Jamie Chadwick retained her W Series title with a dominant victory in the final race of the season at the Circuit of the Americas.
The British driver finished with 159 points in total, 27 ahead of her compatriot Alice Powell, who ended up sixth.
The Veloce Racing driver started on pole for this race, with another Brit, Abbit Pulling, in second. But Chadwick got the perfect getaway off the line and controlled the race throughout.
Powell fought valiantly, batling her way up from ninth on the grid. Yet, after struggling in qualifying, claiming the championship title was always going to be a tall order for the 28-year-old.
Powell and Chadwick had entered the final race weekend of the calendar locked on 109 points each, but Chadwick took victory in the first of two races at the American circuit yesterday, to open up a 10 point lead on her British rival.
The Racing X driver finished third yesterday, having started 10th, but it left the Brit needing a miracle to pip Chadwick to the post.
Meanwhile, Finland’s Emma Kimilainen finished on the podium behind Chadwick and Pulling today to end the season in third place.
It was Chadwick who was the star of the show though, claiming a deserved second title, having won the inaugural series of the all-female championship in 2019.
Speaking afterwards, the 23-year-old: “It’s been hard work [this year.]. I’m just so happy and so grateful to everyone at W Series. It’s been a difficult year but I’m just so glad to finish up on top.”
Aside from winning the title, Chadwick accumulated 15 points on her super licence to move a step closer to racing in Formula One.
The Brit is already a development driver for Willims and needs 40 points to become the first woman since Italy’s Lella Lombardi in 1976 to compete in Formula One.
Her Williams teammate George Russell, who will replace Valteri Bottas at Mercedes next year, was one of the first to congratulate the 23-year-old after her win in Austin, Texas.
However, Chadwick is faced with a tough decision as making the transition to F1 will mean she is unable to take part in the W Series anymore.