Susie Wolff insists she is fully confident in her ability to compete in Formula 1 – even if her dream is still out of reach for the time being.

The 32-year-old Scot drove in free practice one for the Grove-based Williams team ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix yesterday and clocked up the 14th-fastest time, more than eight-tenths of a second adrift of teammate Felipe Massa.

Wolff is a development driver with the British marque and her participation here came 40 years after Lella Lombardi became the last woman to score a point in F1.

“I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t feel I was good enough,” she said.

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“I’m ambitious, but I’m also realistic. I feel like I’m very close (to being good enough), I feel like I have something to bring to the table, and I 100 per cent feel that a woman can compete at this level.”

Having driven in Silverstone and Hockenheim last year, Wolff felt more suitably prepared for the outing at the Circuit de Catalunya even if she had to drive within her limits.

“It’s great. Every time you go out you learn so much,” she said.

l LEWIS Hamilton set the fastest time in second practice see page 39.