Women's Motorsports Network Podcast & Let's Talk Racing LIVE
Women's Motorsports Network Podcast shares the stories of women involved in motorsports from around the world. The first episode was in 2018 and new episodes are added each week. Feel free to suggest potential guests to Melinda at melinda@wmnnation.com.
Let's Talk Racing LIVE airs on Wednesdays at 7pm EASTERN TIME on the Women's Motorsports Network-A Media Company Facebook Page.
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Melinda Russell
Women's Motorsports Network Podcast & Let's Talk Racing LIVE
Tatianna Calderone: Sisters, Speed, and Determination Shape a Motorsport Career
Tatiana Calderón takes us on a high-speed journey through her remarkable racing career that spans continents, championships, and countless barriers broken. The Colombian driver opens up about discovering her passion at just nine years old, when a five-minute ticket at a rental go-kart track sparked a lifelong love affair with speed and adrenaline.
What unfolds is a story of extraordinary determination as Tatiana left her homeland at 17 to chase her Formula 1 dreams, first in the United States and later in Europe. Perhaps most touching is how motorsport transformed her relationship with her sister – seven years her senior – from distant siblings to inseparable partners, with her sister eventually becoming her manager and traveling companion through the racing world.
Tatiana's racing credentials are impressive – competing in Formula 3 alongside future F1 champions like Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, testing in Formula 1, racing in Japan's Super Formula, making IndyCar appearances, tackling the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, and currently piloting a Ford Mustang in IMSA's GTD category. But beyond the race results lies a more profound narrative about identity and belonging in motorsport.
"I think, as a woman, we are so different and it's beautiful to be different," Tatiana reflects, revealing how she initially tried to change her nature to fit into the male-dominated environment before realizing that embracing differences is the path forward. This evolution in thinking represents the heart of her advocacy for women in racing – creating environments where women can compete equally without changing who they are.
Whether you're a dedicated racing fan or simply appreciate stories of perseverance and passion, Tatiana's journey offers inspiration and perspective on what it takes to succeed against the odds. Follow her current racing season in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship and connect with her on Instagram @tatacalde7, where she personally responds to messages from aspiring racers seeking guidance.
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Welcome to the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, the show that puts the spotlight on the incredible women who fuel the world of motorsports, from drivers to crew members, engineers to fans and everyone in between. We're here to celebrate the trailblazers, dreamers and doers shaping the sport we love. Each episode we share inspiring stories of females of all ages, from every corner of the motorsports universe, past, present and future. It's a journey through the seasons of life filled with heartfelt moments, laughter and a whole lot of horsepower. So, whether you're a lifelong fan, a racer yourself or simply curious about the extraordinary women behind the wheel, settle in, relax and enjoy a fun and uplifting ride with us.
Speaker 1:This is the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, connecting and celebrating women in motorsports, one story at a time. Let's hit the track. Hello everyone, this is Melinda Russell, with the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, and my guest today is probably going to be a name that you've heard of, and so I'm excited to have Tatiana on with me. She's going to share a little bit about herself and her family, and so we can get to know her better. So, tatiana, take it away.
Speaker 2:Melinda, thank you so much for this space for sharing incredible stories about women in the sport. Yeah, my name is Tatiana Calderon. I am originally from Colombia. I am in the middle of two siblings, so older sister who today is my manager in all the racing stuff. I have a younger brother who was more interested in in tennis and other sports than racing. So it was the two girls, um that that really uh, started racing. Um, my parents, they, they grew up with a little bit of like. They grew up with a little bit of like cars around them, but they never really raced. So that's, I'm 32 years old and that's that's me.
Speaker 1:Do you have any pets or not? That doesn't work when you travel, probably.
Speaker 2:Yeah, sadly it doesn't work. I love dogs. My brother has a little dashhund and, and he's like the king of the house. Oh yes, I'm happy to be an aunt, because then you can just play with them and leave them when you're traveling.
Speaker 1:Exactly, that's for sure. So, tariana, how did you get interested in motorsports? What do you remember about motorsports, from the beginning?
Speaker 2:I remember, like my sister she's seven years older than me my dad gave her like a motorbike and she started like just driving around it. Like just driving around it, and then later on I started to get into bikes as well. But really when I started racing was we went to a rental go-kart track near a house in Colombia. We bought a five-minute ticket and I fell in love with speed and adrenaline. So it was like something we shared as as sisters. Before we wouldn't really interact that much with each other because there's a this seven year difference. So we started going there every day after school and we quickly started to watch like Formula One races, and by that time there was Juan Pablo Montoya, who's this big Colombian racing driver who really inspired a lot of this generation of race car drivers here in Colombia, generation of race car drivers here in Colombia.
Speaker 2:And that was when I realized that, you know, I want to reach the highest level of motorsport and I want to be a race car driver, but of course it takes time to convince your parents that this little nine-year-old girl wants to race cars. So that's how we really got started into this amazing journey.
Speaker 1:Wow. So what did they say? You know, nine years old. When did they really come on board and realize you were serious about this?
Speaker 2:I think I'm a very determined person when I want something I really like in.
Speaker 2:So I was like begging them every day like you know, I want to, I want a go-kart, I want to go every day to the racetrack.
Speaker 2:And they were like so annoyed by me trying to, uh to get to the track that they they started to realize how much I wanted to be a race car driver. And they always like, you know, if you don't have good grades at school, there's no more racing. And I was always like really good at school. So they, every time they tested me, I responded well, but I think really the moment that I realized that or they realized that this could actually could happen, that I could be a race car driver and do this professionally, was when I started racing in in the states and I won these prestigious karting championship called stars of karting in the east coast, and that's when you know it's it's something to win in Colombia, like, but something to win in the States against, like the best carters. So I think that's when everything really started to click and they decided to give me an opportunity not to continue to like, not to go to university, but to dedicate myself fully to racing.
Speaker 1:So where did you go then to do that?
Speaker 2:So I moved to the US when I was 17. I started like single-seater racing after all my karting career in Star Mazda in the Road to indie program um, with huncos racing, who today, which the team today is in in indycar. So we have like a lot of of history uh together. But that's how I started, like I. I left colomb, colombia, I went to race in the states and a year later I went to to Europe and and started living there. So I I spent 15 years of of my life living in Spain. But it was uh quite hard also like just to leave your family, everything behind and just go chase the dream of becoming one day a professional race car driver and a Formula One driver. Really.
Speaker 1:Right, and especially at 17 years old. I mean, as a mother, I don't know how I would let my daughter move across the country, much less to another country, at 17. Move across the country, much less to another country at 17. So you must have been very mature for your age at 17, or they probably wouldn't have allowed that to happen, because really you can't. There's a lot of things you can't even do till you're 18. Right.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. I I think I was, you know, I uh, cause I I had this dream and this, this vision that I I really wanted to be successful in the sport and I knew I had that one chance that I had to make work and um it quickly because of the age difference of my sister. That's when we started actually to the age difference of my sister. That's when we started actually to to work together because, you know, we, we can't rent a car when you're 17. There's there's a lot of things that we can't do. So she moved like um a year later than me and then she was just gonna to study and all of a sudden she was helping me in so many ways that she's like, okay, this needs to be my full-time job because I can't do things. And I think that it really helped me a lot and my parents were really happy that we started working together and that relationship has has grown over the years and she still manages me and and we travel the world together.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know, when you're seven and she's 14, or even that's a big difference. But when you start to be in your twenties, you know you're 21 and she's 28,. The difference doesn't seem as big, does it?
Speaker 2:No, exactly, she's like my, my best friend and that that really and and raising really got us together, like before I was much closer to my brother, cause we compete for everything and we play with each other. Yeah, so that's where, like, we share this racing passion and that age really doesn't like. Sometimes they ask me and they think that I'm older because she looks so young.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's then. That's great, that racing brought that part of you you know, the two of you back together like that. That's amazing, so kind of tell me where. So you went to the U? S and you were racing cartsarts and at 17, is that what you were racing or what were you still? What were you racing when you moved to the States?
Speaker 2:So that was like a transition year. Transitional year because I was just like graduating from school and starting to realize, like how demanding physically like a-seater can be. So I was like, okay, as soon as I graduated I moved to the US to start like racing the Star Mazda Championship and I think by the time that season ended I was already 18 and and I was just like traveling back and forth for school and and a bit spending more time in in Indianapolis, because that's where where I moved um for to, to train physically and to be closer to the team and start understanding that transition between karting and single-seater can be very difficult and different and a different culture. So that's how this transition went from karting to single-seaters.
Speaker 1:Okay, and so then, when you went to Europe, I got you back. I lost you there for a minute. When you went to Europe, then what were you racing?
Speaker 2:So I went. I spent two years in Star Mazda and I was. I had opportunities to continue the road to Indy program, but my dream had always been to be a Formula One driver and I think you know Europe is famous for building those F1 drivers, for building those F1 drivers. So I went to Spain to race in Formula 3, in Spanish Formula 3. When I went there, the first team I went to was called Emilio de Villota and Maria de Villota, who was the best driver in Formula 1 for Marussia.
Speaker 2:She unfortunately had this big accident that after would take her life away, but I started training with her and she was like kind of a role model for me and that's when I started my, the second part of my career, I would say, in Europe. So I did a lot of years in Spanish Formula 3, british Formula 3, fia Formula 3, where I raced against Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen and all these generations of Formula 1 drivers. But that was also a very difficult time, right. Like whenever you move to a different continent or country, you have to learn, like the culture and the tracks and the level of competition that there was. It takes time to adapt.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah for sure. And you know, it's one thing to move to another country and learn, um, maybe the culture, but also the food and where to go, but then to learn all the racing things along with it. That's kind of like a double whammy, isn't it? You're? You're just, uh, kind of a fish out of water until you get all that under your belt.
Speaker 2:Yeah, imagine two girls from Columbia.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Knocking the door and it's like, okay, I'm with my helmet and okay, who's who's the driver. Sometimes I went with my, my dad, and he was like, no, she's, she's driving, you know. So it was not easy to be a woman in in the sport. It isn't easy until today, like there's a lot of things that need to to change, um, but I was really glad that I was able to to come through through and I think it made me a better, more complete person driver. And, yeah, I'm so grateful that I've been able to compete in so many championships. I did Formula 2. I did Super Formula in Japan, managed to do a couple of races in IndyCar, I did Le Mans, I'm racing in IMSA, so I can't complain, but for sure I think there's a lot of things that I still want to achieve in the sport and also like to bring the sport closer to women, because I think there's a lot of things that that maybe are, is still it's, it's not equal for for all of us yet. So I'm very passionate about that too.
Speaker 1:And there's still barriers. You know you don't see any women in F1 yet, and I can't believe that there aren't some women that would have been or are talented enough to be there and there's a lot of, you know, I would think. And so it's almost like baby steps to get the women up into those ranks. But it's so much better than it was and at least now you see women in the Pabok area doing other jobs, even if they're not driving, and that's a step forward as well.
Speaker 2:For sure. I think like women's sport is growing so much, and with that comes motorsport as well. I think maybe we're behind in compared to other sports, but it's because it's one of the only sports where we compete in equal terms and there's no gender, or it shouldn't be a gender differentiation. So I think there's a lot that we can all do together, like as a woman, to stand for certain things and barriers that are still there but need to be banished. So I think hopefully we'll see those changes come, but it takes time, right.
Speaker 1:It does. It does take time and you know, I think back to 2017 when I started the Women's Motorsports Network, you didn't see near the women involved that you do now, and you know it hasn't really been that long. Eight years, I mean, that sounds like a long time, but in the scheme of things it really hasn't been that long. And every time you turn around we see women doing more and more and more in motorsports, and so I think it's growing a little faster and things are getting better more quickly. I hope, anyway for my friends that I want to see racing at the top level, so for sure. So what was the hardest thing to learn when you first started driving, Like if you're karting or going to the states? What were some of the most difficult things you had to overcome?
Speaker 2:I think, you know, sometimes you feel like you don't fit in because it's, um, you see, only when I was growing up, it was only men and I thought, okay, I want to be one of them, but, but in a way it wasn't. So I think, as a woman, we are so different and it's beautiful to be different. I only realized that later on in my career, but I realized, like I was trying to, by fitting in, I was trying to change my, my nature, and, and I think we shouldn't be, we shouldn't be having to do that At the end of the day, our nature is what, what will bring us the performance, the, the aptitudes, and, and I realized that later in in my career. But I think I really struggle, uh, just to to fit in.
Speaker 2:So I like the way you have to to train, um, the way you sit in a car or in a go-kart, you know, with how different we are in terms of, like, you have hips and, and then you, you know you don't fit in well in in certain things and and you, I always try to like through, just to work harder and and to shut up and and not complain about anything, but in a way, I think, realizing that you're different and that you need different things is what really will bring us closer to to equity, um and and to really demand for those changes. So I think that was the hardest thing to really being motivated, even though, like, I didn't know if I was going to let any other person or atmosphere determine how far I could go. I guess at times to think that it's so hard for women to find sponsorship and and feel like they get the recognition that they deserve.
Speaker 1:You know, and that's one of the reasons I do this is to tell the stories of women in motorsports and kind of get their names out there. But I just I hear stories and you know, when I think about you moving at 17 and the things that you didn't know, there was a lot of things you didn't know because you were young and all the things you had to learn and there had to be heartbreaking days and you were away from your family and you know, I can't even imagine how hard that is. And yet the passion that you have for motorsports kind of put all that behind you, didn't it? It was like, no, this is what I really want to do, and if this is what it takes for me to get there, I'm not going to let anybody stop me, and that's kind of who you are, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think that's. I love the way you put it into really nice words. Thanks for that. I think sometimes you don't realize because you're so so much in it and it's so cool to realize that yeah, I'm here because I love being in a race car and whatever I need to do to keep doing that, I'll do.
Speaker 1:Tariana, do you think that I mean you've gone through a lot to get where you are? Is it? Is motorsports a good sport for women to be involved in, or little girls to get started in?
Speaker 2:I think right now it's a good time. I don't think 20 years ago it was, but thankfully I didn't know that. But I think, yeah, there is hope for us and I really do think that there will be a point where we will have the opportunities, the right opportunities, to show our talent. And I think the beauty of motorsport is that, you know, there's so many different cars, they can look so different and react so different, but at the end of the day, you do the same lap time and, and they can. They can look so like completely opposite. So I think we can set up something where where women and men can compete in equal terms and and and we don't have to change our nature, um, to fit in, and I think that's that's going to be the key for the future and for the next generation.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Very well said. So do you have a favorite memory from your racing time?
Speaker 2:I think I have a lot of memories, like from going to the racetrack with my family, because it was like, okay, my dad was like sort of my mechanic at the beginning. My mom was like the one who takes the times and it was my sister and me and we didn't we didn't know anything about racing like we could have put the the rear tires in the front and vice versa, and really we had no clue. And I think just that discovery and that family reunion and dream, in a way, was really, really nice. But obviously I think realizing that dream in driving a Formula One car in 2018, where I had that chance with my whole family with me, was like one of those really special moments in my career.
Speaker 1:Being with your family, and those memories are things that nobody can take away from you. For sure that's. Those are, those are with all of you forever, and it's not about the trophies and the money and the whatever. It's about that for sure, yeah. Because, you know race car drivers don't race into their 80s. You know there's going to be a stopping point and you will have a lot of good memories, but the most important ones are the ones you made with your family for sure.
Speaker 2:You said something so beautiful and it's sometimes we measure like our success based on like trophies, but that's particularly in this sport has has a it's, it's not in in this way. It's like if you challenge yourself and you overcome barriers and obstacles and you help people in that process and you can share it with the people who work so hard to get you where you are, I think that's what really matters, yeah.
Speaker 1:I agree with you there. I always I've said more than once, if motorsports, if every motorsports went away, tomorrow I'd still have so many friends that I've made people that I've met like you. I mean, how would we have ever met? Right? But motorsports brought us together and and so it's just such a blessing for me to be able to be involved and not be a driver or an engineer or a crew chief, but yet I'm, you know, I have the privilege of telling the stories and and I've just met so many amazing women it's, it's unbelievable for sure. So, tatiana, I know you probably use social media, and how do you use that? How do you use that to you know, share about your races, promote your racing or maybe your sister does that for you, I don't know. But and where where could people find you so they could follow you?
Speaker 2:follow you. Yes, I think it's so important right now to to have social media presence. Um, like to get sponsorship, to get people involved, uh, to get information across. Right, I think it's it's so important I I still manage all my like social medias. You can find me on instagram as tata calde seven. I have also tiktok and facebook and x with the same sort of name. It's it's hard to manage, I have to admit. Um, sometimes, you know there's there's there's a good way to handle like all this social media, the comments, the. There's this bad and good side of it. But it's incredible for me to have felt like there's so many messages I get from young girls who either they want to be engineers or they want to be racing drivers, their parents asking about advice, and it's a great tool to sort of connect and guide people in this beautiful sport. So I'm very grateful and any message that anybody wants to write, I'm always trying to reply and to guide them in the right direction. So please reach out.
Speaker 1:Well, that's very generous of you because I know you're very busy, but yeah, that's awesome that you were willing to do that. So when is your next race? So we can kind of keep up with what you're doing.
Speaker 2:So I'm currently racing in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship in the GTD category on a Ford Mustang, and my next race is in Indianapolis on the 21st of September. We also have the 10th of October. Like Petit Le Mans, I only have two races left this season, but we just came from our best result in Watkins Glen with a sixth place finish. So hoping that we can keep the good momentum up and and hope to see many of you at at those events and at the track.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, that was a good finish and, um, I know you're going to do well the next, however many races you have. Hopefully you get to do some more. But, um, you know, imsa, I can follow that on television on streaming, and so that's easy for me to keep track of you there. And and um, I know you know, I just had a conversation with someone about streaming and how oh they were. They were of the opinion that it's hurting our tracks, and and yet I can't go to the IMSA races everywhere. I can't go to out east and what, and and. So it gives me the opportunity to stay in touch with the women that I've interviewed or met, and for me it's a blessing, so I love being able to follow and see what you're up to for sure. So, is there anything that we haven't talked about that we should share with my listeners?
Speaker 2:No, I think you touch base on every aspect of it. So thank you so much for sharing my story and and other women that that have done amazing things here in in motorsport and to connect with each other. So thank you for for this space.
Speaker 1:Oh, you're welcome. I'm so glad we were able to connect. Isn't it amazing what technology will do? It'll let us feel like we're in the same room together. Except, you know, I was telling you about my green hair. I don't know why. I don't know why, all of a sudden, my system wants to have me do that, so I apologize for that. But there's always something that you know you have to put up with when you're using technology. So well, you have a good rest of your day, rest of your week, and I'll be watching the results on flow and other places where IMSA can be found, and please stay in touch. I'd love to keep track of what you're up to and I'll probably hopefully see you in Indianapolis, maybe in December.
Speaker 2:Sounds perfect. Thank you so much. All right and great. So much, thank you.
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Speaker 1:That's it for this episode of the Women's Motorsports Network podcast. We hope you've been inspired by the stories I shared today and feel more connected to the amazing community of women in motorsports. Remember, whether you're behind the wheel in the pits or cheering from the stands, your story matters and together we're driving change and celebrating every milestone. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe, leave us a review and share it with someone who loves motorsports as much as you do, and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, behind the scenes content and more incredible stories. So until next time, stay inspired, stay connected and keep racing through life. This is the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, where every woman's story is worth celebrating.