Alpine junior Pulling claims historic win in British F4

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©Instagram/AlastairLadd

F1 Academy leader Abbi Pulling became on Sunday at Brands Hatch the first-ever woman to win a round of the British Formula 4 Championship! And the Alpine junior did it in style.

Fresh from her sensational clean sweep F1 Academy weekend in Miami, the 21-year-old phenom claimed pole for the second F4 race of the weekend at Brands and then left her opposition in the dust, crossing the finish line a whopping 5.5 seconds ahead of the pack.

To add the cherry on top of this history-making sundae, Pulling snagged an extra point for setting the fastest lap!

“I competed in this championship a couple of years ago, and my aim was to break that record and be the first female to stand on the top step," Pulling told ITV4.

"I finally did it coming back and it's been an incredible weekend.

“I think it shows what F1 Academy is doing. It's bringing up female participation and there's just such a buzz now around women in motorsport and bringing more participation and licence holders in."

There’s still boundless potential to unfold on Abbi’s exhilarating journey through the world of motorsport, and her future is looking bright.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.