Chadwick to defend W Series crown

Jamie Woodhouse
Jamie-Chadwick-PA

Jamie Chadwick will defend her W Series title in 2021.

Inaugural W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick has confirmed that she will return to the category to defend her title in 2021.

The all-female series debuted back in 2019 with Chadwick crowned the winner, and since then she has gone on to join the Williams team as a development driver.

Sadly the W Series was cancelled in 2020 due to the global pandemic, but in 2021 it will return with an eight-race calendar, while it will also join the programme of support races for the Formula 1 calendar at selected rounds.

And Chadwick will be back to defend her crown, while she recently signing with Veloce for the new electric off-road Extreme E series which starts in 2021.

Chadwick also competed for Prema in the 2020 Formula Regional European Championship, picking up a single podium finish with P3. She would finish the season with 80 points.

The W Series uses identical Formula 3 cars to ensure that the drivers are on a level playing field.

“People are most aware of me because of W Series and the last two years have been a life-changing whirlwind,” said Chadwick.

“Winning the inaugural W Series Championship in 2019 was the biggest stepping stone in my career, providing me with so many amazing opportunities.”

Jamie Chadwick: F1 goal is mad but not unrealistic
Jamie Chadwick: F1 goal is mad but not unrealistic

The United States and Mexican GPs have been confirmed as the Formula 1 rounds where the W Series will also be in action, while the remaining six W Series races will take place across European Formula 1 rounds.

“I am relishing the prospect of racing on some of the greatest circuits in the world,” Chadwick added, as quoted by the BBC.

“It just proves that W Series’ mission to provide greater opportunities for women in motorsport is working.

“FIA super-licence points will be on the line and, having already had a taste of the F1 world in my role as development driver for the Williams F1 team, I am determined to earn as many as possible and move a step closer to my dream of competing in Formula 1.”

Alice Powell, Sarah Moore, Abbie Eaton and Jessica Hawkins join Chadwick in what is a healthy British representation for the 2021 W Series season.

The full 2021 W Series calendar is as follows…

Le Castellet, France (French Grand Prix) – June 26

Spielberg, Austria (Austrian Grand Prix) – July 3

Silverstone, England (British Grand Prix) – July 17

Budapest, Hungary (Hungarian Grand Prix) – July 31

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium (Belgian Grand Prix) – August 28

Zandvoort, Netherlands (Dutch Grand Prix) – September 4

Austin, USA (United States Grand Prix) – October 23

Mexico City, Mexico (Mexican Grand Prix) – October 30

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