Hockenheim W Series: Jamie Chadwick wins inaugural race
Reigning MRF champion Jamie Chadwick took victory in the inaugural W Series race at Hockenheim, completing a clean sweep on a dominant weekend in which she topped every session
Chadwick started the race - held in damp but drying conditions - from the pole after impressing in a wet qualifying where she eclipsed the rest of the field by a margin of almost two seconds.
Starting on older, worn tyres, Chadwick led from the line but locked up into the hairpin while under pressure from Sarah Moore and went wide on the exit.
Moore assumed the lead, before Megan Gilkes and Emma Kimilainen - out of position after stalling on row two at the start - collided at the hairpin and brought out the safety car.
Fabienne Wohlwend - who had lined up alongside Chadwick in second - also suffered a poor start after wheelspin that dropped her back down the grid.
With the field regrouped under the safety car, Chadwick took the lead from Moore at the restart, with former GP3 driver Alice Powell also joining the fray and overtaking Moore for second a lap later.
Despite an almost race-long challenge from Powell, Chadwick extended a small but steady lead and took the chequered flag to complete a dominant first weekend in the series and assume lead of the championship.
Powell spent the second half of the race battling with 18-year-old Marta Garcia, who made her return to single-seater racing this weekend to complete the podium with a third place.
Beitske Visser ended the race in fourth, ahead of Moore - who had run wide at the hairpin and lost places after the restart. Despite several attempts, Moore could not make a move stick on Visser and crossed the line in fifth, defending from a recovering Wohlwend in sixth.
Miki Koyama had an impressive race to finish seventh, scything her way through the field from 17th on the grid. Behind her in eighth was Tasmin Pepper - who also starred in a strong drive from 16th.
Gosia Rdest made one place up to finish ninth, while Australian Caitlin Wood completed the top 10.
Race result
| Pos | Driver | Laps | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamie Chadwick | 18 | 32m59.079s |
| 2 | Alice Powell | 18 | 1.329s |
| 3 | Marta Garcia | 18 | 1.692s |
| 4 | Beitske Visser | 18 | 3.473s |
| 5 | Sarah Moore | 18 | 5.771s |
| 6 | Fabienne Wohlwend | 18 | 7.049s |
| 7 | Miki Koyama | 18 | 8.811s |
| 8 | Tasmin Pepper | 18 | 17.136s |
| 9 | Gosia Rdest | 18 | 18.889s |
| 10 | Caitlin Wood | 18 | 20.384s |
| 11 | Jessica Hawkins | 18 | 21.573s |
| 12 | Esmee Hawkey | 18 | 22.995s |
| 13 | Sabre Cook | 18 | 23.365s |
| 14 | Naomi Schiff | 18 | 25.332s |
| 15 | Vicky Piria | 18 | 31.757s |
| 16 | Shea Holbrook | 18 | 46.206s |
| - | Emma Kimilainen | 0 | Retirement |
| - | Megan Gilkes | 0 | Retirement |
Drivers' standings
| Pos | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamie Chadwick | 25 |
| 2 | Alice Powell | 18 |
| 3 | Marta Garcia | 15 |
| 4 | Beitske Visser | 12 |
| 5 | Sarah Moore | 10 |
| 6 | Fabienne Wohlwend | 8 |
| 7 | Miki Koyama | 6 |
| 8 | Tasmin Pepper | 4 |
| 9 | Gosia Rdest | 2 |
| 10 | Caitlin Wood | 1 |
Hockenheim W Series: Jamie Chadwick on pole by nearly two seconds
W Series DNF 'worst case scenario' in short calendar - Kimilainen
WTCR Saudi Arabia: Azcona crowned champion as Berthon takes pole
Mikel Azcona sealed the 2022 World Touring Car Cup in qualifying for the series’ last-ever races, as Nathanael Berthon took his first pole position of the season in Saudi Arabia.
WEC drivers bid farewell to special GTE Pro category
The GTE Pro era of the World Endurance Championship should be celebrated for the kind of machinery and close racing it offered, according to drivers who were a part of the category over the years.
How celebrations for 20 years of Fun Cup point to its bright future
Grahame Butterworth brought Fun Cup to the UK in 2002 and says it remains as popular as ever, with the car that won the first race claiming this year’s title
Binotto admits "difficult" time in dealing with Ferrari F1 criticisms
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has admitted that he had a hard time this year isolating his Formula 1 squad from the distraction of external criticism.
How Chadwick's u-turn poses big questions for W Series
With two W Series titles under her belt, Jamie Chadwick appears to be the perfect candidate to break into FIA Formula 3. But a shock return to the series in 2022 appears a curious move – not just for her, but for the all-female series too
How W Series' standout star took the challenge to its champion
Heading into 2021, much of the discussion around W Series centred on Jamie Chadwick and her fight for a second crown. Chadwick duly won out, but only after a season-long battle with Alice Powell, who came into the final double-header level on points and almost stole the show
How Chadwick’s second W Series title poses more questions than answers
Jamie Chadwick successfully defended her W Series title as the series returned after a year out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She saw off a fierce fight from Alice Powell to keep the crown but with both looking to climb the motorsport ladder, what is next for both the two star drivers and series itself?
How W Series can confront its biggest enduring issue
Two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick finds herself in a predicament. The Williams F1 development driver has more than proven herself in the all-female series and has little to gain from returning. But where should she go next? And how will the series move forwards if she elects to take up her reserved slot on next year's grid? Whatever she decides, it poses important questions for the series' future
The nightmare season of a W Series title favourite
She came into 2021 as a W Series title contender, but Beitske Visser has had a frustrating season, marred by a horrific crash at Spa and floundering in 12th place in the drivers’ standings. After misfortune and on-track clashes, the Dutch driver wishes the season was just starting now
The rational brain of W Series' outside title bet
As the only mum in W Series, Emma Kimilainen has a different perspective than many of her rivals. After her swashbuckling drive to victory at a sodden Spa, the Finn now has a real chance of getting into the title fight, and can call on an approach that has been a boost through myriad past disappointments
The comeback trail Brit making the most of a second chance
After four years of making only irregular race appearances, Alice Powell had good reason to believe that her dreams of becoming a professional driver were over. But W Series has provided a second chance that she has firmly grasped, Powell's popular home win at Silverstone prompting the new series leader to look ahead to a bright future
Why W Series' champion is taking nothing for granted ahead of its return
W Series is back this weekend after a year away. This time it’s supporting F1, and reigning champion Jamie Chadwick is up for the challenge of taking another title - but knows with higher stakes will come even more motivated opposition