Jamie Chadwick too good for W Series field in France despite grid penalty

Another meeting and almost with an air of inevitability, another win for Britain’s Jamie Chadwick as she continued her unbeaten run in this season’s W Series. Her victory in the fifth race of the season at Paul Ricard before qualifying for Sunday’s French Grand Prix, was another demonstration of Chadwick as being in a class of her own in the W Series field.

Indeed, such has been the 24-year-old’s dominance this season she is now in position to potentially seal the championship with three races to go after the seventh round at Suzuka.

“I’m really happy. Beitske [Visser] kept me honest initially and I moved back after the safety car, so I’m happy that I got my head down after that and it feels great to get another win,” she said.

Chadwick beat Spain’s Belén García and Nerea Martí into second and third with some decisive driving. The champion in the first two, all-female W Series seasons, she has now won seven races in succession – all five this season and the last two of 2021. She has a 70-point lead in the championship over her compatriot Abbi Pulling, with five races remaining. The next round is in Budapest next weekend but if Chadwick is 75 points clear of second place after the following meeting at Suzuka she will clinch the title there.

Thus far this year Chadwick, who is a development driver for the Williams F1 team, has won in dominant runs from pole to flag but, much as she enjoyed similar control at the front, she had to work slightly harder this time out at Paul Ricard. She was quickest in qualifying but took a two-place grid penalty for crossing the white line at the pit lane exit and started from third.

She did not allow it to hinder her for long. Chadwick enjoyed a fast start and having moved up to second