Jamie Chadwick is the 2019 W Series champion

Ladies and gentlemen, Jamie Chadwick is your 2019 W Series champion.

The 21-year old Brit won the series – the first ever single-seater championship for women – at the final race of the season, after a tense and closely fought race.

Brands Hatch was the venue, and though Chadwick started on pole, she was overtaken by second placed Alice Powell early in the race… and soon after by Emma Kimilainen, who managed to steal third place at the very start after the original third-placed starter Esmee Hawkey stalled.

The final ten minutes proved dramatic, too. Miki Koyama’s spin triggered a safety car, closing up the pack and once clear, there was a final charge to the finish. Powell maintained her lead to take the race win, while Kimilainen came in second.

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The race for third was between Chadwick and championship rival Beitske Visser. Visser managed to take third place, making Brands the only race where Chadwick didn’t record a podium finish. But she’d done enough throughout the season, and takes the inaugural title.

“It’ll sink in soon I’m sure, but it hasn’t yet,” Chadwick said after the race. “This year has been a whirlwind, and today’s race was more intense than any other racing day I’ve ever had.

“Even though I finished fourth, I was just so happy finally to cross the line and secure the championship,” she added.

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