Pulling Breaking news, exclusive interviews & reports - Motorsport Week https://www.motorsportweek.com/tag/pulling/ Motorsport Week is an independent, FIA accredited motorsport website delivering the latest Formula 1, Formula E, GP2, GP3, WEC, IndyCar, Nascar, Formula 3, WRC, WRX, DTM, IMSA and MotoGP news and results. Sat, 08 Mar 2025 15:26:04 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/cropped-favicon-1-32x32.png Pulling Breaking news, exclusive interviews & reports - Motorsport Week https://www.motorsportweek.com/tag/pulling/ 32 32 Exclusive: Abbi Pulling says self-focus the priority ahead of GB3 bow https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/08/exclusive-abbi-pulling-says-self-focus-the-priority-ahead-of-gb3-bow/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/08/exclusive-abbi-pulling-says-self-focus-the-priority-ahead-of-gb3-bow/#respond Sat, 08 Mar 2025 15:30:00 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=200242 Abbi Pulling Rodin 2025

Reigning F1 Academy Champion Abbi Pulling has said she will focus purely on herself and her performance as she readies herself for her debut season in the GB3 Championship.

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Abbi Pulling Rodin 2025

Reigning F1 Academy Champion Abbi Pulling has said she will focus purely on herself and her performances as she readies herself for her debut season in the GB3 Championship.

Pulling, who stormed to the F1A title with nine wins in 15 races, earned her seat with Rodin Motorsport as part of her successful campaign, and has also become an ambassador for the British-based New Zealand racing team.

In doing so, she has severed ties with Alpine, having been contracted to its academy for almost three years.

The UK-based series is beginning to gain traction with motorsport fans, with many of its drivers going on to compete in FIA-affiliated series, and Pulling, in an exclusive interview with Motorsport Week, recognised the enormity of the opportunity that faces her.

“I think the GB3 championship’s great,” she said. “I mean, first off, having the prize from winning F1 Academy to compete in it is a dream come true and without that, I wouldn’t be in it, so I’ve got to make sure I acknowledge that.

“It’s been breeding some Formula 2 drivers now, the likes of Luke Browning, and he’s jumped in an F1 car a few times. 

“But even so, that was the old car, whereas now it’s even faster, got even more downforce, got DRS, there’s lots more gadgets to play at, which is then making it, again, a step closer to that FIA F3 spec car and better preparation for drivers that want to jump into the F3 and 2.”

Since this interview, Pulling has now begun preparations for the season, which commences at Silverstone on April 26-27.

This week’s pre-season testing at Snetterton saw Pulling classified in fourth and sixth place respectively in both sessions.

On both days, she ended the day over a second faster than fellow F1A alumni Bianca Bustamante, and only between three to five tenths off team-mate Alex Ninovic, runner-up in GB4 last year.

Despite already being a race-winner in British Formula 4, Pulling acknowledges that being in a mixed-gender championship, along with her ever-growing profile, might place some extra attention on her, but seems totally unfazed about the task ahead.

“I think winning F1 Academy and being a female going into a mixed class at a higher level, I have a lot of eyes on me and a lot of people that will have their opinions, but to be honest, I’m just going to have my blinkers on, focus on myself, focus on what I need to do and the performance on track. I think, that’s the thing that’s most important to me.

“I just want to help the team progress and understand the car better, as well as myself. I’ll hopefully progress throughout the season and, yeah, get some results, hopefully.”

Pulling topped the timesheets at the historic all-women’s Formula E test in Madrid and has given her a taste for the all-electric championship. Image: Formula E

Abbi Pulling: ‘I’d like to try my hand’ at Formula E in the future

On top of her barnstorming F1A win, Abbi Pulling played an instrumental part in the success of the all-women’s Formula E test that took place at Circuito Jarama in November last year.

In a first for an FIA World Championship, the test was comprised 18 drivers across the 11 FE teams on the grid, and Pulling set the fastest time – a 1:30.889s, three tenths quicker than second-placed Jamie Chadwick.

Despite having never driven an FE car before, Pulling’s time was just under 3.5s of the fastest time of the whole week, set by Mitch Evans.

Pulling’s connections with Alpine helped her secure her seat with Nissan for the test [the two teams are both based in Viry, France], and conveyed her gratitude to the Japanese marque for making the opportunity happen.

“Yeah, it was fantastic,” she said. “I can’t thank Tommaso [Volpe, Team Principal] and Dorian [Boisdron, Technical Director] enough for that opportunity to jump in the car. 

“It was a really, really fun test, although it was, half a day…it was limited, it was still really vital and useful, and I learned a lot, [and] great working with the team.

“After that, I’ve kind of put a foot in the door in the Formula E paddock. It’s something that I’ve always spoke I’d like to try my hand at, and it’s just made me that much more keen to get involved and see if there’s any opportunities in the future, whether that be with Nissan or someone else.”

Formula E has announced a second women’s test for this autumn, which may give Pulling such an opportunity, but for now, her career is set to take a brand-new turn as she places her feet on yet another new rung of the motorsport ladder.

READ MOREFormula E confirms women’s test for October 2025

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Alpine’s F1 Academy star Abbi Pulling wins Race 2 in Abu Dhabi https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/12/07/alpines-f1-academy-star-abbi-pulling-wins-race-2-in-abu-dhabi/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/12/07/alpines-f1-academy-star-abbi-pulling-wins-race-2-in-abu-dhabi/#respond Sat, 07 Dec 2024 16:55:54 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=190642 Abbi Pulling could complete a full sweep this weekend when she starts from pole for Race 3 on Sunday

The 2024 F1 Academy World Champion Abbi Pulling took the Race 2 victory in Abu Dhabi after starting from pole position.

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Abbi Pulling could complete a full sweep this weekend when she starts from pole for Race 3 on Sunday

The 2024 F1 Academy World Champion Abbi Pulling took the Race 2 victory in Abu Dhabi after starting from pole position.

Chloe Chambers finished in second after initially leading the race when she overtook Pulling on the first lap.

Chambers also led Race 1 before losing the lead as home favourite Hamda Al Qubaisi took another podium in third place.

This weekend, F1 Academy would have three races, with a third on Sunday, after Race 2 was cancelled in Qatar due to barrier repairs.

As a result, Pulling was stripped of her title after the last round, with more points available this weekend, and needed a point in Qualifying to become champion again.

She took pole and was reinstated as champion, going on to win Race 1 and Race 2 as she will now look towards taking a third win of the weekend tomorrow.

Pulling continues F1 Academy domination

On Lap 1 of 14, Pulling got a clean start to lead into Turn 1 ahead of Chambers and H. Al Qubaisi.

Heading into Turn 9, Chambers got a good run on Pulling and squeezed past on the inside to take the lead of Race 2.

Replays showed that Lola Lovinfosse tagged Carrie Schreiner at Turn 6 sending the Sauber-backed car into the air momentarily, forcing her to retire the Campos Racing car.

On Lap 4, Chambers led Pulling by half a tenth with H. Al Qubaisi in third, Doriane Pin in fourth and Nerea Marti completed the top five.

Maya Weug sat in sixth place and Bianco Bustamante in seventh, with Emely De Heus in eighth, Amna Al Qubaisi in ninth and Tina Hausmann in 10th.

A. Al Qubaisi received a 10-second time penalty for cutting the chicane at Turn 6 on the opening lap.

On Lap 7, Pulling grabbed her lead back from Chambers as the Haas-backed racing driver went deep into Turn 12.

As she returned to the race track she lost momentum to Pulling, giving the Alpine-backed driver the lead.

The top four had closed up after the lead change, with H. Al Quibaisi and Pin following the top two closely.

However, Pulling escaped down the road, creating a one-second lead over Chambers as Weug got past Marti on Lap 10 for fifth place.

Bustamante battled hard with Marti in the Tommy Hilfiger-backed car for sixth place towards the end.

On Lap 13, Rodin Motorsport team-mates Lovinfosse and Jessica Edgar came together and both were forced to retire.

At the same time A. Al Quibaisi and Lia Block collided in Turn 12 before the end.

Both Lovinfosse and A. Al Qubaisi were penalised, the former with a five-place grid drop for race 3 and the latter an additional 10-second time penalty.

The Safety Car was brought out, as the race finished under yellow flags meaning the number nine racing driver Pulling would secure her ninth win of the season ahead of Chambers and H. Al Qubaisi.

Pin finished in fourth, Weug in fifth, Marti sixth, Bustamante seventh, De Heus eighth, Hausmann ninth and wildcard racer Logan Hannah rounding off the top 10 because of A. Al Qubaisi’s penalties – gaining a point on debut.

READ MORE: F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling wins Race 1 in Abu Dhabi

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F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling wins Race 1 in Abu Dhabi https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/12/07/f1-academy-champion-abbi-pulling-wins-race-1-in-abu-dhabi/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/12/07/f1-academy-champion-abbi-pulling-wins-race-1-in-abu-dhabi/#respond Sat, 07 Dec 2024 08:56:17 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=190549 Abbi Pulling took victory in F1 Academy Race 1 in Abu Dhabi

The recently re-crowned F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling took victory in Race 1 at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

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Abbi Pulling took victory in F1 Academy Race 1 in Abu Dhabi

The recently re-crowned F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling took victory in Race 1 at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

Alpine’s Pulling enjoyed a cool and calm race to win by over four seconds over a hard-battling Hamda Al Qubaisi and Doriane Pin.

A peculiar situation occurred in Abu Dhabi with the addition of a third race to make up for the cancelled Race 2 last time out in Qatar.

That opened up an extra two points for a third pole position and one more for the fastest lap in Race 3, which briefly stripped Pulling of her title.

Pulling’s crown was reinstated as she took pole for all three races in Abu Dhabi.

Haas’ Chloe Chambers lined up alongside the Alpine driver at lights out and swept into the lead at lights out with Red Bull’s H. Al Qubaisi chasing the duo.

Red Bull Ford’s Emely De Heus and Mercedes’ Pin followed in fourth and fifth.

Pulling took the lead as Chambers span out of contention at Turn 9, losing the rear of her Haas-liveried machine.

Meanwhile, as Al Qubaisi took second, De Heus passed Pin to take third.

By Lap 3, Pin passed De Heus into Turn 6 to take third and the Dutch driver was soon under pressure from McLaren’s Bianca Bustamante.

As the laps ticked by, Pulling held a 1.5s lead over H. Al Qubaisi, who in turn left Pin by just under two seconds.

By Lap 7, Pulling’s lead was up to two seconds as Pin began to close in on second place.

Setting a set of fastest laps, Pin closed to within a second of H. Al Qubaisi in the fight for the best of the rest behind Pulling.

With five laps remaining, the gap between second and third went under a second and then by Lap 11, the two cars were nose to tail and nearly side by side through Turn 9.

Meanwhile, a race-long battle between Tommy Hilfiger’s Nerea Marti and Ferrari’s Maya Weug for sixth had become a four-car tussle by Lap 13 with RB’s Amna Al Qubaisi and Sauber’s Carrier Schreiner brought into the action.

As the chequered flag came down on Pulling, the British driver had a 4.4s gap behind her to H. Al Qubaisi who was able to hold onto second over Pin.

Pulling’s victory was her eighth of the season, making her the winningest driver in F1 Academy’s short history.

De Heus had her best result of the year in fourth ahead of Bustmante.

Marti won her battle for sixth over Weug, A. Al Quabaisi and Schreiner with Puma’s Aurelia Nobels completing the top-10.

READ MORE – Abu Dhabi pole reinstates Abbi Pulling as F1 Academy Champion

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Abu Dhabi pole reinstates Abbi Pulling as F1 Academy Champion https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/12/06/abu-dhabi-pole-reinstates-abbi-pulling-as-f1-academy-champion/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/12/06/abu-dhabi-pole-reinstates-abbi-pulling-as-f1-academy-champion/#respond Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:22:30 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=190474 Abbi Pulling set the fastest lap time in the F1 Academy Qualifying session ahead of the Haas-backed racing driver Chloe Chambers

Abbi Pulling claimed pole position for all three races in the final round at Abu Dhabi as she claimed back her 2024 F1 Academy world title.

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Abbi Pulling set the fastest lap time in the F1 Academy Qualifying session ahead of the Haas-backed racing driver Chloe Chambers

Abbi Pulling claimed pole position for all three races in the final round at Abu Dhabi as she claimed back her 2024 F1 Academy world title.

Pulling had won the championship last time out in Qatar, but after Race 2 was cancelled due to barrier repairs and moved to Abu Dhabi as a third race, it meant an extra two points were made available in Abu Dhabi.

As a result, Doriane Pin still technically had a shot at the title with 84 points available from this weekend and Pulling’s lead standing at just 83 points – as she only needed just one point to become champion again.

Pulling did just by taking pole position for each race and securing the 2024 title in the final round.

With three races in Abu Dhabi, the fastest times of all of the drivers will set the grid for Race 1, the second fastest for Race 2 and the third fastest for Race 3.

Chloe Chambers finished second in the session ahead of Hamda Al Qubaisi.

Pulling crowned F1 Academy World Champion again

Bianca Bustamante for McLaren showed early signs of electric pace, topping the timing sheets with a 1:56.894s, more than eight-tenths quicker than Lia Block in the other ART car.

Red Bull’s Al Qubaisi soon split the top two to go second before Pulling eventually grabbed second with a time of 1:57.379s.

Pulling was still four-tenths back from Bustamante before Chambers for Haas improved to go second, a tenth off the Filipina racing driver.

The Alpine-backed driver eventually found the pace to set the fastest lap but Chambers went even quicker by 0.026s to snatch first place.

Pulling hit back with a lap time of 1:56.340s with the pair trading fastest lap times.

Pin had been in the pits for the opening half of the Qualifying session before she left the Prema Racing garage to take to the track.

Simarlily Ferrari-backed Maya Weug also waited until 15 minutes had gone before setting a competitive lap time.

Puma-backed Aurelia Nobels improved to go first but replays showed she cut the chicane at Turn 6 so her lap time was deleted by race control.

Bustamante improved to go third, narrowly off Pulling’s time by 0.088s.

Pin initially went second but her lap time was deleted, as her only legal lap time was only good enough for 14th.

Her race engineer reminded her that she hadn’t set a proper competitive lap time yet and she replied with “we need clean air” over the radio.

With five minutes to go, Pin finally managed to set a lap good enough for the top five, jumping up the order to fourth and 0.349s off Pulling’s best time.

Out of nowhere, Al Qubaisi went quickest with a 1:56.229s and ahead of Chambers who pipped Pulling’s time.

Weug eventually climbed up the order into sixth place but behind Pin who now dropped down to fifth.

Pulling improved to go back to the top with a 1:56.120s as Chambers also improved but was 0.081s slower than the Rodin Motorsport car.

With 30 minutes gone, the drivers completed their final laps and Pulling went even quicker setting a lap time of 1:56.081s.

With that last lap, she clinched pole position for all three races for the final round of the F1 Academy championship.

Taking the extra points for pole, Pulling was reinstated as the 2024 F1 Academy World Champion.

Bustamante finished in fourth, Pin in fifth, Emely De Heus in sixth, Weug seventh, Nerea Marti eighth, Carrie Schreiner ninth and Block in 10th to set the order for Race 1.

For Race 2, the grid will be as follows; Pulling in first, Chambers in second, Al Qubaisi in third, Bustamante in fourth, Pin fifth, Weug in sixth, Marti in seventh, Block in eight, De Heus in ninth and Schreiner rounds off the top 10.

READ MORE: F1 Academy adds third Abu Dhabi race as Abbi Pulling is stripped of title

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Esteban Ocon praises Alpine junior Abbi Pulling amid F1 Academy title push https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/11/28/esteban-ocon-praises-alpine-junior-abbi-pulling-amid-f1-academy-title-push/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/11/28/esteban-ocon-praises-alpine-junior-abbi-pulling-amid-f1-academy-title-push/#respond Thu, 28 Nov 2024 13:20:47 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=189138 Abbi Pulling is on the verge of clinching the F1 Academy title

Esteban Ocon praised Alpine Academy Driver Abbi Pulling for a "super impressive" season as the British driver seeks to clinch the F1 Academy title in Qatar.

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Abbi Pulling is on the verge of clinching the F1 Academy title

Esteban Ocon praised Alpine Academy Driver Abbi Pulling for a “super impressive” season as the British driver seeks to clinch the F1 Academy title in Qatar.

Pulling, a full-time member of the Alpine Academy since 2023, has excelled during her second campaign in the all-female F1 Academy series.

The British driver has won seven out of 10 races so far, finishing on the podium in the other three, to stake her claim as champion.

In Qatar, the Alpine prospect needs just 18 points across the weekend to secure the top prize.

Motorsport Week asked Ocon ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix what he thought of his Alpine peer’s stellar campaign.

“Yeah, super impressed about Abbi’s season,” the Frenchman replied.

“You know, especially how she’s improved over the time she’s been driving in single-seaters. She’s really been working super well.

“You know, she’s one of those drivers that trains super hard, stays with the team. She’s really involved into listening to us in Formula 1.

“We get feedback as well from [the F1 Academy drivers], when they drive before us at times. And it’s always very valid, the information we get.

“I mean, she’s been super impressive in what she’s done. And I hope that she can, you know, wrap up the title this year.”

Esteban Ocon praised Abbi Pulling on a stellar F1 Academy campaign
Esteban Ocon praised Abbi Pulling on a stellar F1 Academy campaign

‘It’s been great to see Pulling’s success,’ says Alpine Team Principal Oliver Oakes

Being a part of the Alpine ecosystem brings Pulling into working contact with recently appointed Team Principal Oliver Oakes.

Oakes is weel versed in the junior single-seater ladder having founded Hitech, making him the perfect candidate to assess Pulling’s progress.

“Before I took this role, I’d seen [Pulling] in the British racing scene,” Oakes said.

“And obviously then with F1 Academy supporting a few weekends this far in F1, it’s been great to see her success.

“I think she’s definitely on the right path to keep progressing through the ladder. It was one of the first questions in an Enstone debrief, actually, is what are the plans for her for the future?

“She’s pretty close to wrapping that [F1 Academy title] up.

“So I think in due course, you’ll see what she’s going to be racing in. But it’s definitely exciting to see her with the success she’s having there.”

If and when Pulling secures the F1 Academy title, the prize is a fully funded campaign in the British GB3 series in 2025, a popular stepping stone for drivers seeking to enter the FIA Formula 3 World Championship.

READ MORE – Abbi Pulling Exclusive: F1 Academy champion in waiting
 

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Abbi Pulling fastest for Nissan in all-female Formula E test https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/11/08/abbi-pulling-fastest-for-nissan-in-all-female-formula-e-test/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/11/08/abbi-pulling-fastest-for-nissan-in-all-female-formula-e-test/#respond Fri, 08 Nov 2024 17:41:25 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=186769 Abbi Pulling set the fastest time in the all-female FE test - Image courtesy of Formula E

Abbi Pulling set the fastest time in the all-female FIA Formula E pre-season test at the Madrid-based Jarama circuit driving for the Nissan squad.

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Abbi Pulling set the fastest time in the all-female FE test - Image courtesy of Formula E

Abbi Pulling set the fastest time in the all-female FIA Formula E pre-season test at the Madrid-based Jarama circuit driving for the Nissan squad.

Pulling, an Alpine Academy driver made history in 2024 as the first woman to win a race in the British Formula 4 championship.

Moreover, she has turned heads with her dominant showing in the all-female F1 Academy series, with one hand firmly grasped on the title.

Alpine’s partnership with the Nissan Formula E programme paved the way for Pulling’s participation in the groundbreaking all-female test at Jarama.

The test was the first-of-its-kind for any FIA single-seater series, and Pulling piloted her Gen3 EVO Nissan machine to a 1:30.889s lap-time in Madrid to cement her place at the top of the standings.

Her time was three seconds down on the fastest effort from the full-time FE drivers, who had the benefit of 18 hours of testing across six sessions.

Moreover, Pulling had never driven at Jarama, let alone got behind the wheel of the Nissan Gen3 EVO machine prior to Friday’s test.

READ MORE – F1 Academy star Abbi Pulling hoping to ‘seal the deal’ to win GB3 contract

Pulling beats Jamie Chadwick and Bianca Bustamante to top spot

The top three in the test was completed by Jamie Chadwick – who was three tenths down on Pulling for Jaguar TCS Racing – and McLaren’s Bianca Bustamante, who was approximately one second adrift of the ultimate pace.

Miki Koyama and Lena Buhler rounded out the top five for Lola and Mahindra respectively.

Next up in the order was Beitske Visser for DS Penske, followed by McLaren’s Ella Lloyd, who will participate in F1 Academy next season for the Papaya brand.

Porsche’s Marta Garcia and the Maserati duo of Carrie Schreiner and Tatiana Calderon rounded out the top-10.

You can find the full classification from the test via the Formula E website.

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Pulling relishes ‘challenge’ of targeting double Spanish F1 Academy victory https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/06/23/pulling-relishes-challenge-of-targeting-double-spanish-f1-academy-victory/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/06/23/pulling-relishes-challenge-of-targeting-double-spanish-f1-academy-victory/#respond Sun, 23 Jun 2024 05:30:00 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=169367

Abbi Pulling has her sights set on a second successive double race victory after leading lights to flag in Race 1 of F1 Academy Round 3 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Saturday and is ready to meet the “challenge” of Sunday’s Race 2. Pulling led Saturday’s Race 1 from pole position, and calmly held […]

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Abbi Pulling has her sights set on a second successive double race victory after leading lights to flag in Race 1 of F1 Academy Round 3 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Saturday and is ready to meet the “challenge” of Sunday’s Race 2.

Pulling led Saturday’s Race 1 from pole position, and calmly held that lead after an early safety car period.

The Alpine-backed Rodin drive was unopposed for the rest of the race to take her fourth win in a row, extending her championship lead to 56 points over Doriane Pin.

“I think if it wasn’t for [pole] we would have struggled a bit more,” Pulling told Motorsport Week after Saturday’s race.

“It’s hard to follow around here so you’ve got to kind of qualify well or it becomes pretty tough after that.

“The race [win] was lights to flag, couldn’t ask for much more.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s Race 2 the prospect is altogether different.

There was no match for Pulling in Spain on Saturday

Pulling still starts from pole thanks to her second-best effort in Friday’s qualifying session, but that doesn’t make the race a foregone conclusion.

Lights out is at 08:50 local time on Sunday, as opposed to 18:00 on Saturday, meaning track temperatures will be drastically different and rain could potentially interfere as well.

Still, Pulling isn’t let that dampen her spirits.

“Yeah, I think I’ll make sure I go into it being adaptable,” the Alpine Academy Driver said.

“I think that’s one of my strengths and it’s potentially going to be a wet race and I’m British so it’s nothing that scares me off and makes me hide away.

“It’s something that I welcome and I think it’ll be a good challenge.

“I’ve never driven this track in the wet, like most of us and I always like to welcome a challenge.”

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Pulling takes double pole position in Spanish F1 Academy qualifying https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/06/21/pulling-takes-double-pole-position-in-spanish-f1-academy-qualifying/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/06/21/pulling-takes-double-pole-position-in-spanish-f1-academy-qualifying/#respond Fri, 21 Jun 2024 17:22:23 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=169105 Abbi Pulling (GBR) Rodin Motorsport. 07.03.2024. FIA Formula Academy, Rd 1, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday.

Championship leader Abbi Pulling will line up on pole position for both F1 Academy races in Barcelona after setting the two fastest times in Friday’s qualifying session. Pulling’s late effort of 1:41.396s saw her finish fastest with Chloe Chambers and Nerea Marti finishing second and third fastest respectively to set the top three positions for […]

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Abbi Pulling (GBR) Rodin Motorsport. 07.03.2024. FIA Formula Academy, Rd 1, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday.

Championship leader Abbi Pulling will line up on pole position for both F1 Academy races in Barcelona after setting the two fastest times in Friday’s qualifying session.

Pulling’s late effort of 1:41.396s saw her finish fastest with Chloe Chambers and Nerea Marti finishing second and third fastest respectively to set the top three positions for Saturday’s Race 1 grid with just 0.133s separating the trio.

Moreover, Pulling’s second fastest time was the pick of the bunch – with all drivers’ second-best efforts setting the grid for Race 2 – granting her pole on Sunday.

The Alpine Junior secured a second successive double position as a result.

The stage was set for a tight 30 minutes of qualifying after nine-tenths of a second covered the top 11 drivers in practice.

Unlike Jeddah and Miami, Barcelona is a circuit the F1 Academy drivers know well, with the venue hosting the series during its maiden season in 2023 and hosting pre-season testing for the 2024 campaign.

Sauber driver Carrie Schreiner set the initial benchmark, a 1:44.201s effort, which she then improved upon to set a 1:43.361s tour of the Barcelona circuit.

However, the pace was pushed further by Championship Abbi Pulling shortly thereafter.

Pulling is the in-form driver and is hotly tipped for victory this weekend, but her first effort of 1:42.540s was displaced by McLaren’s Bianca Bustamante and Haas’ Chloe Chambers with the American provisionally leading the way with a 1:42.224s time.

Pulling’s closest challenger in the title race is Mercedes driver Doriane Pin, recovering from a cycling injury that prevented her from competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Iron Dames.

Injury setbacks were no matter to Pin however and the Frenchwoman soared to the top of the timesheets with a 1:41.988s.

The abrasive Barcelona surface wasn’t preventing the drivers from continually pressing the pace with lap after lap and that was proved when Chambers posted a 1:41.926s lap.

That left the American on provisional pole with half of the session remaining, whereupon the drivers retreated to the pits in preparation for a final time attack.

As the cars returned to the track for the final 10 minutes of running, the task for the chasing pack was to see if Chambers’ time could be surpassed.

Bustamante was the first to successfully achieve this, setting a 1:41.921s effort with just over five minutes remaining.

Pulling then responded to the faster pace to put thee tenths between her and the rest of the competition with a 1:41.544s lap, but with grip improving, Nerea Marti in the Tommy Hilfiger car pipped Pulling with a 1:41.529s lap.

Chambers then went faster again with a 1:41.455 effort as the times continued to tumble.

A 1:41.396s laptime from Alpine’s Pulling saw her return to the top of the times with just a few minutes left in the session leaving her competitors little time to respond.

That time couldn’t be bettered and Pulling took top honours, guaranteeing her pole position for Race 1 on Saturday.

The Race 1 grid behind her, Chambers and Marti will be completed by Pin on the end of the second row, with Bustamante and Aston Martin’s Tina Hausmann completing row three.

Red Bull Racing’s Hamda Al Qubaisi will line up on row four for Race 1 alongside Williams’ Lia Block, who set the eighth-fastest time overall in Friday’s qualifying.

The top-10 places on Saturday’s grid will be completed by American Express-backed Jess Edgar and Charlotte Tilbur’s Lola Lovinfosse.

Race 2 Grid

The top-10 for each grid featured the same drivers, albeit in a slightly different order.

Pulling’s second successive double pole grants her the front spot on Sunday’s race 2 grid after the British driver’s second-best effort, a 1:41.544s laptime bettered Chambers by 0.076s with the American securing two front-row starts.

Pin will line up third for Race 2 and will share the second row with Marti.

H. Al Qubaisi secured a top-five spot for Sunday’s grid and Block’s second-best effort means she’ll start one row and two places higher than her Race 1 grid slot in Race 2.

The fourth and fifth rows for Race 2 will be filled by Hausmann, Bustamante, Edgar and Lovinfosse.

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Pulling becomes the first woman to win a race in British F4 https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/05/14/pulling-becomes-the-first-woman-to-win-a-race-in-british-f4/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/05/14/pulling-becomes-the-first-woman-to-win-a-race-in-british-f4/#respond Tue, 14 May 2024 11:19:56 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=164394

Alpine Junior Driver Abbi Pulling became the first female driver to win a British Formula 4 Race in a landmark Brands Hatch weekend. Pulling started from reverse grid pole, and led the Race 2 on Sunday from start to finish to secure her maiden British F4 victory. Her dominant display in Brands Hatch made history, […]

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Alpine Junior Driver Abbi Pulling became the first female driver to win a British Formula 4 Race in a landmark Brands Hatch weekend.

Pulling started from reverse grid pole, and led the Race 2 on Sunday from start to finish to secure her maiden British F4 victory.

Her dominant display in Brands Hatch made history, as the British driver became the first woman to win a race in the series.

“I competed in this championship a couple of years ago and my aim was to break that record and be the first female to stand on the top step,” Pulling said to ITV after her historic victory.

“I have finally done it.

“I think it shows what F1 Academy is doing. It’s bringing up female participation and there’s just such a buzz now around women in motorsport and bringing more participation and licence holders in.”

Following her double victory in F1 Academy Round 2 in Miami, Pulling is experiencing a well-deserved wave of success.

Pulling spoke to Motorsport Week after her F1 Academy Race 1 victory at the Miami International Autodrome about her British F4 campaign.

“The British F4 car is a completely different car to drive,” she said. “In F1 Academy the regulations are different, compounds are different, it ultimately makes it a very different car to drive.

“It helps keep me sharp, but the biggest difference is the ability to go from two different cars with two different conditions. 

“It makes you really mentally aware of what you’re doing, making sure you’re not just going on auto-pilot.”

Race winner Abbi Pulling (GBR) Rodin Motorsport celebrates in parc ferme. 05.05.2024. FIA Formula Academy, Rd 2, Race 2, Miami, Florida, USA, Sunday.

The British driver races for Rodin Motorsport in F1 Academy and in British F4.

Pulling is currently the F1 Academy Championship by 34 points ahead of her nearest competitor Doriane Pin.

The Alpine Junior Driver has come back in full force after falling short of the Iron Dame’s performance in the F1 Academy season-opener in Jeddah.

She told Motorsport Week in an exclusive interview last month: “My goal for the season is to go through the whole year smiling and enjoying myself and to just try and be better. 

“I did all my learning last year and previous years of racing. I went into last year and all I wanted was to be consistent. Now it’s just sticking with doing the best that I can do.”

With an ongoing campaign in British F4, Pulling hopes to secure as many opportunities as possible en route to the big stage – Formula 1.

“My plan was never to stay in this championship forever.” Pulling said.

“I aim to get to Formula 1 but even just competing in Formula 3 would be an absolute dream, there are loads of different potential pathways to take, you never really know where you’ll be.”

Pulling looks towards securing the next double victory in F1 Academy Round 3 in Barcelona, from the 21st to the 23rd of June.

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Alpine junior Pulling remains with Rodin Carlin for F1 Academy return https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/12/11/alpine-junior-pulling-remains-with-rodin-carlin-for-f1-academy-return/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/12/11/alpine-junior-pulling-remains-with-rodin-carlin-for-f1-academy-return/#respond Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:09:43 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=141863

Alpine junior Abbi Pulling will remain with Rodin Carlin for a second campaign in the all-female F1 Academy feeder series. Pulling will fly the flag for the French marque as one of ten drivers who will be supported by a Formula 1 team. 2024 will be Pulling’s fourth season in Formula 4 machinery after tallying […]

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Alpine junior Abbi Pulling will remain with Rodin Carlin for a second campaign in the all-female F1 Academy feeder series.

Pulling will fly the flag for the French marque as one of ten drivers who will be supported by a Formula 1 team.

2024 will be Pulling’s fourth season in Formula 4 machinery after tallying seven podiums, two pole positions and four fastest laps on her way to fifth overall in the F1 Academy’s inaugural year.

“I’m very grateful to be coming back for another year as an Alpine Academy driver, and I am honoured that the Alpine Formula 1 Team are entrusting me as their driver selection for the 2024 F1 Academy season,” Pulling said of the announcement.

The 20-year-old joined Alpine’s affiliate programme in March 2022 and was promoted to a full-time role within the Alpine Academy in 2023.

“This will be my third season in the team’s driver development programme, it’s amazing to be a part of the Alpine Racing family and have such incredible access and support from a F1 team.

“I’m looking forward to competing in the F1 Academy series for a second season and to be racing with Carlin again. I’m hoping to have a successful year and bring in some good results for the team. I’m excited to head into another season of racing on the F1 support bill.

“I’m ecstatic to be coming back with Rodin Carlin in 2024. We had some highs and lows in our 2023 campaign, but it was the best group of people to work with and learn with; it really feels like a second family. We’re pushing hard for 2024, and I think we have an exciting year lined up.”

Abbi Pulling (GBR) Rodin Carlin. 21.10.2023. F1 Academy, Rd 7, Race 2, United States Grand Prix, Austin, Texas, USA, Sprint Day. – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Images

2024 will be a busy season for Pulling who will also compete in select rounds of the 2024 ROKiT F4 British Championship. Pulling finished sixth overall in her maiden British F4 campaign in 2020.

“It’s also going to be really great to be head back to the British F4 Championship there’s certainly some unfinished business there and I’m pleased to be able to race in such a brilliant championship with Rodin Carlin where they have such a great history –I think we’re in for a great year together!”

Julian Rouse, Interim Sporting Director at Alpine, said: “We are pleased to announce Abbi as our BWT Alpine F1 Team driver selection for F1 Academy’s 2024 season.

“This will be her third season as a member of the Alpine Racing family as an Alpine Academy driver, and she has shown some great progress over the course of her time with the team, both on and off the track.

“She is a fantastic example of how the Academy programme aims to help develop our drivers and support them in the progression of their career, both as drivers and as people.

“She will be competing in F1 Academy for a second consecutive season and will be supported by the Academy programme and wider BWT Alpine F1 Team throughout her campaign.”

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