From W Series to Hypercars: Chadwick's Motorsport Evolution

British driver Jamie Chadwick has carved a unique path in motorsport, transitioning from the all-female W Series to become the first woman to test a Hypercar at Le Mans. The 28-year-old joined Genesis Magma Racing in late 2024 as part of its driver development program, marking a pivotal shift from her previous roles in single-seater categories like Indy NXT.

Breaking Barriers at Le Mans

Chadwick's recent achievement as the first woman to test a Hypercar at Le Mans represents a significant milestone in her career. "I feel like endurance racing is where I ultimately want to find a home," she told The Athletic. "There’s a lot of bucket list races and big career races that I ultimately now want to be able to do and win. It’s very much where I see my future."

Comparing Racing Categories

Chadwick highlighted the differences between her previous experience in Indy NXT and her current focus on Hypercars: "The biggest difference is the hybrid systems and energy management. You can change the differential, roll bars, brake migration - everything is tuned for long stints. This is what makes Hypercars so complex and fascinating."

Genesis' Hypercar Development

As part of Genesis' first-year World Endurance Championship campaign, Chadwick plays a crucial role in development testing. "It’s interesting because I jump in with quite big gaps," she explained. "You can still draw on different experiences and help take the team in certain directions, although they’ve got a huge amount of experience already in the team."

Future Ambitions

Looking ahead, Chadwick aims to progress within Genesis' program: "The LMP2 program is part of the Genesis trajectory program. We had a great year in ELMS last year (with three race wins and third in the driver’s championship), and we’re back again this year. The work I do in the Hypercar team is about just trying to learn as much as possible, and develop. Hopefully one day that opens the door for a full-time race seat."