Latest Episode | Cut To The Race Podcast
2019 and 2021 W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick has admitted she most likely won’t be on the grid in 2022, as she looks for different opportunities.
Jamie Chadwick quickly affirmed herself as the reference driver for W Series, winning both seasons. The Brit was particularly impressive in her consistency, as she never finished a W Series weekend pointless. Furthermore, the pace shown in both qualifying and race testified brilliant talent and ability to get the maximum out of the car.
However, after graduating W Series Champion for the second time in 2021 after an all-season long battle with fellow British driver Alice Powell, Chadwick has announced to Autosport she will be trying out something different in 2022: “The plan isn’t return to W Series; I need to look at something else”.
The reason behind Chadwick’s choice is clear: “I’ve done it for two years and won it twice, and I think I need to showcase it as a leg-up and a platform for further opportunities. I don’t think it would make sense for me to return to W Series.”
Future plans haven’t been revealed, although Formula 3 seems an option: “It is something I am weighing up as I try to work out what the best route is, but it is a lot of money. “
Indeed, a Formula 3 season costs usually around one million dollars, which makes the category difficult to access without external sponsors: “Obviously, the W Series prize money is significant, but it but doesn’t get you that far. I need to see how much support I can get and what seats are available.”
Another option would be sportscar racing, as Chadwick recently tested the Richard Mille ORECA-Gibson 07: “It was fun, very different to what I’m used to, but it left me wanting more. Sportscar racing is something I am interested in and the Le Mans 24 Hours is on my bucket list. It’s definitely something I’m looking at for next season; most years since I started racing, I’ve done more than one programme.”
As a matter of fact, as well as being in W Series in 2021, Jamie Chadwick is also racing in Extreme E with Veloce Racing, a team founded by Formula E Champion Jean-Eric Vergne with Red Bull Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey.
Furthermore, Chadwick, who has gained 15 super license points by winning the 2021 Championship, is a development driver for Williams and has now enough points to potentially take part in F1 free practice sessions, while continuing her job for the team.
Although for Chadwick “nothing is confirmed”, we are sure she will continue to impress with her talent in 2022, as she did in the past two seasons in W Series.
Headline Image: W Series
