Today W Series have announced Abbie Eaton will return to the series for a full 2022 season campaign.
In her first season with W Series, Abbie Eaton hit the ground running in 2021 with four top-10 results in the first six races of the season. However following a heavy crash during the US Grand Prix at Austin, Eaton’s debut season was cut short. The impact of the crash was severe and will the car being thrown into the air, Abbie was left with a a broken back and unable to compete.
Earlier this month, Eaton returned to racing cars by getting behind the wheel of a Revolution Prototype. Now, after months of intense rehab and training, she is ready to make her competitive return to W Series. Discussing her return, Eaton has been very open about the lengths she’s gone to to regain her fitness.
“It’s been an off-season unlike any other. I’ve been having physio three times a week, strength training three times a week, and rehab to try to rebuild strength around my back. Wearing a brace and being immobilised for so long reduced strength in my entire body, so it’s been tough”
She also discussed the mental impact that the accident has had on her.
“Mentally the injury has affected me in so many ways … having the brace on 24 hours a day was physical and mental torture, but I coped with it by telling myself it could have been a lot worse – I could have been unable to walk again, so I really couldn’t grumble and, when I was feeling down, I used that to give myself a kick up the backside and keep pushing”
The Racing Director of W Series has been full of praise for the efforts Eaton has gone to in order to be able to compete for 2022.
“[She] has shown immense courage and determination throughout the winter to return to full fitness. Abbie is a great role model for the younger drivers joining the series this season, and it’s clear that she deserves a seat on the grid in 2022.”
For her second season with the series, Abbie Eaton will compete as part of the Scuderia W Team – she will be partnering fellow northerner Sarah Moore.
Abbie Eaton now completes the 18 driver line-up for the 2022 grid, with the season kicking off in two weeks time when the series heads to Miami.
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