W Series Miami: Chadwick takes victory in dramatic final lap showdown

The Briton took the lead off the line from Nerea Marti, who had a poor getaway, before she was passed by Kimilainen into Turn 11 with less than 10 minutes remaining.

A safety car ensued, before racing resumed on the last lap and the Briton reclaimed the lead into Turn 1, with the Finn running wide.

She held onto second place until a dramatic spin after contact with Marta Garcia at Turn 17 left her to fall down the order and finish last.

The incident allowed Garcia to snatch second, with Jessica Hawkins avoiding the Finn to take the final podium spot, having started sixth.

Marti’s poor start allowed Chadwick into the lead, while Alice Powell stalled on the grid from third and Belen Garcia suffered a similar fate in seventh.

The safety car was deployed for the first time barely half a lap into the race after Powell’s afternoon went from bad to worse when she hit the wall at the exit of Turn 7, which she blamed on dirt off the racing line.

A problem with the JCB removing her stricken car prompted a red flag with 18 minutes left on the clock and caused a 10-minute stoppage to the action.

Chadwick bunched up the pack for the restart, but Kimilainen was hot on her gearbox, while Fabienne Wohlwend and Garcia tussled for third, with the Spaniard emerging in front after Wohlwend went wide at Turn 11.

Emma Kimiläinen, Puma W Series Team

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

The safety car was deployed again with less than 10 minutes remaining after Wohlwend again went wide, making contact with Abbie Eaton at Turn 2 before the pair collided and ended their races at Turn 6, as Wohlwend’s late braking putting her into the side of Eaton.

A last lap shootout ensued once the safety car period ended, with Chadwick snatching the lead after