Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Chadwick clinches W Series title as Powell wins at Brands Hatch

Jamie Chadwick has become the inaugural W Series champion, beating Beitske Visser by 10 points, as Alice Powell took her first victory at Brands Hatch

Chadwick had led the race from pole, ahead of Powell and Assen winner Emma Kimilainen, as Porsche Carrera Cup GB racer Esmee Hawkey stalled on the grid from the third spot.

Visser, who trailed Chadwick by 13 points ahead of the race, had started the race in fifth - and though she managed to overtake Fabienne Wohlwend in the opening stages - started to slip away from the leading trio of Chadwick, Powell and Kimilainen.

Powell put the pressure on Chadwick as the final race of the W Series season approached its midway distance, with the Williams Formula 1 development driver forced to defend over a series of laps.

That allowed Kimilainen to close the gap also, with both Powell and Kimilainen ultimately overtaking Chadwick at once through Paddock Hill Bend.

Powell and Kimilainen then began to extend a lead of almost nine seconds ahead of Chadwick, as Visser began to inch closer to her title rival.

Miki Koyama suffered a spin at the entry to Sheene Curve, with the car stranded in the middle of the circuit and requiring a safety car in order to recover it.

That safety car closed the gap between the leaders, but crucially allowed Visser to overtake Chadwick for the final podium position - again at Sheene Curve - upon the restart.

But Chadwick's strong season, with two wins to Visser's one, means that Chadwick nonetheless claims the first ever W Series crown, taking a $500,000 share of the overall prize fund.

Powell's first win elevates her to third in the championship, while Kimilainen's silver finish also moves her ahead of Wohlwend in the final standings to fifth.

Wohlwend ended the race in fifth on the road behind Chadwick, ahead of Vicky Piria, who had a strong race, climbing from tenth on the grid, to cement her place on the W Series grid for 2020 and move to ninth place in the championship.

Jessica Hawkins ended the final race of the year in seventh place, which ensures her safety as she jumps from 14th to 11th in the standings.

Also safely through to next season was Tasmin Pepper and Sabre Cook, while Gosia Rdest, Caitlin Wood, Hawkey and Vivien Keszthelyi all miss out and will need to re-enter the selection process.

Marta Garcia ended the race in eighth after overtaking Cook at Graham Hill Bend on the restart, while Sarah Moore completed the top 10.

Race result

Pos Driver Gap Laps
1 Alice Powell 31m24.967s 21
2 Emma Kimilainen 0.511s 21
3 Beitske Visser 5.784s 21
4 Jamie Chadwick 9.321s 21
5 Fabienne Wohlwend 9.732s 21
6 Vicky Piria 10.730s 21
7 Jessica Hawkins 11.060s 21
8 Marta Garcia 11.613s 21
9 Sabre Cook 12.179s 21
10 Sarah Moore 13.420s 21
11 Caitlin Wood 13.881s 21
12 Tasmin Pepper 14.221s 21
13 Gosia Rdest 14.735s 21
14 Vivien Keszthelyi 18.656s 21
15 Naomi Schiff 20.585s 21
16 Esmee Hawkey 20.755s 21
17 Shea Holbrook 20.839s 21
18 Megan Gilkes 21.681s 21
19 Sarah Bovy 22.061s 21
20 Miki Koyama 2 Laps 19

Final drivers' standings

Pos Driver Points
1 Jamie Chadwick 110
2 Beitske Visser 100
3 Alice Powell 76
4 Marta Garcia 66
5 Emma Kimilainen 53
6 Fabienne Wohlwend 51
7 Miki Koyama 30
8 Sarah Moore 24
9 Vicky Piria 24
10 Tasmin Pepper 22
11 Jessica Hawkins 12
12 Sabre Cook 12
13 Caitlin Wood 11
14 Gosia Rdest 10
15 Esmee Hawkey 2
16 Naomi Schiff 2
17 Vivien Keszthelyi 1

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article W Series Brands Hatch: Chadwick grabs last-gasp pole for finale
Next article Chadwick: W Series title-winning race most stressful of my life

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe