Jessica Amendola

Varese’s own Jessica Amendola is a trailblazer for EuroNASCAR’s Italian contingent. Long before Arianna Casoli carved a successful and lengthy career in the sport, Amendola paved the way for future female Italian drivers when she tested the EuroNASCAR stock cars on 8 March 2013.

It was a momentous occasion for Amendola, who became the first Italian female driver to drove an EuroNASCAR car. Fittingly, the test was held on International Women’s Day, making the occasion felt even more special.

The historic test was followed with a call-up to Massimo di Lonardo’s T-Engineering team for the first EuroNASCAR round to be hosted in Italy. Her only EuroNASCAR outing was historic, but it was also an unusual one. 

Amendola had to share T-Engineering’s No. 92 Ford Mustang with Giam Paolo Tenchini. This agreement meant that she only got one race to show what she can do, which she passes with flying colors. She survived a grueling Sunday race at a slippery Monza circuit to secure a podium finish in the Gentleman Trophy.

Amendola has remained active in the world of fast cars ever since. Formerly a long-time coach for Merzario Academy prior to its dissolution in the pandemic years, she currently acts as a driver instructor for WeCanRace.