Jamie Chadwick makes history

Three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick will be the first woman in 13 years to compete full time in the Indy NXT championship. Chadwick will make her driving debut in March for Andretti Autosport as number 28.

Chadwick has been racing since she was 11 years old where she achieved numerous wins at the club level in the Junior series. As a member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club ‘Rising Star’, Chadwick became the first woman driver to win a British GT Championship. Chadwick later was the first woman of the British Racing Drivers’ Club to win in a British Formula 3 race along with an MR Challenge Championship.

In the first season of the W Series, Chadwick had two race victories and three podium finishes in 2019. While competing in the W Series, Chadwick raced for Jenner Racing where she had 18 podiums, three championship titles, and raced in 21 races. Chadwick’s highest race finish in the W Series was first place. Despite having a huge success in the W Series, Chadwick has not been given the opportunity to move up to Formula 3 or Formula 2. Although the final three races of the W Series were canceled, Chadwick still sees the W Series as the right path for her.

“W Series has always been and will continue to be an opportunity to be racing for every female driver, so for my side I looked at it while perhaps I would have liked to step up maybe earlier, at the same time being able to have that chance to race, get that experience, have that development, seat time ... I was constantly learning,” Chadwick told The Associated Press. “In that sense, I wasn't frustrated at all. But on the flipside of it, now I've had that experience testing in the United States in Indy NXT and this is something I'm really excited about.”

Chadwick became a reserve driver for the Williams Formula 1 team in 2019. Chadwick will continue driving for Williams as a reserve during the 2023 season, as she will have a more enhanced role as reserve driver. During the 2020 season she competed in the Formula Regional European Championship for Prema Racing.

According to an article by The Associated Press, Indy NXT is the new name for the Indy Lights Series which is the last step in the process before drivers go on to compete in IndyCar.

Andretti Autosport is known for developing champion drivers in the Indy NXT series as it currently has two drivers they developed driving for the team in IndyCar next season. Kyle Kirkwood was the 2021 champion and will make a comeback to Andretti after driving for one season with A.J. Foyt Racing and Delvin De Francesco, who is returning for a second season.

“Andretti Autosport is proud to be supporting Jamie alongside DHL," Michael Andretti, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman told The Associated Press. “Jamie's successful career speaks for itself, but Indy NXT gives Jamie the opportunity to continue her development in a new type of racing. “We've turned out five Indy NXT champions over the years and look forward to continuing our role in developing new talent.”

Chadwick will be driving alongside Hunter McElrea and Louis Foster next March in Indy NXT. Chadwick will be Andretti’s second full time female driver next to Catie Munnings who is currently competing for Andretti United in the Extreme E Series.

All information courtesy of The Associated Press, apnews.com