Q: Can you introduce yourself and share a little about your journey in motorsports?
AH: Hi, I’m Ava Hanssen! I’m 15 years old, and I started karting when I was just 4 years old. Right now, it's currently the 2025/2026 off-season. This past 2025 season, I raced Formula 4 in the Junior Formula Championship Series (JFC), driving for my own team, Ava Hanssen Racing, that my dad, mom, and I built together. Racing has been my passion for as long as I can remember. Over the years, I’ve won 20+ karting championships and learned so many important lessons along the way. I went from karting to legend cars on oval asphalt, then to F1600, and now all the way up to Formula 4. I’m really excited to keep moving up the motorsports ladder and see how far I can go. 

Q: Can you take us back to your earliest memory of motorsport? What do you remember feeling or thinking in that moment?
AH: My earliest memory is being the youngest female ever to podium at SuperNationals in Las Vegas when I was just 8 years old. I remember standing on the podium and feeling like I was really going somewhere with this career. It made me believe that anything was possible if I kept pushing and working hard. That moment showed me I was capable of big things. 

Q: Do you feel like racing has influenced other parts of your life—like how you manage your time, handle school, or stay focused day to day?
AH: Racing has taught me how to balance everything in my life and how to work under intense pressure. I have to keep up with school (and all my AP and honors classes), physical and mental training, my job, and traveling a lot, so I’ve learned to stay organized and not waste any precious time. It has made me a lot more focused and responsible.

Q: If you had the power to change just one thing about the junior motorsport world—whether it’s accessibility, support, or structure—what would you focus on, and why?
AH: If I could change one thing, I’d make it more affordable for kids to move up into bigger things, especially the first steps into open wheel cars. It's crazy how much this sport costs as of late, and it's affecting the kids with RAW talent. There are so many talented people who never even get a chance to try it because the cost is far too heavy. I’d love to see more programs that help them get started no matter where they come from.

Q: When you picture the future, what’s the big dream for you in racing? Is there a team, a championship, or a series that you’ve always imagined yourself in?
AH: My big dream is to race in Formula 1 someday (my dream team is definitely Mercedes). That’s where I picture myself in the future, competing with the best drivers in the world. I’d also love to take the step into F1 Academy and see where it leads me. I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work, but I believe I have what it takes to be one of the best. 

Q: There’s so much fans don’t see behind the scenes—what’s something people might not realize plays a major role in your performance on race day?
AH: People don’t always see how much mental preparation goes into racing, just as much as the physical side. Staying calm, blocking out stress, talking to people you love, watching on-board videos, and keeping your confidence up can honestly make or break your race day.

Q: What’s one misconception people still have about female drivers that you’d like to correct?
AH: One misconception is that all female drivers just care about showing off how they look or acting like models instead of focusing on their talent. That’s really not true. Most of us work just as hard as any other driver and care way more about proving ourselves on track. We are just as talented, if not more talented, than any other driver.

Q: Was there a moment in your career where you felt truly proud of yourself? What made it so meaningful?
AH: One moment I felt really proud of myself was when I moved into open wheel cars and proved I was a talented driver by winning my first ever race on track. It was a moment that showed me I was ready for the next step in motorsports.

Q: In your experience, what is motorsport doing well when it comes to supporting female talent—and what are some areas where there’s still work to do?
AH: The world of motorsport is doing better at showing that girls belong and can race just as well as anyone else. There are more programs and support now to help female drivers, like F1 Academy. But there are still some challenges, like not having enough female role models in the top series, limited sponsorship opportunities for girls, and people still underestimating female drivers.

Q: If a young girl came up to you and said, “I want to be a race car driver,” what’s an advice you would give her? What’s the most important thing for her to know as she takes her first steps?
AH: If a young girl came to me dreaming about becoming a race car driver, I’d first tell her that her dream is not just possible, it’s meant to be. No matter what anyone says, she belongs on the track just as much as anyone else. Racing is tough, but that fire inside her is stronger than any obstacle. Work hard, learn fast, and never let fear stop you. Surround yourself with people who support your dreams and keep your eyes on the road ahead. You are capable of amazing things, and this world needs your talent and passion. Remember why you started!