Chadwick seals victory at Red Bull Ring to gain W Series title lead

Jamie Chadwick dominated the second round of the W Series to take her first win of the season at the Red Bull Ring.

The reigning-champion who finished sixth in last weekend’s season opener at the same circuit was able to rebound from her lacklustre result by qualifying on pole and leading every single lap of the race to victory, with Irina Sidorkova and Emma Kimilainen making it to the podium.

The start saw Beitske Visser going into anti-stall from second on the grid and falling quickly to the back of the field. Despite passing cars since, she was unable to recover back into the points and could manage only 11th at the flag and no points again for the 2019 runner-up.

Meanwhile, beginning from fifth, Sidorkova’s launch was more spectacular and was able to jump up into second position at Turn 1.

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Burna Tomaselli who was able to retain third from her starting spot, was displaced by Kimilainen on the second lap at the same corner and would drop back by more than 16 seconds to the top three.

No more significant overtakes came until the final five minutes of the event. Abbie Eaton was able to pass Nerea Marti for fifth place at Turn 3.

Podium-finisher last time out, Sarah Moore was languishing in fifth behind Tomaselli until with a couple of minutes remaining, she pulled alongside the Brazilian to put herself into the top four.

Chadwick’s lead was over six seconds before crossing the line to take her first victory in the W Series since Misano two years ago.

Sidorkova and Kimilainen completed the podium ahead of Moore and Tomaselli. The top ten points-scorers were completed by Eaton, Marti, Alice Powell, Belen Garcia and Fabienne Wohlwend.

Chadwick’s lights to flag win has moved her into the lead of the championship, with Moore in second and three points behind her compatriot. Powell’s eighth place means she sits third overall and a further point back.

The W Series resumes at Silverstone on the weekend of 16-18 July, part of the British Grand Prix support bill.