Chadwick secures backing to pursue F1 ambitions

40

Williams development driver Jamie Chadwick has received a financial boost to take her motorsport career to the next level and eventually to Formula 1.

Chadwick, who won last year's inaugural edition of the all-female W Series, has received the financial backing of Australian businessman David Dicker, the founder of Rodin Cars, to compete from August with the Italian Prema team in the Formula Regional European Championship which uses the same Tatuus chassis and Alfa Romeo turbo engine she raced in the W Series and in the 2019-20 Asian Formula 3 series

The 22-year-old will race at Prema alongside Formula 4 graduates Arthur Leclerc, Gianluca Petecof and Oliver Rasmussen.

The British hopeful will tackle the regional series with the aim of moving thereafter to International F3 and F2 with Prema, and hopefully enter F1 "by 2023 or 2024".

W Series scraps entire 2020 season due to pandemic

"It's a dream come true, really," said Chadwick, quoted by the BBC.

"If I had a smaller budget I couldn't race with a top team like Prema and give myself the best chance to perform and justify being in F1.

"The scary thing with motorsport is the financial backing required. It's an insane amount, but it's so exciting to have been given an opportunity to do it with Prema.

"To drive in Formula 3, for example, you're looking at double what I got in W Series prize money," said Chadwick who was awarded a £500,000 check for winning the 2019 W Series.

Unfortunately, W Series was forced to cancel its second season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

©EuroFormulaOpen

Chadwick garnered Dicker's support earlier this year after she tested a Rodin car in New Zealand.

"Jamie is an exceptional racing talent," said the Aussie, who made his fortune in technology.

"We are taking a long-term view on this in fully supporting her journey as she moves up the ladder towards F1."

Founded by Dicker, Rodin Cars has set out to produce a series of high-performance cars destined for track usage and intends on using Chadwick to help develop its machines.

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

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.