Ksenya Niks to compete with an M-Sport Ford in ETCC

Ksenya Niks has been confirmed as the latest entry in this year’s FIA European Touring Car Cup. Niks will compete in a Ford Fiesta ST, and will be eligible for both the S1600 category and the new Ladies’ Trophy

Ksenya Niks has been racing for just one year, finishing sixth in last year’s Ukrainian Touring Car Championship. Niks’ drive in this Championship followed a programme in the M-Sport Motorsport School in Ukraine, and the team will field her entry this year (and is not to be confused with the World Rally Championship M-Sport team).

“Since we heard about the new FIA ETCC Ladies’ Trophy we wanted to participate. This will be a great opportunity for Ksenya and the team to grow up and gain experience,” said M-Sport Team Principal Nikolay Chmykh.

The car will compete in the Super 1600 class for cars with normally aspirated 1.6 litre engines. Niks is also the first female driver confirmed in the ETCC, and is therefore the first to be eligible for the new FIA ETCC Ladies Trophy. Last season, Ulrike Krafft was the sole female competitor in the championship, who was also competing in the S1600 class.