Shirley van der Lof

{{Short description|Dutch racing driver}}

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Shirley van der Lof

| image = Shirley vander Lof.JPG

| imagesize = 200px

| caption = Van der Lof in 2009.

| nationality = {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Dutch

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|11|07}}

| birth_place = Haaksbergen

| related to = Dries van der Lof (grandfather)

| current series = ATS Formel 3 Trophy

| first year = 2008

| current team = HS Technik Motorsport

}}

Shirley van der Lof (born November 7, 1986, in Haaksbergen, Overijssel) is a racing driver from the Netherlands, and grand daughter of former Formula One-driver Dries van der Lof.{{cite news |last1=Biesbrouck |first1=Tim |title=Racebabe Shirley van der Lof achter het stuur van F1 bolide |url=https://www.racexpress.nl/autosport-nl-diversen/racebabe-shirley-van-der-lof-achter-het-stuur-van-f1-bolide/n/7472 |accessdate=20 December 2018 |work=RaceXpress |date=28 June 2007 |location=Netherlands |language=Dutch}} Besides her racing career, she has studied "real estate and broking". She strives to become the first Dutch female formula one driver.{{cite news |last1=Colijn |first1=Jan |title=Twentse coureur Shirley van der Lof benieuwd naar 'Formule 1' voor vrouwen: 'Sta hier wel voor open' |url=https://m.rtvoost.nl/nieuws/300289/Twentse-coureur-Shirley-van-der-Lof-benieuwd-naar-Formule-1-voor-vrouwen-Sta-hier-wel-voor-open |accessdate=20 December 2018 |work=RTVOost |date=12 October 2018 |language=Dutch}}{{cite news |last1=Kaligis |first1=Bas |title=De ambitie van Shirley van der Lof; eerste Nederlandse vrouw in de F1 |url=https://www.racexpress.nl/duits-formule-3/de-ambitie-van-shirley-van-der-lof-eerste-nederlandse-vrouw-in-de-f1/n/14984 |accessdate=20 December 2018 |work=RaceXpress |date=8 March 2009 |location=Netherlands |language=Dutch}}

Shirley first started driving in go-karts at age 14, and was immediately hooked to the speed. In 2001, at age 15, she won her first go-karting championship. In 2006, she started in the Benelux Formula Ford championship. Her first years in auto racing resulted in a fair number of crashes, but also a fair share of success."In het spoor van Opa Ferrari", De Telegraaf, July 19, 2008{{cite news |last1=Vis |first1=Johan |title=De nazaten van oud F1-coureur Dries van der Lof; Alexander en Shirley succesvol + UITSLAG |url=https://www.racexpress.nl/autosport-nl-diversen/de-nazaten-van-oud-f1-coureur-dries-van-der-lof-alexander-en-shirley-succesvol-uitslag/n/49595 |accessdate=20 December 2018 |work=RaceXpress |date=16 May 2013 |location=Netherlands |language=Dutch}}

In 2008, she started racing in the ATS Formel 3 Trophy for HS Technik Motorsport in a Dallara F304 OPC Challenge. In the first 8 races of her debut season, she finished on the podium 4 times: two times in 3rd place and two times in 2nd place.

In 2019 she tested for the W series but was not selected.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtvoost.nl/nieuws/310069/Shirley-van-der-Lof-valt-buiten-boot-voor-stoeltje-in-Formule-1-voor-vrouwen|title = Shirley van der Lof valt buiten boot voor stoeltje in Formule 1 voor vrouwen}}