Chadwick holds on to seal W Series crown at Brands Hatch

Jamie Chadwick has become the first W Series champion after taking fourth place at the Brands Hatch season finale, with major rival Beitske Visser failing to close the gap sufficiently in third place.

Despite starting from pole position, Chadwick failed to match the pace of the trio of drivers directly behind her including Visser over the 30-minute race with Alice Powell charging past at mid-race distance up the inside at Paddock Hill Bend.

Powell was followed through past Chadwick by Emma Kimilainen to shuffle the championship leader into third place with her title rival directly behind her.

After a safety car triggered by a spin from Miki Koyama bunched the pack up, Visser used it to her advantage to take third spot off Chadwick but needed to win the race and see the Williams junior driver finish off the podium to overhaul her in the points standings.

But with time running out, Powell held on for her maiden W Series win ahead of Kimilainen with Visser having to settle for third place. Chadwick claimed fourth to seal the inaugural W Series title by 10 points.

Chadwick duly bags the maximum $500,000 prize fund and the title as W Series champion with Visser picking up $250,000 as runner-up.

Powell’s final-round victory saw her jump up to third place in the standings, taking home $125,000 as a result, with Martha Garcia edged into fourth place to win $100,000. Kimilainen rounded out the top five and picks up $90,000.