
News & events
News & events
Jamie Chadwick sets the pace in MRF Challenge | MRF Challenge 2018 | Round 1 | Dubai
Nov 15, 2018
Dubai, November 15: Jamie Chadwick, the only female driver on the 12-car grid, put
the marker down for the first round of the MRF Challenge championship by topping
both the Free Testing sessions at the Dubai Autodrome, here on Thursday.
Chadwick, 20, from Bath, England, came out on top in the two, 30-minute testing
sessions, clocking a best of one minute, 59.218 in the first outing and 01:59.774 in
the next around the 5.390 Kms circuit as she made her debut in the MRF Challenge
on a high. She survived a tough battle with Czech Republic’s 16-year old Petr
Ptaceck who was second fastest in both the sessions, clocking 01:59.581 (FP1)and
01:59.918 (FP2).
Chadwick, who created history in 2015 when she became the first female and
youngest winner of the British GT Championship, and Ptacek exchanged fastest laps
in the closing minutes of FP-2. However, Chadwick went quicker on last flying lap to
top the time charts. Less than a second separated the top eight drivers.
“I learnt a lot today – new circuit, new car. I am happy with the way we ended up
today in these conditions and I look forward to the races,” said Chadwick.
In the first free testing session this morning, one second covered 10 of the 12
drivers, promising a close contest over the five races scheduled for the first round of
the championship.
Chadwick recorded her fastest lap of the session on her 14 th and final lap as did the
rest who all went quicker through the 30-minute practice. The top four, Chadwick,
Ptacek, Defourny and Young, all posted sub-two-minute laps.
For the lone Indian entry, Chetan Korada, 32, from Chennai, it was his first run at the
Dubai Autodrome and he focused more on learning the tricky track with its blind
crests leading into corners.
Korada, who was 11 th on the time sheets in both the sessions clocking his best laps
of 02: 03.734 and 02:04.100, said: “It was my first run on this track and so, it was
more about learning the circuit. However, with each lap, I managed to cut my timing.
Overall, it was a reasonably good outing, all things considered. I hope to improve as
we go along over the next couple of days.”
The results (Free Practice):
FP-1: 1. Jamie Chadwick (UK) (01min, 59.218secs); 2. Petr Ptacek (Czech Republic)
(01:59.581); 3. Max Defourny (Belgium) (01:59.656); 4. Dylan Young (Australia)
(01:59.697).
FP-2: 1. Jamie Chadwick (UK) (01:59.774); 2. Petr Ptacek (Czech Republic)
(01:59.918); 3. Danial Frost (Singapore) (02:00.115); 4. Andreas Estner (Germany)
(02:00.276).
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Jamie Chadwick sets the pace in MRF Challenge | MRF Challenge 2018 | Round 1 | Dubai
Nov 15, 2018