Jamie Chadwick will have to wait to celebrate winning the W Series title after she crashed out of the Singapore Grand Prix in the closing stages. In tricky and wet conditions, with less than five minutes remaining in the race, the Brit, 24, who was running P6, attempted to pass compatriot Jess Hawkins having been stuck behind her for some time.
However, her move was unsuccessful as she lost control of the Jenner Racing car and ploughed into the wall. Thankfully she safely emerged from the car, but she was out of the race and what promised to be an afternoon of pure joy turned into one of disappointment.
Fellow title challenger Beitske Visser earned a huge win, with Alice Powell finishing second and Marta García in third to complete the podium. Chadwick, is a two-time defending W Series champion and currently 50 points clear in the current standings.
She needs just one more victory to secure her third consecutive title, but will now have to wait for her next opportunity at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas on October 22. Chadwick has dominated the W Series since its creation in 2019, winning the title in its inaugural year and again in 2021.
As she closes in on yet another championship win, earlier this week Chadwick says "consistency" has been key to a successful season. "Any season you want to win and I think this year has been a really good year for us," she told BBC Points West.
"To come in this year with the added motivation of knowing what I want to achieve and having that set from the outset, I was really happy that we've so far been able to put it into practice. But the season is still not over yet and there's still a bit more I need to achieve.
"I've not always been the fastest driver, definitely not this year, but we've just been consistent and every weekend been able to fight at the front and have that opportunity to be winning races every weekend. It's just about taking those opportunities," she added. "I really feel like the experience of being pushed hard last year and just having that motivation in the off-season as well, to come back and come back stronger, has really helped this year."
This summer, Chadwick joined a test in the USA with Indy Lights - the feeder series to IndyCar - as she evaluates options for next year. " Formula 1 is growing massively so to be a part of that package and gain from that has been great. But also to go to the circuits and cities we're going to - being here in Singapore - it really is a big step up," Chadwick added.
"There's still a lot I need to achieve so getting into the next step up, whatever future series that would be - Formula 3, Formula 2 potentially - is the next focus and having success there. I know if I am successful then I'll have the opportunity to go forward in the sport."
