Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Jamie Chadwick beats Max Defourny to MRF Challenge title in Chennai

Jamie Chadwick became the first female driver to clinch the MRF Challenge title after scoring a triple win in the final round of the season in Chennai

Chadwick arrived at the five-race Indian finale 18 points adrift of title leader Max Defourny, but quickly overturned the deficit with a fifth and a victory on Saturday.

Another fifth followed in Sunday's opener, crucially gaining her a front-row start for the next encounter.

Starting second, Chadwick immediately passed pole-sitter Jack Doohan - son of MotoGP legend Mick - into Turn 1 and then stayed out at front for the remainder of the shortened 18-lap race to bag her fifth win of the season.

Defourny, who could have started on pole instead of seventh if he hadn't lost a place to Doohan at the final corner of the previous race, could only make up three places from his grid spot to finish fourth.

That left Chadwick 18 points clear of Defourny heading into the final race of the season, with Defourny lining up second, one place ahead of Chadwick.

However, Defourny was unable to capitalise on his front-row start, dropping down to seventh on the opening lap, while Chadwick darted between the Belgian and the similarly slow-starting Patrik Pasma to grab an early lead.

Defourny gained one position when BRDC Formula 3 champion Linus Lundqvist dropped out of second with a mechanical problem, but remained stuck behind Doohan in the fight for fifth and sixth.

Despite coming under some late pressure from Pasma, Chadwick was able to clinch her sixth win of the season - and with it the MRF F2000 title, her first in single-seaters.

Michelangelo Amendola completed the podium spots behind Pasma, while Defourny was unable to find a way past Doohan and finished sixth, rounding off a difficult weekend during which he failed to score a podium.

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Liam Lawson beats Ferrari's Marcus Armstrong to Toyota Racing Series title
Next article The last budget Formula 1 car

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe