Jamie Chadwick confirmed at Williams Driver Academy

Two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick has been confirmed as part of the Williams F1 Team's Driver Academy programme. Among the active members, she is the only driver to have claimed a title while part of the Academy to date.

Photo by: Richard Pardon / Williams Racing

Having joined the Williams' Driver Academy programme in 2019, two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick will continue her involvement with the F1 team into 2022, the Grove-based outfit announced today. “We are incredibly pleased that Jamie will continue to be part of our team" - commented Sven Smeets, Williams Racing Sporting Director. "Her immensely impressive performance in the 2021 W Series Championship only reinforced our appreciation for her talent and skill, and we were delighted to play a part in her commendable success." Jamie Chadwick has become a globally-recognized sporting superstar after her groundbreaking achievements in British and international motor racing: in 2015, she became the first female and the youngest ever champion in British GT, claiming the GT4 title. Having made the switch to single seaters, she became the first woman to win a race in the British F3 championship, climbing the top step of the podium at Brands Hatch. Soon after, she sealed the 2018-2019 MRF Challenge F2000 title, before being announced as part of the first ever all-female F3 championship. With dominant performances, Chadwick took the inaugural W Series title in 2019, with two wins and five podiums. She would repeat the success in 2021, claiming four race wins and seven podiums in her title-winning campaign for Veloce Racing out of the eight scheduled rounds. 2021 also saw Chadwick experimenting in off-road racing, as she entered the first ever Extreme-E series in the Veloce Racing's electric SUV. Chadwick's results certainly brought her under the global limelight, and British team Williams Racing jumped on the opportunity to sign one of the most exciting junior drivers - and a great role model for women in the sport. At the Williams factory, Chadwick had the opportunity to witness the daily operations of a F1 team, prepare for her races and work on her media and marketing opportunities. “I’m delighted to continue working with the Williams team" - said Chadwick. "I’ve had a lot of support from everyone there throughout the last three years and the simulator work I’ve done has been hugely valuable for my race preparation." "I’m looking forward to continuing my programme throughout the 2022 season and I know that the team will be cheering me on during my upcoming 2022 W Series campaign; I’m really proud to continue representing the Williams name on the grid.” Jamie joins fellow Academy members Roy Nissany, Jack Aitken, Logan Sargeant, Zak O'Sullivan and Oliver Gray in the 2021 line-up; among the active members, she is the only driver to have claimed a title while part of the Academy to date. She earned 15 FIA Super Licence points in 2021 for her W Series victory - having already gained 3 points for her fourth place in the 2019 F3 Asian championship.

In 2022 Chadwick will return to W Series to defend her title, racing for newly-founded team Jenner Racing. Chadwick had expressed intention to move up the ladder in FIA F3, but was unable to secure enough funding for a seat in the main F3 category. "Jamie’s role in promoting female inclusion in motorsport continues to be both hugely important and admirable", added Williams' Sven Smeets. "She is a fantastic ambassador for the sport, and we are looking forward to working with her throughout the 2022 season.” Former Williams Academy members include F1 graduates Lance Stroll and Nicholas Latifi, as well as Formula E racers Oliver Rowland and Dan Ticktum.