#driverintros*

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #55 Jamie Chadwick

Born 20 May 1998 in Bath, UK, Jamie is the first/reigning W Series Champion and the first ever winner of a W Series race. She started racing at age 11 and began racing in the British GT Championship in 2015, winning it in her first year. She transitioned to single seater racing in 2017 gaining a podium in her first season in British Formula 3, and a win the following year. In 2019, she joined the Williams Driver Academy and became a development driver for the team. This year she races in W Series as well as Extreme E.

“W Series has been the biggest stepping stone in my career, developing me as a racer and a person. Contending for the W Series title in 2019 brought with it more intensity than I’ve ever felt and I feel immensely proud to be the inaugural champion. The times are changing but there’s often still surprise when I take my helmet off. The great thing about W Series is that you know that every driver underneath those helmets is female.”

Previous/Other Series: Ginetta Junior Championship, British GT Championship - GT4, BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, F3 Asian Championship, Formula Regional European Championship, Extreme E (Current)

Achievements:

2015 British GT Championship - GT4 Champion (First female and youngest ever champion)

2018 British F3 win (First female race winner)

2018–19 MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Champion

2019–20 F3 Asian Championship 4th place

2019 W Series Champion

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

Official Website

W Series Driver Page

[marcmadej]

Richard #theking Petty #nascarchicago #geico400 #driverintros #chicago #chaseforthecup (at Chicagoland Speedway)

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #95 Beitske Visser

Born 10 March 1995 in Dronten, The Netherlands, Beitske began karting at the age of 12. In 2010 she was a champion in the KZ2 class in the WSK Master Series and in 2011 she finished 3th in the KZ1 class in the WSK Master Series. In her first car race she won despite a 25-second longer pitstop and a drive-through penalty. She joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2013 but was dropped again after the season. In 2017 she joined the BMW Junior Team.

“When I was 12 I’d started racing internationally and some boys couldn’t handle being slower than a girl. They started smashing me off the track so I had to learn to be quite hard. If some guy hit me off I’d hit him off harder to get respect. I couldn’t let them mess with me. I always had the speed to be in front but I had to learn the mindset too. W Series is changing perceptions – we have more respect as drivers now and it is spurring me on.”

Previous Series: Supercar Challenge, ADAC Formel Masters, Formula Renault 3.5 Series, GP3 Series, GT4 European Series, French GT4 Cup, International GT Open, European Le Mans Series, FIA World Endurance Championship (Current)

Achievements:

2011 Supercar Challenge Win

2012/13 ADAC Formel Masters Multiple Race Winner

2017 GT4 European Series Southern Cup Race Winner

2018 GT4 European Series Multiple Race Winner

2019 W Series Vice-Champion

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #51 Irina Sidorkova

Born 27 June 2003 in Petrozavodsk, Russia, Irina is the youngest driver on the 2021 W Series grid at 17 years old. She started karting at 7 years old and became champion in the Estonian KF6 Mini Class in 2012. When she was just 12 she made the transition to cars and had already clinched 2nd place in the Russian Circuit Racing Series when she was 13. In 2019 she achieved two podiums in the SMP F4 Series.

“My parents wanted a princess but instead they got a racer. My passion for cars came as a surprise to them but they have always been hugely supportive. Being a part of W Series makes me smile every day – I cannot wait to start the season.”

Previous/Other Series: Russian Circuit Racing Series - National Junior, SMP F4, Spanish F4, Russian Circuit Racing Series - Touring Light, F3 Asian Championship (current)

Achievements:

2017 Russian Circuit Racing Series - National Junior Vice-Champion

2018 Russian Circuit Racing Series - National Junior Champion

2020 Russian Circuit Racing Series - Touring Light Win

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #21 Jessica Hawkins

Born 16 February 1995 in Headley, England, Jessica started karting at the age of 10. She won several titles in karting before moving up to car racing in 2013, she made her debut in the Clio Michelin Autumn Cup where she finished P2 in class. In 2014 she moved to single seaters to compete in Formula Ford. In 2017 she became Vice-Champion in the Mini Challenge UK. Besides racing she’s also a stunt driver, she starred in Fast and the Furious Live and the James Bond film, ‘No Time to Die’. Since 2021 she’s a driver ambassador for the Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team, she’s also currently dating fellow W Series driver Abbie Eaton.

“I have the utmost respect for all the other drivers out there. We all have our own journeys and I’d never change mine because it’s made me the driver I am – and the person I am too.”

Previous Series:  Clio Michelin Autumn Cup, British Formula Ford, MSA Formula, MRF Challenge Formula 2000, Volkswagen Racing Cup GB, Mini Challenge UK, Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, British Touring Car Championship (Current)

Achievements:

2017 Mini Challenge UK Vice-Champion

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

Official Website

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #7 Emma Kimiläinen

Born 8 July 1989 in Helsinki, Finland, Emma began karting at the age of 5. She started her professional career in 2005 in several Formula Ford series where she came close to winning the championship several times. She moved up to Formula Masters but her career was cut short in 2009 due to a lack of funding. She started a family during her break from motorsport and had a daughter named Fanni. In 2015 she continued racing in the STCC championship where she achieved several podiums. In the inaragual W Series season she was involved in a crash that re-ingited her neck injury which saw her having to sit out two rounds of the season. However she took a win in her comeback race and still managed to finish P5 in the standings.

“I’m very proud of W Series. Female sport is growing and it has finally got the respect that it deserves. To be racing on such a big stage gives all of us drivers the chance to show that we are here, that we know how to do this and that this is where we should be. Now there is no reason why a 31-year-old mother couldn’t be in Formula 1 one day.”

Previous Series:  Formula Ford NEZ, Formula Ford Finland, Formula Ford Sweden, Eadical Cup Sweden, ADAC Formel Masters, Formula Palmer Audi, Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, V8 ThunderCars NEZ

Achievements: 

2005 Formula Ford Finland Vice-Champion

2006 Formula Ford NEZ Vice-Champion

2006 Formula Ford Finland Vice-Champion

2007 Radical Cup Sweden Multiple Race Winner

2017 V8 ThunderCars NEZ Multiple Race Winner

2019 W Series Win

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

Official Website

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #27 Alice Powell

Born 26 January 1993 in Oxford, England, Alice began karting at the age of 8. She competed in various British Karting Championships before moving up to cars in 2007. In 2009, aged 16, she competed in the Formula Renault UK Championship, becoming the youngest female driver in any Formula Renault race and in 2010 she became the first woman to win a Formula Renault Championship by winning the FR BARC Championship. In 2012 she became the first woman to score points in GP3 and in 2014 she won the Asian Formula Renault Series Championship. In 2015, lack of funding forced her to take a break from the sport before W Series gave her the opportunity to return in 2019. She took part in Formula E’s Rookie Test in 2020 and has commentated for F1 TV.

“Racing has been the sport of privileged billionaires for years and it’s hard for women to get sponsorship. Despite writing hundreds of letters to businesses and race teams my funding dried up in 2015. Companies used to say things like: ‘We’re not sure that a woman in motor racing is the right positioning for us.’ Then W Series came along and changed the game. I had just been unblocking a urinal when I got the call.”

Previous/Other Series: Ginetta Junior Championship, Formula Renault UK, Formula Palmer Audi, Formula Renault BARC, Ginetta G50 Cup, Formula Renault UK, GP3 Series, MotorSport Vision F3 Cup, British F3, Asian Formula Renault Series, MRF Challenge Formula 2000, Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, IMSA

Achievements:

2010 Formula Renault BARC Champion

2013 MotorSport Vision F3 Cup Vice-Champion

2014 Asian Formula Renault Series Champion

2019 W Series 3rd Place and Race Win

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #49 Abbi Pulling (Reserve Driver)

Born 21 March 2003 in Gosberton, England, Abbi started karting at the age of 9. She won the Super 1 National Junior TKM Championship twice in 2017 and 2018. In early 2018 she made her car racing debut in the Ginetta Junior Championship. In 2020 she joined British F4 and scored several podium finishes in her rookie season, she also competed a round in the Formula Renault Eurocup as a guest driver during the 2020 season. She’s a protege of fellow W Series driver Alice Powell and will make her W Series debut during her home race in Silverstone. 

“I’m over the moon to be making my W Series debut at Silverstone and I want to show people what I can do. I’ve never been to the British Grand Prix weekend before and I can’t even begin to imagine what the atmosphere will be like racing in front of a full home crowd.”

Previous/Other Series: Ginetta Junior Championship, Ginetta GT5 Challenge, Formula Renault Eurocup, British F4 (Current)

Achievements:

2020 & 2021 British F4 Several Podium Finishes

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

Official Website

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #19 Marta García

Born 9 August 2000 in Dania, Spain, Marta started karting at the age of 6. in 2013 she finished second in the Spanish KF3 championship and in 2014 she finished second in the Spanish KFJ championship. In 2015 she won the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy and the Trofeo delle Industrie. The latter being the oldest kart race in the world which has also been won by the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel. In 2016 she moved into single seaters to compete in the Spanish F4 Championship

“Early on in my career I overheard a group of men saying: ‘She can’t win. She’s a girl.’ Well, along with every single W Series driver, I’ve proved that such statements are not only embarrassingly outdated, they’re also simply untrue. I feel like I was born to be a racing driver, regardless of my gender, and I’m only just warming up.”

Previous Series: Spanish F4, SMP F4

Achievements:

2019 W Series Win

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #3 Gosia Rdest (Reserve Driver)

Born 14 Januray 1993 in Żyrardów, Poland, Gosia entered car racing in 2012 as reigning Polish Junior Karting Champion. In her year in BRDC Formula 4 in 2013 she won the the “Who Zooms” Award for most overtakes. She has entered the Dubai 24 Hour 5 times, winning her class twice. As well as being a reserve driver for W Series this year, she is competing in the Alpine Europa Cup where she is currently 7th in the championship. Gosia will compete in the first two rounds of the season in Austria.

“When I first heard about W Series I was suspicious, thinking: ‘Is it real?’ It’s just amazing and brings me closer to my dream.”

Previous/Other Series: Formula BMW Talent Cup, BRDC Formula 4 Championship, Audi Sport TT Cup, TCR Germany, GT4 International Cup, GT4 Central European Cup, Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, International GT Open, Baltic Touring Car Championship, ADAC GT Masters, 24H Series, Alpine Europa Cup (Current)

Achievements:

2018 & 2020 Dubai 24 Hour Class Wins

2019 W Series Point Finishes

2021 Alpine Europa Cup Podium Finisher

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #11 Vicky Piria

Born 11 November 1993 in Milan, Italy, Vicky started karting at the age of 10. She raced primarily in Italy and progressed from the junior ranks to the KF3 category by 2008. In 2012 she became the first woman to race in GP3 when she raced for Trident. She took a break after the 2014 season but returned to racing in 2018

“Thanks to W Series there is now a much clearer route to the top of motorsport for young female drivers. When I was karting, I had no idea where to go and what to do because there were no examples. Now, I am confident we will see another female driver in F1 and when it happens I will feel a part of that success.”

Previous/Other Series: Formula 2000 Light, Formula 2000 Light Winter Trophy, Italian Formula Renault, Formula Lista Junior, Formula Abarth, GP3 Series, MRF Challenge Formula 2000, European F3 Open, Pro Mazda Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Italy, Formula Renault Eurocup

Achievements:

2013 European F3 Open Several Point Finishes

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #44 Abbie Eaton

Born 2 January 1992 in Hull, England, Abbie began karting at the age of 10. She competed in the Comer Cadet Class earning numerous podiums and wins before moving up the ranks to compete in her first car race in 2007. Throughout her career she has achieved several GT Wins in many different series. Aside from being a racing driver, she’s also the test driver for series two and three of The Grand Tour. She’s an ambassador for Racing Pride and is currently dating fellow W Series driver Jessica Hawkins. W Series will be the first formula car racing series she competes in.

“I was initially sceptical about W Series, but I can put my hands up and say I was wrong. The level of competition is extremely high and I’m excited to get back on track. Being in a male-dominated sport you have to be more aggressive and hungry on track to get what you want. I think it’s why racing in a female championship is going to be harder than in a mixed one. All of our determination is going to be so much stronger”

Previous/Other Series: SAKMAX, Production Touring Car Championship, Maxda MX-5 Championship, Mazda MX-5 Supercup, UK GT Cup, British GT Championship - GT4, Blancpain GT Endurance Cup, Super2 Series, Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, GT Cup Championship - GTO (Current), Britcar Endurance Championship - Praga (Current)

Achievements:

2009 Production Touring Car Championship Champion

2014 Mazda MX-5 Supercup Champion

2015 UK GT Cup Win

2017 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup - AM Win

2021 GT Cup Championship - GTO Win

2021 Britcar Endurance Championship - Praga Win

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

Official Website

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #26 Sarah Moore

Born 22 October 1993 in Harrogate, England, Sarah began karting at the age of 4. Sarah made the move to cars in 2007 to compete in the Ginetta Junior Winter Series. In 2009 she won the Ginette Junior Series Championship and became the first woman to do so. Sarah is an ambassador for Racing Pride UK and part of the LGBTQ community as well as a former BRDC rising star.

“I think my visibility as a LGBTQ+ driver will help aspiring drivers feel more comfortable just knowing there are people within the sport who are openly part of the community. Representation is definitely growing, and I hope it will continue to grow.”

Previous/Other Series: Ginetta Junior Winter Championship, Ginetta Junior Championship, 4two Cup, InterSteps Championship, VLN, BARC Mighty Mini Championship, Mini Challenge GB, GT4 South European Series

Achievements:

2008 Ginette Junior Winter Championship Vice-Champion

2009 Ginetta Junior Championship Champion

2014 VLN -  Toyota GT86 Cup Vice-Champion

2018 Britcar Endurance Champion

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

Official Website

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #5 Fabienne Wohlwend

Born 7 November 1997 in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, Fabienne began karting at the age of 7. She competed in several championships across Liechtenstein and Switzerland to become a champion in the Liechtenstein Kart Championship in 2008. She’s Liechtenstein’s most succesful racer.

“W Series has helped me live my dream and I’m loving every minute of it. It’s such a big chance for us to develop, not just as drivers but as people. It’s given me the courage and confidence to leave my day job, so I guess that speaks for itself. My goal has always been to become the first F1 driver with hair all the way down to their waist. I’ve achieved one of those goals and now I’m determined to make the other one a reality too.”

Previous/Other Series: Italian F4, Audi Sport TT Cup, Ferrari Challenge Europe - Coppa Shell, Ferrari Challenge Europe - Trofeo Pirelli, NLS (Current) 

Achievements:

2018 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Pro-Am World Champion

2018 Ferrari Challenge Europe Trofeo Pirelli Pro-Am Vice-Champion

2020 Ferrari Challenge Europe Trofeo Pirelli Pro Vice-Champion

2020 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Vice World Champion

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

 W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #37 Sabré Cook

Born 21 May 1994 in Grand Junction, Colorado, USA, Sabré began karting at the age of 8. She’s a champion in several US karting championships and became the first female to Qualify for a KZ World Championship Main Event in 2015. Sabré feels like she was destined for racing with her father racing motocross and supercross as well as building the family’s very own circuit. After winning the Infiniti Engineering Academy program for the United States in 2018, she worked with the Renault Formula One organization. She dreams of becoming a head F1 race engineer and racing in IndyCar. She won the W Series Striving Forward Award for Most Passes during the 2019 Season. 

“I want the attention to be on how I drive, not what gender I am or how I look. Being in the zone in a car on the track is definitely a unique feeling.”

Previous/Other Series: SCCA National Championship Runoffs, US F4, U.S. F2000, Indy Pro 2000, Mazda MX-5 Cup (Current), Porsche Carrera Cup NA (Current)

Achievements:

2018 U.S. F2000 Several Point Finishes

2019 Indy Pro 2000 Several Point Finishes

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

Official Website

W Series Driver Page

[womeninmotorsport]

W SERIES 2021 DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS: #85 Miki Koyama

Born 5 September 1995 in Yokohama, Japan, Miki started racing bikes at the age of 4 and racing in karts quickly followed. Determined to make her dream of racing a reality, she paid her way through English language school and sourced her own sponsors. She made her single seater debut in 2015 in Japanese F4 and raced there till the 2019 season, scoring several points finishes. The 2019 W Series season was her first season in Europe, but despite that she managed to finish in the points four times. 

“I want to learn as much as I can and become a world-class driver. I will always be grateful to W Series because it’s for women like me who have no money; for women who wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to race. It’s about talent alone.”

Previous/Other Series: Japanese F4, F3 Asian Championship, Formula Regional Japanese Championship, Super Formula Lights (Current)

Achievements:

2019 F3 Asian Championship Several Point Finishes

2020 Formula Regional Japanese Championship Several Point Finishes

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

W Series Driver Page