Simona de Silvestro signs with Nissan

Simona de Silvestro

Nissan has won the race to sign Supercars first full-time female driver, Swiss ace Simona De Silvestro.

The manufacturer beat a number of rival teams to win the services of De Silvestro who will join the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship from 2017.

One of the world’s leading female racing drivers, De Silvestro is one of just three women to have claimed a podium in the history of IndyCar.

She has also raced in five Indianapolis 500 events and competed at the last two Bathurst 1000 events where this year she finished 14th alongside female co-driver Renee Gracie.

De Silvestro will make her full-time in debut in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship at Clipsal 500 Adelaide next March.