Alpine Junior Driver Abbi Pulling says the Rodin Motorsport car was a ‘pleasure’ to drive as she cruised to victory in Race 1 at the Miami International Autodrome.
She told Motorsport Week: “Yeah it’s great to have that bit of extra time going into this weekend, it’s been absolutely amazing. I can’t thank my engineers any more, I had a few complaints in FP1 and we got on it straight away so it’s just been a pleasure to drive.
“What a venue, it’s been amazing here in Miami with the American fans. It’s been pretty good so far but I’m not going to get complacent and I’m going to go through everything tonight with my team.
“Nothing’s ever perfect, so we’ll have to try to get as close as we can but overall it’s been great.”
Pulling extended her lead at the helm of the Drivers’ Standings after speeding past the Iron Dame Doriane Pin early in the race to finish five seconds ahead of the Frenchwoman.
The British driver inherited her first win of the 2024 season in Jeddah after Pin was penalised for taking the chequered flag twice in Race 2.
Pulling told Motorsport Week in an exclusive interview last month: “In my head, I’ve still got a race to win in the championship. I’m very happy that I inherited the win and got the points because, at the end of the day, it goes down to the points. I am disappointed in a way that it’s not truly my first race win.”
After dominating the weekend so far in Miami, Pulling has edged ahead of the Mercedes Junior Driver throughout the weekend.
She now leads the Drivers’ Championship with 44 points across three races, 11 points ahead of the second-runner Maya Weug and just 12 points ahead of Pin in third.
With an ongoing campaign in British Formula 4, Pulling has kept her schedule busy racing with Rodin Carlin in F4 and Rodin Motorsport in F1 Academy.
“The British F4 car is a completely different car to drive,” Pulling said.
“In F1 Academy the regulations are different, compounds are different, it ultimately makes it a very different car to drive. It helps keep me sharp, but the biggest difference is the ability to go from two different cars with two different conditions. It makes you really mentally aware of what you’re doing, making sure you’re not just going on auto-pilot.”
The Alpine Junior looks ahead to Race 2 tomorrow evening, starting from the pole position and aiming to secure the double win in the blistering Miami heat.
