Newsflash:

Natacha Gachnang is the European Face of Forza

Published July 29, 2009

Xbox® announced Swiss-born, female racing sensation Natacha Gachnang as the European "Face of Forza" to celebrate the upcoming launch of Forza Motorsport® 3 for Xbox 360® from Microsoft. Forza Motorsport 3 is the definitive racing game for everyone from hardcore tuners to anyone who's ever dreamed of driving at full throttle. Who better than Gachnang to speak to its incredible realism and thrilling driving action?

Natacha Gachnang.

In December 2008, Gachnang was announced as the first ever female driver to race in the FIA Formula Two Championships. The 21-year-old, who is the cousin of Formula One driver Sébastien Buemi, is currently shining in her debut season racing under MotorSport Vision.

Natacha also spent some time in Seattle as a consultant on the game, giving advice on the realism of some of the tracks she has raced in her career, as well as critiquing the sounds and setups of the cars she has driven. Gachnang also explored the customization and tuning elements of the game and created her own car.

The ultimate thrill seeker, Gachnang lists heliskiing as one of her favorite hobbies and she jumped at the chance to test her experience of the road on the breathtaking virtual tracks of Forza 3.

"What a buzz—the tracks, the cars, the handling—the attention to detail is incredible. Forza 3 is a car fan's dream! It really feels like I'm right there, in the car, racing round the tracks, all in the comfort of my own living room," said Gachnang.

Game Director Dan Greenawalt stated, "A love of all things cars lives in everyone at Turn 10. It's fantastic to see this mirrored in Natacha. Her passion and expertise for racing is clear to see and the realism of the game really lets her skills as a driver shine through. From a pro driver like Natacha to anyone who has a passion for cars, Forza Motorsport 3 has something for everyone."