W Series returns to Silverstone this weekend for the fourth race of the season, and Jamie Chadwick looks to extend her record-breaking stint of wins on her home soil.
With crowds of over 400,000 due to enter Silverstone across the Formula 1® Lenovo British Grand Prix 2022 weekend, there’s every chance that they could see a Brit atop the W Series podium Chadwick had tough competition in fellow Brits Abbi Pulling of Racing X, and Alice Powell of Click2Drive Bristol Street Motors at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Chadwick, Pulling and Powell placed first to third respectively, and occupy the same spots in the standings in that exact order.
Abbi trails Jamie by 37 points and will be looking to reduce the gap by taking her first W Series victory at Silverstone, the circuit where she finished eighth on her W Series debut last July. Abbi’s mentor, turned opponent Alice dominated her home race last year, taking pole position and recording the fastest lap on her way victory watched by her family in the grandstands. However, the top three will be joined by three more British drivers looking for a home win on the almost-6-kilometre long Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit.
Sarah Moore and Abbie Eaton of Scuderia W have been busy in their role of driver ambassadors for Racing Pride over the month’s break in racing in June. Racing Pride is a movement which promotes LGBTQ+ inclusivity within motorsport; on 26 June last year, Sarah became the first openly LGBTQ+ driver to stand on a podium at an F1 race weekend, and she will go for the second podium finish of her W Series career at Silverstone.
Jessica Hawkins Click2Drive Bristol Street Motors Racing W Series Team is looking for her first win to be at her home race this weekend, after recording her best W Series result of second – and first podium – at this year’s opening race in Miami. She currently sits in eighth in the championship standings after the first three races.
The Silverstone Race will be broadcast live on both Sky Sports and Channel 4 in the UK for the first time, and will feature an all-female presenting team of Naomi Schiff, Lee McKenzie and Amy Reynolds.
Dave Ryan (Racing Director, W Series) is excited to see W Series back out on the track:
“I am looking forward to a good weekend at Silverstone. Despite being out of the cars for six weeks since our last race in Spain, all of the drivers are now familiar with the W Series cars and set-up, and the majority have driven at Silverstone before. It is fast, flowing, and a good all-round test which rewards those who fully commit to it.”
Jamie Chadwick says racing at Silverstone is about more than just the points;
“I’m looking forward to being back at Silverstone, where I have some unfinished business after last year when I didn’t have my strongest weekend. I was disappointed not to be on the top step of the podium on that occasion, and that’s what I’m aiming for this year. I’m looking forward to racing in front of a big home crowd which will include my parents, who couldn’t come to any of the races last season and will be watching me live for the first time in more than two years. It will be really special to have them, and lots more of my family and friends, with me at Silverstone and it’s great to be part of the British Grand Prix weekend.”
Abbi Pulling is looking to keep pressure on Chadwick over the course of the weekend and beyond;
“A lot has happened in the 12 months since I made my W Series debut at Silverstone last year, but I’m past the point of pinching myself now and I’m just trying to keep my head down and make the most of the amazing opportunities given to me by W Series and Alpine, which I’m so thankful for. I’ve matured as a driver and changed a lot, and I showed that at the last race in Barcelona. I want to keep coming away from race weekends feeling like I’ve done as well as I can. When I’m at my best mentally, I perform at my best on-track and the results come, just like it did in Barcelona where I drove a composed race. I showed Jamie [Chadwick] that I’m not going anywhere, and I want to keep the pressure on her and not give her a break until the season ends.”
The timetable for W Series this weekend at Silverstone is as follows:
Friday 01 July @ 8:40am: Practice Session (30 mins)
Friday 01 July @ 6:25pm: Qualifying (30 mins)
Saturday 02 July @ 1:25pm: Race (30 mins plus one lap)
British fans can watch the fourth race of the 2022 W Series season live from Silverstone on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports F1, Sky Showcase, and Channel 4 from 13.10 BST on Saturday 2 July, with qualifying live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Showcase at 18.10 BST on Friday 1 July. W Series’ practice session will be streamed live globally across the W Series YouTube channel from 08:40 BST on Friday 1 July. The action can also be seen across W Series’ digital and social channels, as well as being broadcast in more than 175 territories.