Jamie Chadwick: Racing driver reveals expansion in her own series after 1,900 per cent increase in female karting | F1 News happymamay

Racing driver Jamie Chadwick has expanded her grassroots motorsport initiative after revealing a 1,900 per cent increase in female participation in karting last year.

In 2024, Chadwick formed the Jamie Chadwick Series in an effort to increase female representation in motorsport.

Initially, participants had to be at least 12 years old to compete in the women’s-only karting championship, but this has now been expanded so that girls as young as eight can take part.

“We started the series last year to fill the gap in karting at the grassroots level. Together with Daytona, we have had a great deal of success,” Chadwick said. Sky Sports News.

“I’m kind of surprised at the amount of uptake and interest. What last year was about was laying the foundations. But the categories were 12-year-olds.

“The next step was to try to address that real young age, which is now eight years old, which is what we introduced for this year, which I’m very excited about. And that’s exactly what I feel like we want to be achieving with this series.”

Chadwick: A bright future for women in motorsport

“When I started the sport, I could count the number of female drivers on my hands,” Chadwick explained.

“We had over 450 young girls attend through our series, through the racing schools, and through the different championships.

“Then there was a 1,900 percent increase in female participation in karting, which is incredible. Numbers I wouldn’t have expected in our first year, which is why I’m so excited that we can continue to grow.”

Meanwhile, up the motorsport ladder, the F1 Women’s Academy will enter its third season in 2025 and its second as part of the Formula 1 race weekend support bill.

The series, which will be won by Briton Abby Bowling in 2024, aims to provide a platform for female drivers to establish a career in motorsport, while also serving as an inspiration for future generations of aspiring young racers.

“I think it’s a sport that’s changing dramatically,” said Chadwick, who will compete in the European Le Mans Series this year, as well as the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“Even in the time that I’ve been in this sport, it’s changed a lot, but at the same time, I think there are still barriers that we face. One of those barriers is how male-dominated it is, and it needs to be that way.” It won’t be.

“So, if you’re a young girl looking at sports, you don’t necessarily see role models, you don’t necessarily see people like you competing in it, or even participating in it in the first place.

“I think it’s changing a lot, and it’s changing at a rapid rate, but at the same time, just showing them the opportunities is the first starting point.

“The sport is progressing in such a rapid way. We are now seeing so many initiatives, particularly at the Formula 4 level, with the Formula 1 Academy and all the Formula 1 teams being part of that, in developing and investing in female talent. We really are.” “Seeing the beginning of what will be a bright future for women in this sport.”

Chadwick: My dream is to get to Formula One

Chadwick has been one of motorsport’s leading female drivers over the past five years, winning the W Series three times, before making the jump to Indy NXT, the F2 equivalent of IndyCar.

The 26-year-old became the first woman to win an Indy NXT race on a road course after winning at Road America last year and tested an IndyCar car in September for Andretti.

Her priority will be the European Le Mans Series this year and Chadwick admits her chances of racing in Formula 1 are diminishing.

“My dream has always been to get to Formula 1,” Chadwick said. “I think that dream is getting away from me a little bit now, the further I get through my career.”

“But I still have a great relationship with Williams (as a development driver), so at some point I would love to have the opportunity to get in the car.

“But I also think what we forget is that there are only 20 seats in Formula 1, so it’s difficult for anyone. I think, if you compare that to any other sport, with such a small percentage, you look at the numbers of women, and ‘even when I fall into “So, I feel there should be less focus on getting one woman into Formula 1 and more focus on increasing the numbers.”

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