Fabienne: A podium for the neighbors 🎥
THIRD UNDER SWISS FLAG At the W Series season opener in Spielberg, Fabienne Wohlwend surprised herself with third place. Afterwards, the Swiss flag hung over the Liechtensteiner on the podium. The 18 women gave each other nothing at the wheel of the 280-hp turbo race cars, as the turbulent scenes show. Their luck, in the context of the Formula [...]
The 18 women gave each other no quarter at the wheel of the 280-hp turbo race cars, as the turbulent scenes show.
The 23-year-old could hardly believe her luck at standing on the GP podium in Formula 1. After a less than ideal qualifying session, which only resulted in 9th place on the grid, it didn't look like she was going to make it at all in the opening race of the W Series at the Red Bull Ring.
"One of my best races"
But the professional racer from Schellenberg managed a perfect start lap in which she made up two positions. After some intense duels, the only German-speaker in the field of 18 women was in fifth place until ten minutes before the end, before the tide turned in her favor once again.
Because one vehicle remained on the track, the safety car was deployed. At the restart, Wohlwend was able to overtake two opponents (Beitske Visser and Emma Kimiläinen) in Turn 2. She then safely drove home third place in the final laps of the race.
Fabienne Wohlwend: "That was one of the best races of my career. The feeling of standing on the Formula 1 podium is simply fantastic and associated with so many emotions. The best thing is that we'll be racing again in Spielberg in a week's time."
Powell shows power
Some 700 days after the final race of the inaugural W Series season at Brands Hatch, Alice Powell emerged victorious.
The 28-year-old Briton had also won her home race at the time and was already ahead in all the practice sessions in Austria. Second place went to her compatriot Sarah Moore. Defending champion Jamie Chadwick was unable to finish higher than 7th after an early incident.
Switzerland as license country
There was a special reason why the Swiss flag was hoisted behind the fastest female driver from the Principality at the award ceremony. Fabienne Wohlwend drives with a Swiss racing license because Liechtenstein does not issue one itself.
In Formula 1 and all frame series, however, the sporting authority responsible for licensing is the nationality - and this is Auto Sport Schweiz. ASS sends its thanks.
