Race victor Jamie Chadwick (GBR) Jenner Racing celebrates on the winner’s platform.
02.07.2022. W Series, Round 3, Silverstone, England, Race Day.
Three-time W Series Champion and Indy NXT competitor Jamie Chadwick spoke to The year-long program, developed in partnership with Daytona Motorsport, is intended to enhance female involvement in motorsport at the grassroots level by addressing financial obstacles.
Commencing with complimentary karting sessions for females aged eight and above at Daytona’s karting venues on International Women’s Day (March 08), the program will then proceed with ‘The Jamie Chadwick Series,’ an exclusively female karting championship where competitors will race at Daytona’s three venues (Sandown Park, Milton Keynes, Tamworth).
Chadwick will serve as a mentor to the championship participants throughout the year, and as a Williams Academy Driver, she will provide the young girls with an exclusive look behind the scenes at the F1 team’s Grove headquarters, followed by one-on-one mentorship for the title winner. Prior to the announcement, Chadwick engaged in an extensive conversation, stating, “It has always been a topic of discussion, and it was simply a matter of finding the time when I had the capacity to fill or do the best job with it,” Chadwick began. “When you consider all the initiatives that are in place for female talent in the sport – it’s incredible to see how much progress has been made in recent years – but we have yet to address the grassroots level. I started in this ‘Arrive and Drive’ style karting without any racing background. I was unaware of the pathway, how to advance in the sport, and what opportunities were available. So, we are really trying to tackle that and see what we can do at this level to give them the opportunity to progress to the next stage.”
Daytona, a UK-based outdoor karting operator established in 1990, is a collaborator that Chadwick believes will “offer a great opportunity to effectively identify and nurture the next stage of talent.”
The next stage for female racers is of utmost importance, and this is evident in the surge of initiatives that have emerged recently to encourage female participation in motorsport. Alongside Chadwick’s program, initiatives such as F1 Academy Discover Your Drive and the More Than Equal Female Driver Development Program are all striving to narrow the gender participation gap in racing.
Recent research has revealed that only a mere 13% of karting participants are female. This number decreases significantly when it comes to single-seaters and GT racing. However, British racing driver Jamie Chadwick aims to change this by implementing her own program that focuses on increasing female representation in motorsport, starting from the grassroots level and beyond.
“When I first started, the percentage was even lower than 13%,” Chadwick acknowledged. “But if you look at the progression from F4 to F3 and then F2, the percentage quickly drops to zero. So now, we’re focusing on addressing this issue at a higher level. However, we must also consider what we can do at the grassroots level to encourage more girls to participate. By creating a culture and environment that attracts young girls and women, we hope to initiate a domino effect that will inspire more and more females to get involved in motorsport.”
One initiative that plays a significant role in encouraging female racers to pursue single-seater racing is the all-female F1 Academy championship. This championship provides a platform for female racers to climb up the junior formula ladder, with the support of all ten Formula 1 teams as well as major brands like Charlotte Tilbury and Puma.
Chadwick, who is part of the Williams Academy, fully understands the positive impact of the F1 Academy. She is currently mentoring fellow Williams Academy Driver Lia Block, who is about to embark on her first racing campaign. Block’s previous experience has been primarily in off-road racing, making the transition to single-seaters a challenging one. Nonetheless, Chadwick speaks highly of Block and emphasizes the crucial role of F1 Academy in promoting female participation in motorsport.
“I’m thoroughly enjoying my mentoring role with Lia,” Chadwick expressed. “I was present for the first day of testing in Jeddah, and it’s been a pleasure to work with her. The first year will undoubtedly be a significant step for her, but she is fortunate to have excellent support from Williams and find herself in a favorable position. She is eager to learn and determined to make the most of this opportunity, which is truly admirable.”
Chadwick believes that F1 Academy is the logical and realistic next step for aspiring female racers. She explains that in the past, pursuing motorsport as a career and aiming for Formula One required substantial financial investment, even just to reach Formula Three. However, by considering F1 Academy as a starting point, the investment needed becomes more manageable. This program provides a more feasible pathway for individuals to strive for success and secure the necessary funding and support to progress further in their racing careers.
Chadwick is no stranger to achieving success and understands how participating in an international all-female racing series can advance a career. As the only female driver to secure a victory in British Formula 3 and the first female to win the British GT Championship, Chadwick’s triumphant three consecutive titles in the W Series served as a launching pad for her debut season in the Indy NXT series, which represents the final stage towards IndyCar.
Having familiarized herself with the ropes alongside Andretti in 2023, Chadwick is eager to continue her progress and deliver a strong performance in her second year in the Indy NXT series in the United States. However, she remains committed to assisting aspiring female racers by spearheading a new program in the United Kingdom.
“I am genuinely thrilled about the upcoming year from a racing perspective, as it marks my second year in the Indy NXT series,” expressed Chadwick. “With the experience gained during my initial year, I feel confident that we can strive for impressive outcomes and enjoy a successful season.”
When it comes to the new karting program, Chadwick is determined to be personally involved to the best of her ability. While acknowledging that her primary focus remains on her own career, she aims to contribute as much as she can.
“When I was starting out in the sport, I was fortunate enough to be able to reach out to individuals like Suzie Wolff and receive a response along with valuable advice,” Chadwick explained. “I aspire to offer the same support to those who are embarking on their journey. I believe there is ample time available to provide assistance to anyone who needs it. Even if it may not be everything, my goal is to create opportunities for them to benefit from.”
According to the Source motorsportweek.com