Talented Salford racer qualifies for Women’s Nations Cup Final

Multi-talented University of Salford student and race car driver, Maltina Jashari, is gearing up to compete in the Formula Woman’s Nations Cup Final this May.

Officially qualifying in Dubai at the Formula Woman’s Nations Cup, Maltina will be the first ever Albanian female racing driver to represent Kosovo later this year.

Currently studying Architectural Engineering at the University of Salford alongside an internship at the Aston Martin F1 Team, which she described as a “game changer”, Maltina has found a great support system along her journey. The young racer also joined the University’s racing team where she met a wonderful group of like-minded students who have encouraged her along the way, and she has thanked Salford’s resources which provided her with valuable simulator training in preparation for the competition.

With a promising future ahead, Maltina secured sponsorship from the Morton Project Group and Astin Martin for the Formular Woman’s Nations Cup. However, in preparation for the final and the resources needed to compete, she is actively seeking out more sponsorship opportunities to support her future career.

Maltina said: “The Woman’s Nations Cup felt like a dream, and I went after everything I could to get there.

“Racing is a very expensive sport, and there’s a lot of training needed for the final, so I need to make sure I’m securing sponsorships.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to prove myself on an international stage, gain experience, and show that women absolutely belong in motorsport.”

Coming from a non-traditional motor sport background, Maltina found her love for the sport at a young age, yet she found no guidance on how to navigate this career and no female role models to make it seem viable for her. For this reason, Maltina advocates heavily for women in the racing, saying: “It’s really important to me to be part of the movement pushing for more female representation in motorsport. I want to prove that women can compete at the highest levels and that motorsport should be accessible to everyone. I hope to be a source of inspiration for other girls and women who want to get into racing or even STEM fields.”

Speaking to Maltina about future career plans and racing prospects, she explained that her ultimate goal was to reach F1. She is also exploring opportunities in both motorsport and the F1 industry, which she intends to combine with her background in architectural engineering.

Maria Stukoff, Director of Maker Space, which supports the student racing team at the University of Salford, said: “Breaking barriers and challenging norms, every woman in motor racing fuels the drive for change. This is why I am so proud of Maltina. Her exceptional talent and unwavering determination highlight her individual achievements and exemplify that a love for speed and tenacity knows no gender. She is paving the way for greater inclusivity in motorsport. Congratulations to Maltina on qualifying for the prestigious Formula Women’s Nation Cup!”

To follow Maltina’s racing journey, you can find her on LinkedIn and Instagram. With her website currently in the works, she is keen to gain any funding and sponsorship she can to reach the Woman’s Nations Cup Final in May.