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Legge Takes Second Atlantic Win

Katherine Legge took her second win in Toyota Atlantic today, proving that her historic maiden win in April was no fluke

Legge made history earlier this year when she became the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America with her Long Beach Grand Prix victory. But while some suggested she greatly benefitted in that race from the misfortune of others, the 25-year-old Briton silenced her doubters by taking an impressive win today at Edmonton.

Legge started the race from third, and after passing second-place starter Tonis Kasemets, she made a gutsy move on lap 19 of the 32-lap race to over taken leader Charles Zwolsman, who was in turn overtaking a lapped car.

"The backmarker didn't move out of the way like I thought he would and Katherine was able to get beside me," Zwolsman said afterwards. "Our tyres were nearly touching and I knew that if I don't back off, we'd both crash out.

"She was really quick and it was a great move by Katherine."

Legge maintained her lead for the rest of the race, fending off pressure from Zwolsman, eventually finishing just two tenths of a second ahead of him at the chequered flag.

She said the win was a redemption for the tough period she went through after her first victory. Legge sunk from her first win to a sixth place finish in the subsequent race at Maxico, which she said she found hard to accept.

"I really got down and got frustrated after Mexico," she stated. "I thought I should be in the front all the time. It's not being arrogant. Every driver has to have that self belief.

"But I got some good advice from [team boss] Kevin [Kalkhoven] and I realized this should be fun. I really just took a bit of a lighter approach to it and not getting so frustrated and just going out there and driving rather than thinking too deeply about driving."

She also brushed aside any comparison to IRL rookie Danica Patrick, who has dominated the North American motorsport coverage in the last couple of months, since becoming the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500.

Patrick, who raced for two years in Toyota Atlantics, finished as high as second and is still chasing her first career win. Legge, however, said she had no ill feeling towards the star female driver.

"Every question I get asked by the media is about Danica and I've been misquoted so many times, I'm not really answering any anymore because I think she's a fantastic driver and I really wish her well," Legge said.

"You know, I'm doing my thing and she's doing her thing and I hope we can both be successful."

As for following Patrick's footsteps into IRL next season, Legge said she was not ready yet.

"I'm still making rookie mistakes," the Briton said. "I'm still not on the podium every race. I'm hoping I will be getting there, but I think it's going to take another year in Atlantics because, realistically, I've only done about 21 of 22 car races in my whole career.

"I just need experience."

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