British driver Abbi Pulling has been crowned champion of the F1 Academy - the all-female racing series - after she finished second in Qatar Grand Prix Saturday night. Alpine’s Pulling, 21, has taken eight victories from 11 races this season to claim the title ahead of next weekend’s concluding round in Abu Dhabi.
Pulling, from Gosberton in Lincolnshire, will be rewarded with a fully-funded season in GB3 - the United Kingdom’s number one single-seater category - with the Rodin team.
“It is nice to hear those words,” said Pulling when informed she had won the second edition of series which aims to discover the first female F1 driver in almost half-a-century.
“It has been a tougher season than most would think. I had to win this year, I had no choice. I have struggled financially so to get the prize next year makes me so happy. There are so many people in my corner to thank, my family, the sacrifice my dad has made, it is just a sigh of relief and a weight off my shoulders. I am going to really put in the work and make the most of the opportunity. I will not leave any stone unturned.”
