Alice Powell came away from her first visit to China with a win in the Formula Renault Asia Series. In the process, the 21-year-old from Chipping Norton, made history by becoming the first female to win a race in the series.
After running out of budget to compete in the British F3 Championship, Alice was picked up by FRD from China, to race in the Asian series. Qualifying in 3rd place, Powell dropped to 4th at the start. After only spending less than a lap in that position, she soon started to move up the order, taking 3rd and then quickly attacking 2nd place. Once, passed, she pushed to catch the leader, Maxx Ebenal. On the last lap, Ebenal was slow out of the first corner, allowing Alice to pass and take the lead, resulting in the win.
For Race Two, the BRDC Rising Star lined up in 3rd place. However, her race was cut short, when a hit of over steer at the last corner, saw her spin off into the pit wall.
“Race One was amazing! The team have worked so hard, and my engineer (Paul Leach), has put in a lot of effort to get the car right. To make a bit of history too is also fantastic. Race Two was very disappointing, but the rear floor had damage from a stone or some kind of debris which was on the track, and I collided with it on the warm up lap. The car was very loose coming into the last corner, and I just could not control it. However, the win was very special, especially as I had not raced on that track before.”
Alice has also been successful in getting through to Phase 3 of the Power2Podium talent scheme, run by British Skeleton and Team GB. It is the same scheme which current Skeleton Olympic Champion, Lizzy Yarnold, came through. Delighted with the news, Alice said “I was ecstatic when I received the news. I gave it my all at Phase 2, and I am looking forward to the new challenge in Phase 3.”
Powell’s next race is on September 20th, again in Zhuhai, China. The next phase of the Power2Podium, is at the start of August.
