"I had a point to prove this weekend" - Abbi Pulling converted pole position into race 1 victory at Miami that extends her championship lead. With a stellar recovery from seventh, Chloe Chambers secured her first podium in the series on home soil.
Abbi Pulling converted pole position in race 1 into her second win of the season with an unchallenged run at Miami International Autodrome that saw the Alpine Academy driver crossing the finish line 5 seconds clear of Doriane Pin, further extending her championship lead after the 4 points conquered earlier today in qualifying.
Behind Pulling and Pin - who have shared victories after the first three races in Jeddah and Miami - it was home hero Chloe Chambers to also make headlines, as the US American driver representing US American team Haas put on a show and recovered from seventh to score her first podium in the series - in a superb and closely contested race throughout the field.
After a 20 minute delay for oil on track left by the Porsche Carrera Cup North America's qualifying session, cars lined up on the grid for the first 30 minute race of the weekend. Lights went out and Pulling had a big lock up into turn one but safely retained the lead from Pin and Hamda Al Qubaisi, while Bianca Bustamente stalled from fourth on the grid. Hausmann and Nobels made contact - which sent the Swiss Aston Martin junior into the wall in sector 3 on the first lap. Hausmann could limp back to the pits, albeit with a severely damaged car before she ultimately retired.
The top three pulled away and, while Maya Weug seemed able to keep up with them, she eventually fell into the clutches of Nerea Marti and Chloe Chambers. From the back of the pack, Amna Al Qubaisi was on a mission and was already up to ninth by lap three, with a series of great passes. At the same time, Bustamante also tried to make up ground and passed Crone, De Heus and Lovinfosse.
But arguably the closest battle was for fourth: Marti was aggressive on Weug - but that opened the door for Chambers, who made a stunning double pass stick into turn 1. Her teammate followed through a few corners later - and Nobels joined her fellow FDA driver.
While Marti tried to close in on her teammate ahead, the Spaniard went deep and lost two spots to Weug and Nobels on lap 5. Nerea managed to reclaim the position on Nobels - as positions changed at each corner. A spin for Lia Block while in P11 meant that the American dropped down the order - and Bustamante started to put pressure on Amna Al Qubaisi for ninth. Amna defended with her typical determination, but the McLaren driver - who received a 5 second penalty for cutting a corner and gaining an advantage - was through.
A great duel for P12 saw Schreiner defending from De Heus and Crone - who was keeping up the pace with the cars in front and was looking to pick up the pieces in a superb debut.
Meanwhile, Pulling had extended her lead to Pin by over three seconds - and Hamda Al Qubaisi was getting caught by Chloe Chambers and Maya Weug.
The Red Bull-sponsored MP Motorsport car started to struggle by lap 10 and Chambers seized the opportunity to dive on the inside of turn 1, snatching third. Weug would follow through, and Marti made a pass stick on lap 12 despite the experienced defense of the Emirati driver.
On the final lap, the fight for third was on: Chambers held on and took third place across the line, scoring a maiden podium on home soil. Chambers, who had raced at Miami before as part of the 2022 W Series season, showed impressive pace on the track that gave her her first W Series point on debut.
Abbi Pulling took a commanding victory, five seconds ahead of main rival Doriane Pin, as the Frenchwoman couldn't get close enough to mount a challenge. Nerea Marti was promoted to fourth after a 5 second penalty was handed to Maya Weug for having left the track and gained an advantage in the battle with Al Qubaisi; Hamda thus took fifth place, ahead of Weug.
Jessica Edgar had a solid race to score a seventh place; Amna Al Qubaisi retained eighth after a great recovery from the last row of the grid and finished ahead of Bianca Bustamante - who set the fastest lap, proving her speed despite the unfortunate start - and Lola Lovinfosse, who claimed the final point recovering from 15th due to a previous grid penalty.
Emely de Heus eventually got ahead of Schreiner and both preceded Aurelia Nobels after the Brazilian PUMA-sponsored driver dropped down in the closing stages. Courtney Crone was a very solid 14th and finished in front of compatriot Lia Block.
One more race awaits the 16 F1 Academy drivers tomorrow - and it would be again Abbi Pulling to line up on pole position, this time alongside Bianca Bustamante. Doriane Pin and Hamda Al Qubaisi will share the second row of the grid, ahead of Nerea Marti and Maya Weug. Aurelia Nobels will try to make up for today's unfortunate result from seventh, while Chloe Chambers will aim to charge back once again from eighth. Edgar and Hausmann complete the top ten on the starting grid of Sunday's second race, which is scheduled for 13:05 local time.