Reserve Role For Chadwick In Le Mans Hypercar

Britain's Jamie Chadwick has landed a reserve domiciled successful adjacent year's top-level Genesis Le Mans hypercar programme.

Chadwick, 27, is adjacent to being nan first female driver to compete astatine nan apical level of sports car racing for respective years.

"It's hugely typical to beryllium involved," said Chadwick. "It's different progression successful my profession and 1 I'm really proud of.

"Becoming a reserve driver successful hypercar is 1 measurement person to my eventual goal."

Genesis, nan luxury marque of Korean shaper Hyundai, are nan 10th car institution to compete successful nan World Endurance Championship's hypercar era - successful which nan celebrated 24 Hours of Le Mans is nan bluish riband event.

Chadwick won 3 races during this year's European Le Mans Series arsenic portion of a three-person squad successful little level LMP2 class for IDEC Sport, a squad affiliated pinch nan Genesis programme.

A three-time victor of nan all-female W Series, Chadwick besides won a title successful America's Indy NXT successful 2024 - a adjacent balanced to Formula 2.

Chadwick, from Bath, tested nan caller GMR-001 hypercar astatine Circuit Magny-Cours successful France past month.

"My first laps were amazing. It's a really awesome car and truthful accelerated successful a consecutive line," added Chadwick.

"There's a batch of different systems disposable to you arsenic a driver, devices that you tin usage to make a difference.

"Obviously, truthful overmuch is changing and evolving pinch each trial that nan squad does, but it's conscionable a ace car to drive."

Chadwick's team-mates from her 2025 play for IDEC were France's Mathys Jaubert and Spain's Daniel Juncadella, and some person been selected to title successful adjacent year's hypercar alongside 2 much knowledgeable drivers, Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani.

Next twelvemonth Genesis are group to compete pinch respective car manufacturers attracted backmost to sports cars for its elastic creation rules and arsenic a cheaper replacement to Formula 1.

Ferrari won this year's title astatine nan Bahrain 8 Hours this month, successful nan number 51 car which includes Britain's Le Mans victor from 2023 James Calado.

Poland's erstwhile Formula 1 ace Robert Kubica won this year's Le Mans successful June successful nan number 83 Ferrari 499P.

Although location are 2 further seats yet to beryllium filled for nan two-car WEC introduction for 2026 it appears Chadwick was considered excessively inexperienced, contempt being an FIA 'silver-rated' driver - nan aforesaid arsenic Jaubert.

However, Genesis are said to highly complaint Chadwick and are pleased pinch her advancement arsenic portion of nan Genesis driver stable.

Chadwick, who tested a Jaguar Formula E car past month, has taken connected respective improvement driver roles astatine teams specified arsenic Williams successful Formula 1 successful caller years - positions often constricted to driving older cars for trading purposes and driving simulation work.

But a reserve domiciled is 1 of nan biggest signals yet that a awesome shaper is backing female racing talent connected merit.

Very fewer female drivers person competed successful nan apical level of motorsport's astir celebrated disciplines successful caller years - astir precocious Switzerland's Simona de Silvestro competed successful 10 Formula E races successful 2016.

Various female drivers person taken connected races successful America's IndyCar bid connected an advertisement hoc basis, pinch small success.

Britain's Amanda Stretton was nan past female competitor successful nan apical level to compete astatine Le Mans, successful a one-off uncompetitive LMP1 introduction successful 2008.

The highest-placed decorativeness for a female driver astatine Le Mans is fourth, for France's Odette Siko successful 1932.

The past female to compete successful a Formula 1 title was Lella Lombardi astatine nan 1976 Austrian Grand Prix.