Tatuus iMagazine

17 A fter stopping for 2020 due to the Covid‐19 emergency, the W Series was back on track this year for the series' second edition. And it was a return in style, lining up alongside Formula 1 in seven weekends to provide a unique frame for the Autotecnica‐powered Tatuus racecars in Formula Regional specs. British racer Jamie Chadwick secured her second title after the one achieved in 2019, but the verdict came with the final round held at Austin, in the first race of the all‐female series outside the European borders. A race to the finish Chadwick, a Junior Williams F1 La Chadwick, didn't experience the best possible start for her defense in the Red Bull Ring opener, which was dominated by fellow countryman Alice Powell. Seven days later, in the back‐to‐back weekend of the series at the same venue, Chadwick promptly rebounded to the highest step of the podium, with Powell in P8. From that point on, the battle erupted and the two British stars exchanged positions at the head of the championship three times. They eventually lined up for Austin tied with 109 in the USA. Circuit Of The Americas saw Chadwick perform like clockwork as she captured both wins and sealed the title. "To win my second title means a lot to me. It has been a really challenging run fighting with Alice all the time. I want to congratulate her" said Chadwick, acknowledging the performance of her main contender. Kimilainen impresses in third, Martì is the best rookie The third main competitor was Emma Kimilainen, who delivered the only win that slipped from the Chadwick‐Powell duo at Spa‐Francorchamps on the wet. The Finnish racer also had a chance to fight for the title at Austin, which confirms her good run through the year. Joining the top‐12 ranked drivers from 2019, who were admitted to the season by default, the 2021 W Series season welcomed several new entries who got by the pre‐pandemic selection. Among the drivers who entered for 2021, Nerea Martì came from the Spanish F4 Championship and joined the two‐year W Series Academy program with Irina Sidorkova. She ended up fourth in points thanks to a third place in Budapest. Pulling in a dash for the top‐8 The main surprise for the series was Abbi Pulling, who initially joined the W Series fold as a reserve. Despite entering only four races, and the reduced amount of experience compared to her rivals behind the wheel of the Tatuus T‐318 car, she delivered a brilliant weekend at Austin, featuring a pole for race 1 and the second place in race 2 that eventually handed her seventh place in the series. It was enough to join the top‐8 finishers of 2021 that will be granted access to the 2022 and provide FIA Super License points. The addition of Super License points underlined the level of recognition that the series has in terms of being a stepping stone for female talent in single‐seaters. The points for 2021 also went to Sarah Moore, Fabienne Wohlwend, and 2019 runner‐up Beitske Visser. The top‐8 finishers of the 2021 W Series 1 ‐ Jamie Chadwick (159 points) 2 ‐ Alice Powell (132) 3 ‐ Emma Kimilainen (108) 4 ‐ Nerea Martì (61) 5 ‐ Sarah Moore (56) 6 ‐ Fabienne Wohlwend (42) 7 ‐ Abbi Pulling (40) 8 ‐ Beitske Visser (38) by Jacopo Rubino