Motor racing-F1 Academy champion Garcia moves up with fully-funded seat

FILE PHOTO: Motorsport - W Series - Norisring - Nuremberg, Germany - July 6, 2019 Spain's Marta Garcia celebrates winning the race REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo

(Reuters) - Spaniard Marta Garcia will move up the motorsport ladder to a fully-funded drive in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) next season after winning the inaugural all-female F1 Academy series, Formula One said on Thursday.

The 23-year-old, who also competed in the defunct W Series, will now race against up-and-coming male drivers with top junior team Prema Racing in the European series which sits below Formula Three.