New Zealand manufacturer Rodin has revealed that its rejected bid to join the Formula 1 grid had promised to field a female driver.

Rodin was one of three entries that had been reported to have failed to make it through to the FIA’s final selection round.

It is understood that Andretti Global are the only applicant still in the running and could join the 2025 F1 grid provided the bid receives the green light from both the FIA and FOM.

While Rodin never formally announced plans to join the F1 grid, a statement has now been issued by the company stating that the application “justified its merit”.

“We wish to emphasise that our objective here is not to criticise the FIA or seek a reconsideration of its decision,” the statement read.

“We fully respect and accept the outcome. Our sole purpose is to release information we consider in the public interest to inform the Formula 1 community.” 

Officially established in 2016, the track-car manufacturer is based on New Zealand’s South Island. The company’s complex at Wandle Downs near Mt. Lyford includes three separate test tracks, engine and composite facilities nestled away in the valleys of the Southern Alps.

While Rodin’s business focuses primarily on the production of track-specific race cars for private ownership, the company invested heavily in the highly respected Carlin junior racing team earlier this year.

Emphasising its commitment to motorsports, a successful bid from Rodin hoped to bring production of F1 cars to New Zealand. The company had also revealed that it had the ‘opportunity of discussions for a Ferrari collaboration’ – although it is not known how far any negotiations went.

The group also disclosed that Rodin had committed to bring a female F1 driver to the grid with three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick the clear favourite.

Chadwick entered a long-term partnership with Rodin Cars in 2020 and has played a role in the development of the manufacturer’s FZERO and FZED projects.

“We committed to reserving one seat for a female driver. We have tested Liam Lawson, Jamie Chadwick and Louis Sharp at our facility in New Zealand, in both an F3 car and our own car, the Rodin FZed, which is a car somewhat quicker than a GP2/F2 car,” Rodin confirmed.

“Jamie performed exceptionally well, and if she was available, we would have no hesitation in putting her in a seat.” 

Rodin had also hoped that its existing relationship with Carlin would tempt the FIA and FOM into accepting a proposal as it would produce a clear pathway for driver development: “While Andretti has a long history of successful participation in U.S. racing, our program offers a direct ladder to an F1 drive by competing in UK and European championships.” 

The team believed that it would be able to fully fund an entry using the personal wealth of founder David Dicker. Dicker is the founder, chief executive and chairman of Australian tech giant Dicker Data. Dicker himself is believed to be worth more than $1 billion.

“We appreciate the opportunity to have participated in the FIA process and extend our best wishes to Andretti for their successful bid,” the statement continued.

“Rodin Cars remains committed to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and will continue to pursue excellence in the world of racing.”

Jamie Chadwick was recently announced as a driver in the Indy NXT feeder series, joining the illustrious Andretti Autosport in her ongoing quest to advance up the ranks of the racing world.

Chadwick makes the move after nearly running the tables in the first three years of the women-only W Series, where she remains the only person to win a championship to date.

Even though the W Series was designed to allow women drivers to make a name for themselves and garner attention from sponsors and teams alike, the series is not part of any official ladder and does not have a promotion path to a top-level drive.

Facing a continued lack of opportunity in any European-based racing series, Chadwick realized that moving stateside to join the IndyCar ladder was the best way to get out of her deadlocked situation.

“Ultimately, I wanted to progress out of W Series into the next step, which in Europe would have been something like Formula 3, and then ultimately in America is Indy NXT,” said Chadwick.

“Really the opportunity I have here in Indy NXT is far greater than anything I was able to achieve over in Europe with Formula 3.

“You always want to put yourself in the best position with the best team and the best environment, and to be in that environment with the likes of Andretti and Indy NXT, I think it was definitely a huge opportunity that gave me a big, big chance now for the future, whereas unfortunately I didn’t quite have that come together in Europe.

“I think looking at the championship and everything that we’ve got coming ahead of us next year, I think it’s definitely the right move.”

Chadwick was able to sample an Indy NXT car recently at an open test session around the Indianapolis road course in late October.  She was nearly as fast as the other drivers on track, many of whom have already had racing experience with the nearly 500 horsepower cars.

The hope is that she will be able to excel in her new discipline as well as she did in the W Series, and will be able to advance to a top-level IndyCar in the next year or two.

“Looking at the opportunities in America with the seat time, the performance, everything, and the teams like something that Indy NXT offers, it seemed like a really obvious choice, somewhere to look.  It wasn’t until I actually drove the car that I felt even more strongly about that in terms of how much I’m able to develop learning in a car like that.

“Then of course as well, the commercial opportunities available over in America are significant, especially with the likes of DHL coming in to support me.  So there’s a few factors that go into it, but I’ve always seen racing in the States, coming over a few years ago for the USF test, it’s always been something that I’ve looked at and been interested in.”

Jamie Chadwick has set a target of reaching Formula 1 within the next five years, as she aims to become the first female driver in almost half a century.

Lella Lombardi was the last female racer to compete in F1 in 1976, with only five women represented throughout the sport’s history.

Chadwick is currently racing in the all-female W Series, and is on course for a third consecutive title in the competition.

Recently, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali stated that he doesn’t see a female reaching F1 within the next five years – a prediction that Chadwick is hoping to prove wrong. 

“From my side, if I am in F1 I want to be within the next five years, so it does go against what he says,” Chadwick told Sky Sports News. 

“I don’t want it to feel like we are still on the outside looking in.  

“It now needs to become very much a sport where everyone is able to compete on a level playing field. 

“If it’s not me, I am confident another young girl has the opportunity to. You want them to start and be inspired and know that they have the opportunity.”

Chadwick is already somewhat embedded into the F1 paddock, holding a development driver role with Williams for the last handful of years.

Recently, she tested an Indy Lights car as she looks to progress her career beyond the 2022 season.

“I want the best opportunity to develop as much as possible,” she said. “I want good seat time, a chance to get in the car and have as much experience as possible. 

“As great as the W Series has been, the one thing that has been lacking is the seat time and development required.  

“For that reason, that’s where maybe the perception of me is I should jump straight into maybe F2 or I read things about F1 and I always believe I am quite far away from that and seat time is going to be crucial.”

Williams has confirmed that Jamie Chadwick will continue to be part of the team’s Formula 1 junior academy in 2022.

Chadwick first joined forces with Williams in 2019, the year she won the inaugural all-female W Series single-seater championship.

The Briton returned to W Series last year for a second season, and successfully defended her title. She also competed in the off-road electric SUV series, Extreme E.

This year, she will race once again in W Series, while also continuing her development programme with Williams. 

The Grove-based squad says it will “work closely with Jamie to support her own progression as a driver”, aiding her with preparation for races as well as helping with marketing and media duties.

“I’m delighted to continue working with the Williams team,” Chadwick said. 

“I’ve had a lot of support from everyone there throughout the last three years and the simulator work I’ve done has been hugely valuable for my race preparation. 

“I’m looking forward to continuing my programme throughout the 2022 season and I know that the team will be cheering me on during my upcoming 2022 W Series campaign. 

“I’m really proud to continue representing the Williams name on the grid.”

Williams added two new members to its academy this year, in Formula 3 driver Zak O’Sullivan and Formula 4 racer Oliver Gray.

Also part of the programme is Formula 2 drivers Roy Nissany and Logan Sargeant, as well as Jack Aitken.

Two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick says she sees the FIA World Endurance Championship as a serious option for the next step in her career.

Chadwick took part in WEC’s end-of-season Rookie Test at the Bahrain International Circuit, where she drove the #1 Richard Mille Racing Team ORECA 07-Gibson alongside Alice Powell and Liloux Wadou.

The Briton has spent few years of her career climbing the single seater ladder from British F3 to the W Series, which she would go on to win the first two seasons of. Chadwick has also spent a season in the Formula Regional European Championship with Prema, but with disappointing results, and is still within a role with the Williams Formula One team as a test- and development driver.

While Chadwick has never made a secret of her ambitions of one day making it to Formula One, she has branched out to multiple disciplines. She has previously had success in sportscars, notably winning the Nurburgring 24 Hours in her class, and has competed in Extreme E.

Now, with a test outing in an LMP2 car under her belt, Chadwick told MotorsportWeek.com that she considers WEC a viable candidate for the next step in her racing career.

“Really seriously,” she replies when asked how seriously she’s taking the series from a career standpoint. “It’s a dream of mine to be in Le Mans anyway. This is the first opportunity I’ve had to be involved in this paddock and the opportunity with Richard Mille [Racing Team] is massive. So I’m definitely taking it very seriously.”

Chadwick covered her first miles ever in prototype machinery behind the wheel of the ORECA and stated that she would very much be interested in racing in the LMP2 ranks if an opportunity presented itself.

“All dependent on the opportunity coming around, but definitely something I’d love to do,” said the 23-year-old. “Like I said before, Le Mans is a dream of mine. So this something I’m interested in.”

Chadwick completed a total of 26 laps aboard the car, only getting behind the wheel in the afternoon session as Powell carried out running in the morning.

She set her quickest lap time, a 01:53:668, towards the end of her running. Afterwards, Chadwick admitted that she needed to adapt her driving style to the car, as it was not like something she was used to previously.

“It’s really impressive. It’s a very different driving style. It’s not necessarily all about the one lap that we’re pushing, all guns blazing, you need the slightly more refined style, which took me a bit of time to sort of adapt to.”

“It’s a really impressive car and I think, for me, one of the quickest cars I’ve driven in terms of power, so to feel that for the first time exiting the pitlane is cool.”

Despite previous experience in both more high-downforce single seaters as well as various GT cars, the W Series star admitted that she struggled in her first outing behind the wheel of the championship-winning LMP2 car. Despite that, she did state that she’s enjoying the learning process and feels like she is making steps to improve.

“I think I locked up into most corners on a regular basis,” Chadwick said laughing. “It was a bit tricky to manage the braking. Especially because it’s a closed cockpit, you can’t always see when you’ve locked it, so getting a feel for that.”

“Like I said, you always want to not overdrive, you want to bring the aggression back a little bit and let the car come to you a bit. That took a bit of time but I felt like every time I get back in that car, I just learn more and more and adapt better and better.”

“I don’t think I was anywhere near the peak performance of the car at all. Definitely feel there’s a lot of room for improvement, but happy with the progress we made in the short time and I think the feeling I had for the car was good by the end.”

Signatech ‘leave no stone unturned’

The Rookie test was also Chadwick’s first introduction to the French Signatech team, which operates the Richard Mille Racing Team LMP2 squad as well as the Alpine Hypercar effort. The experience left an impression on the British youngster, as she praised the team’s professionalism and attention to detail.

“A really, really professional team. I think the main thing is how they operate as a team, the team spirit is so significant. I think that’s such a big part of how they work and operate. Making sure all the drivers are working towards the same goal is really important for them.”

“That’s one of the big things, but also, there’s no stone left unturned. They’re super clinical with their approach and it’s good to see.”

Were Chadwick to move into endurance racing, potentially as part of the Richard Mille Racing Team, she could draw on her previous two outings in the Nürburgring 24 Hours for experience in an endurance environment. She contested the race twice: first in 2018 and once again a year later. On the second attempt, teaming with Alex Brundle and Peter Cate, the trio won the SP8 class in an Aston Martin Vantage GT4.

“It definitely helps, and I’ll lean on the experiences I’ve had in the endurance races I’ve done,” Chadwick spoke of her Nürburgring outings. “It’s very different and obviously a GT4 car and the Nurburgring is a bit more survival than anything else, but definitely those longer stints, being in the car for long periods of time and management of tyres and fuel, it should play into my hands a bit more.”

Freshly crowned two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick will take part in the FIA World Endurance Championship Rookie Test in Bahrain, alongside series runner-up Alice Powell.

The traditional Rookie Test takes place on Sunday 7 November, the day after the 8 Hours of Bahrain season finale.

Chadwick and Powell will drive the #1 Richard Mille Racing Team ORECA 07-Gibson during the test.

The Signatech-run team is in its maiden season in the WEC and has sported the all-female line-up of Sophia Floersch, Tatiana Calderon and Beitske Visser throughout the 2021 campaign.

Both Chadwick and Powell have limited experience racing sportscars.

Chadwick began her motorsport career in closed cockpit machinery and notably won the GT4 title in the 2015 British GT Championship.

Her team-mate in Beechdean Motorsport-entered Aston Martin Vantage GT4 was future Aston Martin factory driver Ross Gunn, who also partnered Chadwick in a winning effort at that year’s Silverstone 24 Hours.

While she transitioned to single seaters in the following years, Chadwick would campaign Aston Martin GT4 machinery sporadically.

This included two appearances in the Nürburgring 24 Hours that included a class win in 2019. She is also still a development driver for the Williams Formula One team.

Powell, meanwhile, made a one-off appearance for Meyer Shank Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship in 2019. She teamed up with Katherine Legge aboard an Acura NSX GT3 Evo. Legge is set to take part in WEC’s Bahrain double header with Iron Lynx.

Apart from a season in the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy in the same year, the 28-year-old has spent the majority of her career

Jamie Chadwick will remain at Williams as a development driver in 2021, the Grove-based squad has announced.

Chadwick joined the Williams Driver Academy in 2019 and took on development driver duties, attending a handful of grands prix and handling responsibilities at the factory.

During her first year with Williams, she took part in the inaugural all-female W Series, in which she emerged as champion.

After being retained by Williams in the same position for 2020, Chadwick raced with Prema in the Formula Regional European Championship, ending the year ninth in the standings with one podium to her name.

Chadwick now embarks on a third season with Williams, with the team highlighting that she “will increase her simulator programme and continue to be fully immersed within the team both trackside at certain grands prix and at the factory”.

“I have absolutely loved my time with Williams so far and could not be more delighted to continue working with the team in my role as development driver,” Chadwick said.

“I feel I am improving as a driver all the time, and my time spent in the simulator this coming season will prove to be invaluable. I look forward to fully immersing myself at Williams once again this year.”

Chadwick will race in the W Series again this year, following its Covid-19 related hiatus in 2020.

The series will span eight rounds, with all events forming part of the support schedule at Formula 1 grand prix weekends.

Chadwick will also compete in the very first Extreme E series this year with Veloce Racing – the electric off-road series is set to get underway next month.

Simon Roberts, Williams Team Principal, commented: “We are delighted that Jamie will continue as a development driver for the team.

“Not only is she a great female ambassador for the sport and plays an integral part in promoting women in motorsport, her work in the simulator and behind the scenes at Grove is hugely valuable.

“Jamie’s determination and drive to do more, as well as push the boundaries, is something we admire at Williams and we are all looking forward to the year ahead with Jamie as part of the team.”

Reigning W Series champion Jamie Chadwick will compete in this year’s Formula Regional European Championship after securing a seat with Prema.

Chadwick claimed last year’s inaugural W Series title and was due to defend her crown in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Chadwick, who holds a development role with Williams in Formula 1, has since obtained financial backing from New Zealand manufacturer Rodin Cars and will now switch to FREC for the delayed 2020 campaign.

FREC, which is due to begin its 2020 season at Misano at the end of July, uses the same Tatuus T3-18 chassis as the W Series.

“I am absolutely elated to be teaming up with Prema Powerteam for the Formula Regional European Championship this year,” she said.

“With such an amazing calendar, what looks to be a very competitive grid, and of course the support of the Prema team, I really cannot wait to get back racing.

“I’m so excited to start this journey with them and I hope we can enjoy mutual success together.”

Chadwick will join Oliver Rasmussen and Ferrari juniors Gianluca Petecof and Arthur Leclerc at Prema.

Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso and Jean-Eric Vergne are among the major names to be confirmed for next month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual as part of the full entry list for the event, scheduled for June 13-14

The list, which was confirmed on Saturday after a week of driver announcements, also features the like of W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick, former F1 star Rubens Barrichello and Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi.

Leclerc and Giovinazzi will team up as part of AF Corse’s three car GTE Pro assault, with the pair driving the #52 Ferrari 488 GTE alongside Enzo Bonito and David Tonizza. The #51 car for the Italian outfit will see WEC regular Nicklas Nielsen and Federico Leo paired together with sim racers Kasper Stoltze and Amos Laurito. The #71 will be piloted by Miguel Molina alongside sim racing specialist David Perel, with the line-up completed by Danilo Santoro and Jordy Zwiers.

Double Le Mans winner and two-time Formula One world champion Alonso will pair with former Ferrari and Brawn driver Rubens Barrichello as part of their FA/RB Allinsports team, racing together with sim racers Olli Pahkala and Jarl Teien.

A number of teams, including Porsche, Alpine, Team WRT and United Autosports had previously already confirmed their line-ups, while it was confirmed last week that Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa will team up as part of an outfit fielded by Princess Charlene of Monaco.

Alonso’s former WEC team, Toyota Gazoo Racing, have also confirmed their two-car team, featuring most of their current WEC LMP1 stars. Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez will partner up to drive the #7 car, joined by sim racer Maxime Brient. Sebastieb Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Toyota protege Kenta Yamashita will partner up with Yuri Kasdorp on board the #8 car.

Toyota’s main WEC challenger, Rebellion Racing, has teamed up with Williams Esports for a two-car effort that includes F2 driver Louis Deletraz, GT3 star Raffaele Marciello as well as current WEC racers Bruno Senna and Gustavo Menezes.

IMSA and IndyCar frontrunners Team Penske will see the four-man crew of Juan Pablo Montoya, Simon Pagenaud, Dane Cameron and Ricky Taylor team up. The race marks Pagenaud’s first time in a major esports event since his controversial run-in with McLaren’s Lando Norris. Norris has already been confirmed for the event alongside fellow F1 star Max Verstappen.

Norris and Verstappen will be racing for Team Redline, which has entered two additional cars for the British WEC squa JOTA Sport. The two-car assault will see Formula E’s Antonio Felix da Costa and IndyCar star Felix Rosenqvist team up in the first car, while the second car will see WEC team-mates Gabriel Aubry and Will Stevens team up.

Reigning W Series Champion and Williams development driver Jamie Chadwick will team up with DTM star Ferdinand Habsburg and influencer Jimmy Broadbent and Kevin Rotting as part of Mahle Racing’s GTE Pro squad.

Chadwick has had previous affiliation with the Veloce Esports crew, which is also entering three cars featuring a star-studded line-up that includes the likes of Vergne, Pierre Gasly, Norman Nato and Stoffel Vandoorne. 2009 Formula One world champion Jenson Button is also on the grid with his own Team Rocket Zansho team alongside Bentley factory driver Alex Buncombe. The other Zansho-run outfit, Multimatic Zansho, sees the father-and-son pairing of Andy and Sebastian Priaulx team up.

WEC GTE Pro points leaders Aston Martin Racing have entered three cars into the GTE Pro category with a line-up consisting of most of their real-life line-up. The #95 Aston Martin Vantage AMR will be piloted by Nicki Thiim, Richard Westbrook and Lasse Sorensen, Marco Sorensen’s younger brother.

Their line-up is completed by Manuel Biancolilla. Alex Lynn, Charlie Eastwood and Harry Tincknell team up on board the #97 car alongside Tiziano Briono. The #98 car will see the 2017 class winning pairing of Darren Turner and Jonny Adam reunited alongside Ross Gunn and Giuseppe de Fuoco.

The Richard Mille Racing Team, which is set to enter an all-female LMP2 squad if and when the European Le Mans Series season gets underway, is also entered with Katherine Legge, Tatiana Calderon and Sophia Flörsch teaming up with Emily Jones.

The full entry list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual can be found here.