven of her planned 12 outings before her entry was withdrawn due
to ROKiT failing to come up with promised funding.

It meant July’s Mid-Ohio race was the Colombian’s last race in the
series, with a 15th-place finish at the Indianapolis Road Course
standing as her best result.

Looking back on her part-campaign in the series, Calderon believes she
managed well considering her lack of experience, but admits that any
future return - considered unlikely for 2023 - will depend on how much sponsorship she is able to raise.

“Considering the lack of preparation at the start of the year and the financial circumstances of the team, and also the fact I was running in
the team’s third car, which was not ideal, I think I did a good job,” Calderon told Motorsport.com.

“We signed the deal very late, we only had three test days prior to the
first race and I didn’t know any of the tracks except Mid-Ohio. The physicality of it all was on another level, and the tyres are different
between road course, street circuits, and even sometimes in testing, if Firestone shows up with different tyres. As a rookie, it made it really
tough.

“I think the team was satisfied with my progress. But to show people on
the outside you need the results, especially because now more than ever motorsport is so expensive.

“I definitely enjoyed my time in IndyCar and I hope I can go back in the future. I feel like I have some unfinished business there. But at the
end of the day, it’s how much money you can raise from sponsorship that dictates your chances to continue racing.”

After a spell on the sidelines, Calderon was handed a surprise chance to
return to Formula 2, where she previously raced full-time in 2019, with
the Charouz Racing System team in the final four rounds of the year.

Her mini-campaign, which was disrupted by an accident at Monza in which
she broke her hand, was made possible with financial support from
Colombian pop singer Karol G, to whom she was introduced by a mutual acquaintance.

“I never imagined I would race in F2 again, and the aim was to continue
in IndyCar,” said Calderon, who achieved a best finish of 18th with Charouz.

“It wasn’t like we were looking at all for a seat in F2 at all, but then
it just suddenly came. It was all thanks to Karol G, really. Without her
I wouldn’t have had this chance.

“Before Spa, I didn’t do any simulator, didn’t see the team or speak to any of the engineers, I just showed up there on Wednesday and did my
seat. Then it was three races in a row, so there was almost no time to
think or really prepare properly.”

Calderon admitted that budget limitations are likely to preclude a
full-time return to F2 for next year, as well as her preferred option of IndyCar, but said she was open to returning to endurance racing
following her two campaigns driving for the Richard Mille Racing LMP2
team in 2020-21.

The 29-year-old also said that she had been exploring the possibility of
going back to Japan, where she contested two COVID-disrupted seasons in
Super Formula for Drago Corse during the same period.

“Motorsport is getting really expensive, so we have to see how much sponsorship we can raise to really know what opportunities are
available,” the 29-year-old said. “At the moment I’m not sure what direction we will go in.

“But if I learnt anything this year, it’s that you never really know
what chances you might get, so I’m just going with the flow at the moment.”



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Avatar for goofball
She was ridiculous in Indycar. Constantly qualifying in the bottom 3 and finishing the races with 1–3 laps down to the winner, again in the
bottom 3 or dead last.

Avatar for joemackmia
Considering her driving prowess maybe the only option for her is
volunteer work in Africa.

Avatar for senna94
No matter if she opts for Indycar or F2, I take my hat off for her
tenacity and especially for her backers willingness to support her racing.
She is a charming lady, and they should always be welcome in racing. No
matter if they fight for secondary places. There are also men in the 2
series, that are not making a lot of points...or none

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