Sukhmani’s promise has been recognised by Motorsport UK and the BWRDC, who nominated her for a 2022 & 2023 Gold Star Award for promising young girl racers aged between 10 and 17. Sukhmani also won the 2023 BWRDC Kartsport Trophy for the most sucessful female karter. She has also been scouted from the Karting field to be a founding member of the Alpine F1 Team Rac(H)er programme.
Alpine, a leading F1 team, has established a programme to identify young female karters who want to enter Formula 1. A comprehensive roadmap will then be deployed for the racing stars, setting out racing, testing, physical training and mental training programs to support the progression of these talents.
Alongside career support, Alpine will undertake scientific studies (physical, mental and wellness) to identify the training needs of the drivers to craft programmes to prepare them to the level needed for Formula 1.
Substantial resources will be allocated to give women drivers the same chances to succeed as the greatest champions and thus to move from karting to F4, to F3 and finally from F2 to F1.
By joining the programme Sukhmani’s promise will be honed and realised by the best in the business, giving her unrivalled advantage over the highly-competitive field searching to break into F1.
"The tools from Alpine will help me find the right balance. I need to combine racing with my studies.
Right now, I also need to understand what it takes to physically compete against many taller, stronger and older kids: that is my biggest challenge."
"The training Alpine will give, and the access I will have to some of the best in the sport, will be a huge benefit.
I am sure Alpine will help me with my karting career by learning more about the cars, how they work and what you need to do to succeed at every step towards F1. It is a huge chance for me.”
After showing well in the Euroformula Winter Series, Billy was confirmed in the Carlin Racing quartet for the 2019 Euroformula Open Championship.
Billy completed his incredible comeback story by winning the prestigious Pau Grand Prix, claiming his first single-seater triumph since having his lower legs amputated in 2017.
Less than a year after his life-changing accident at Donington Park, Billy returned to single-seater racing - claiming an emotional podium on his first race back.
Billy took two pole positions and three podiums on his way to 6th in the championship standings.
In his second season racing in British F4, Billy was leading the Challenge Cup standings, after taking 2 overall podiums in the first five races of the 2017 season. Despite his accident, Billy caught the hearts of a nation, inspiring many with his positive attitude in-light of his double leg amputation.
Following his dream to race in Formula 1, Billy made the natural step up into Formula car racing.
In his maiden season in the British F4 Championship, Billy took three podiums and a pole position - scoring 78 points in total.
2014 saw Billy take 2nd overall in the 2014 Winter Series, taking two podiums and victories in the process.
Billy was in the hunt for regular race wins and a championship challenge, taking two wins, seven podiums and a pole position - taking 5th in the standings.
Over this period, Billy was seeded 8th in the MSA British Junior Karting Championship, before competing in Europe with Forza Racing in the WSK Euro Series and the CIK-FIA KF3 European Championship.
Alongside his eye-catching performances racing in Europe, Billy competed for the British Kart Grand Prix Title in the hugely competitive Comer Cadet class, finishing 6th in the Kartmasters Final.
In his second season competing at British Championship level, Billy swept the competition and won the championship title with a race to spare.
Following on from an impressive club racing career, which saw him develop from a Novice - to a regularly race winner, Billy made the step up into the Super One British Karting Championships.
Billy finished an impressive 5th overall in his debut season at this level.
