Alpine Junior Driver Abbi Pulling became the first female driver to win a British Formula 4 Race in a landmark Brands Hatch weekend.
Pulling started from reverse grid pole, and led the Race 2 on Sunday from start to finish to secure her maiden British F4 victory.
Her dominant display in Brands Hatch made history, as the British driver became the first woman to win a race in the series.
“I competed in this championship a couple of years ago and my aim was to break that record and be the first female to stand on the top step,” Pulling said to ITV after her historic victory.
“I have finally done it.
“I think it shows what F1 Academy is doing. It’s bringing up female participation and there’s just such a buzz now around women in motorsport and bringing more participation and licence holders in.”
Following her double victory in F1 Academy Round 2 in Miami, Pulling is experiencing a well-deserved wave of success.
Pulling spoke to Motorsport Week after her F1 Academy Race 1 victory at the Miami International Autodrome about her British F4 campaign.
“The British F4 car is a completely different car to drive,” she 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 British driver races for Rodin Motorsport in F1 Academy and in British F4.
Pulling is currently the F1 Academy Championship by 34 points ahead of her nearest competitor Doriane Pin.
The Alpine Junior Driver has come back in full force after falling short of the Iron Dame’s performance in the F1 Academy season-opener in Jeddah.
She told Motorsport Week in an exclusive interview last month: “My goal for the season is to go through the whole year smiling and enjoying myself and to just try and be better.
“I did all my learning last year and previous years of racing. I went into last year and all I wanted was to be consistent. Now it’s just sticking with doing the best that I can do.”
With an ongoing campaign in British F4, Pulling hopes to secure as many opportunities as possible en route to the big stage – Formula 1.
“My plan was never to stay in this championship forever.” Pulling said.
“I aim to get to Formula 1 but even just competing in Formula 3 would be an absolute dream, there are loads of different potential pathways to take, you never really know where you’ll be.”
Pulling looks towards securing the next double victory in F1 Academy Round 3 in Barcelona, from the 21st to the 23rd of June.
