The Williams Formula 1 team has signed up 21-year-old Jamie Chadwick in the role of development driver.
Chadwick, winner of the 2018/19 MRF Challenge championship, 2015 British GT championship and also a British Formula 3 and W Series race winner will conduct duties in the team’s simulator and will also attend races supporting the team in media and marketing events.
Williams has a history of promoting young talent including the likes of Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, David Coulthard, Nico Hulkenberg and Valtteri Bottas who all began their careers at the Grove-based outfit.
Formula 2 championship leader Nicholas Latifi is also currently part of the Williams team having completed a number of test days in the FW42.
Speaking about the announcement, Jamie Chadwick said: “It is a great honour to be joining the Williams Racing Driver Academy. The time in the simulator is a fantastic opportunity to aid with my development.
“I look forward to spending time in the factory at Grove, immersing myself within the team and assisting wherever I can. Being a part of the Driver Academy is an amazing platform and I’m excited to get started.”
Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal, added: “I have had the pleasure of watching Jamie race first hand in Hockenheim where she claimed victory at the season-opening W Series race.
“Alongside her on-track commitments, Jamie will undertake simulator work for Williams, be immersed both trackside and at the factory with the team and will participate in marketing activities.
“Promoting women in motorsport is extremely important and having a female role model as part of our Driver Academy will hopefully inspire young girls to take up racing at a young age.
“We hope to show that motorsport is inclusive and exciting, be that as a driver or on the engineering side. Jamie is a great talent and I look forward to working with her.”
