SUSIE WOLFF is hoping the next evolution of her Formula One career will see her go on to compete in a grand prix.

As part of her expanded development driver role with Williams, Wolff will this season become the first woman in 22 years to take part in a F1 event.

The plan is for Wolff to run at Silverstone and Hockenheim - two tracks the 31-year-old Scot knows well - in the first practice sessions ahead of the British and German Grands Prix in July.

Not since Giovanna Amati, who failed to qualify in the 1992 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos for Brabham, has a woman driven an F1 car over the course of a race weekend.

Beyond that, Oban-born Wolff naturally hopes she will get the opportunity to go head-to-head with the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in a race.

"The plan just now is to drive in practice for the British Grand Prix and the German Grand Prix," said Wolff.

"I've driven the car at Silverstone in a test last year so I have a bit of experience with the track, and Hockenheim I know well from my time in German touring cars.

"So for me, it's two great races to be a part of. If you can take part in the Friday practice sessions, then of course you have to be looking at doing an actual race.

"I said the minute I joined Williams I didn't want to run before I could walk.

"For me it's about doing a good job each step of the way and if I do that in the practice sessions then the next natural progression will be taking part in a race."

It has been 38 years since a woman last did so, with Italian Lella Lombardi finishing 12th for Brabham in the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix.

The only other woman to compete was another Italian, Maria Teresa di Filippis, who drove a Maserati in three races in 1958.