Chadwick lands Aston Martin junior driver role

W Series racer Jamie Chadwick has been named as a factory junior driver for Aston Martin Racing.

The 20-year-old, who became the first female to win a British F3 race last year, will contest select race outings with the British manufacturer in the VLN Endurance Championship, including the Nurburgring 24 Hours in June.

Chadwick will dovetail her new role alongside her racing commitments in the six-round W Series, having successfully earned a spot on the grid for the championship’s inaugural season.

She won the 2015 British GT4 title driving a Beechdean-run AMR alongside Ross Gunn, and the pair will be reunited as teammates during Chadwick’s first appearance at the third round of the VLN season at the Nurburgring in April.

“It’s an incredible feeling to become an Aston Martin works junior driver,” Chadwick said.

“To have started my racing journey in an Aston Martin in British GTs in 2015, and to then be welcomed back and rewarded with a works contract is fantastic. It’s looking like it’s going to be a big year.

“The W Series is a key focus in 2019 and winning that title has to be an imperative, but bringing home some silverware in the Nürburgring 24 Hours is extremely important to me as well.

“Who knows where this will all lead to, but one of my targets is to compete for victory at Le Mans and building on this relationship with Aston Martin is an important step on that road.”

Aston Martin Racing president David King added: “Jamie is one the brightest talents in the British junior ranks and must be considered among the favourites in the exciting new W Series.

“We’ve been keeping a watchful eye on her progress and working with her since she won the British GT4 Championship in one of our cars and it was clear that the time was right to bring her more formally into the fold so that we may play a deeper role in her career development.

“We are taking the N24 as seriously as ever, which is why we are bringing such a strong driver line-up to the event to give the new Vantage GT4 its N24 debut.

“We have a very strong blend of talent and experience and this offers up the perfect opportunity for us to demonstrate the strengths of the Vantage in the fiercest endurance racing environment available.”