Alice Powell is Britain’s brightest star in the motoring world and has her sights set firmly on becoming the first successful British woman to compete for the F1 title. Having graced many a podium in her career so far, she is certainly heading in the right direction and things are looking good for the young Brit.
Earlier this year Powell scooped the coveted BWRDC Goldstars award, presented on merit to a junior member who has shown the capability of and aspires to be a professional driver.
2007 and 2008 saw Powell achieve eight podiums in the Ginetta Junior Championships and the BRDC Stars of Tomorrow Championships. In 2009, aged 16, Powell became the youngest ever female driver in the Michelin Formula Renault UK Championships, a 150mph single-seater race and an essential stepping stone to Formula 1 racing. That’s quite a lot she’s crammed into her 17 years.
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This weekend saw Powell compete in the penultimate round of the Formula Renault BARC Championships at Rockingham. In race one, Powell got off to a good start and was right on the tail of the fourth place driver as they approached the first corner. A late breaking move ensured the Brit overtook to find herself in fourth place. With the leaders over three second ahead, Powell had a job on her hands but got her head down in pursuit of third.
She managed to close the gap down to two seconds but with five laps to go, the safety car came out, halting her chances of catching the leaders.
The second race proved more difficult and Powell ran into trouble early on as she locked her brakes at turn two, sending her into the grass and slipping down the 16th place. She managed to regain form, however, and fought her way back up to seventh place, impressive driving on a track that is not easy for single seater cars to overtake on.
Speaking after the race, Powell commented, “I did not qualify as high as I would have liked…my mistake at the start of race two really did cost me, but I will definitely learn from that!” 14 points behind the leader, she still has her eyes on the prize and with one round left, she believes first place is still within her grasp.
The final round of the Championships takes place at Thruxton, Andover, on the 17th October.
Kirsty Page, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
