Esmee Hawkey, one of the leading female drivers in the UK, has been announced as MB Motorsport‘s official Development Driver ahead of the newly rebranded team’s first campaign in the British Touring Car Championship.

Hawkey competed in the inaugural season of the W Series and also claimed a third place championship finish in the Pro-Am Class in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, in which she will be taking on again with Team Parker Racing this year.

The 22-year old will work both on and off the track with MB Motorsport and has been confirmed to take part in the mid season test at Snetterton later this year. She will also work with Jake Hill and Sam Osborne as well as Mark Blundell and Shaun Hollamby – who run the team.

This will include on-track coaching, simulator development and off-track mentorship as the promising driver looks to a potential future in the championship.

“I am over the moon to be working with MB Motorsport throughout the 2020 season,” said Hawkey. “Last year was a great year for me, experiencing the W Series and continuing my development in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB but I feel like 2020 has to be the year that I take the next step in my career.

“For me, there is no better way than surrounding myself with people who have the knowledge and experience of making their own way up the motorsport ladder, which is exactly what I am trying to do.

“Working with the team across all aspects both on and off the track is going to be a huge help to my development. We’ve already started out on a great footing with some of the work behind the scenes to help me start the season strongly, and we’ll be building up to me getting behind the wheel in the middle of the season too which I can’t wait for!”

Mark Blundell, Sporting Director of MB Motorsport spoke about the importance this role will have to Hawkey.

“There are so many different elements that go into making a top-level racing driver in the present day and you can only improve and develop across all of these when you are exposed to them – this new role will allow Esmee exactly that,” he said.

“Esmee has made a thoroughly impressive start to her career, has some great people already around her and we are hoping that we can help accelerate this development this year through her new role.

“With Shaun having already worked with her during the early stages of her career, he is well aware of the talent Esmee possesses, and I was also able to see that first hand myself last year where she produced a number of impressive drives in the Carrera Cup.“