Simona de Silvestro poses with her Bobsled sponsored by Loctite
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IndyCar News: Simona de Silvestro’s Thrilling Transition to Bobsleigh at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Posted by AR1 staff

As the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics kick off today in Italy, one athlete’s story stands out for its unique blend of high-speed racing and icy adrenaline. Former IndyCar driver Simona de Silvestro (pictured), known for her fearless performances on the track, is making her Olympic debut in bobsleigh, representing Italy in the monobob and two-woman events.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

This remarkable career pivot from open-wheel racing to winter sports highlights de Silvestro’s relentless pursuit of new challenges.

Born in Switzerland with Italian heritage, de Silvestro’s racing career spanned over a decade in top-tier motorsports. She competed in the IndyCar Series from 2010 to 2022, achieving notable fourth-place finishes at the 2011 St. Petersburg Grand Prix and the 2015 NOLA Motorsports Park race while driving for teams like KV Racing Technology and Andretti Autosport.

2022 deSilvestro Paretta Autosport Photo by Lucille Dust/Autoracing1.com

She also served as a test driver for the Sauber Formula 1 team in 2014 and raced in Formula E with Andretti, showcasing her versatility across disciplines. Additionally, de Silvestro ventured into Australia’s Supercars Championship, further cementing her reputation as a trailblazing female racer.

De Silvestro’s interest in bobsleigh wasn’t a sudden whim—it dates back to at least 2014 when she posted on X (formerly Twitter) about a fun run down the St. Moritz bobsleigh track, jokingly mentioning she might “try for the next Olympics.”

That lighthearted comment turned prophetic. In 2022, she officially began training in bobsleigh with the goal of competing for Italy at the 2026 Games, drawing on her family’s Italian mountain roots—her great-great-grandfather was the first to climb Monte Civetta. Her first competitive event was the 2022 Swiss championships, marking the start of her rapid ascent in the sport.

The road to qualification was grueling. De Silvestro competed in the 2025-26 IBSF Bobsleigh World Cup season, securing rankings of 27th in monobob and 28th in the two-woman event, which earned her spots on Italy’s Olympic team.

On January 26, 2026, she announced her qualification on X, sharing her excitement: “We officially made it. 🤩🛷 We’re going to the Olympic Games. Proof that a little crazy, mixed with belief, can make the impossible real.” This achievement came after years of training, including her first run on the new Olympic track in Cortina d’Ampezzo in March 2025, which she described as a “special feeling.”

At the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, bobsleigh events will take place at the Cortina Sliding Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Competition begins with the women’s monobob heats on February 15, followed by the two-woman event later in the week. De Silvestro, now 37, brings her racing-honed skills in speed, precision, and G-force tolerance to the ice track, where sleds can reach over 90 mph. As one of the few athletes to transition from motorsports to winter Olympics, her story echoes that of other crossovers, but her background in high-stakes racing positions her uniquely for success.

De Silvestro’s journey underscores the transferable skills between auto racing and bobsleigh—both demand split-second decisions and physical endurance. As she prepares to slide down the Olympic track, the motorsport world watches with pride. Whether she medals or not, her debut is a testament to chasing dreams beyond the checkered flag. For fans of IndyCar and beyond, Simona de Silvestro is proving that speed knows no season.