Simona de Silvestro’s attempt to become the first woman to win a major open-wheel motor-racing title ended in disappointment when she was knocked out of the Atlantic Championship finale on the opening lap at Laguna Seca.
A quiet weekend in European racing allows attention to switch to the other side of the Atlantic – where no fewer than four open-wheel series all have their final races.
Both the Atlantic and Star Mazda Championships will be decided in their season-ending races at Laguna Seca after all the title contenders managed podiums this weekend.
Atlantic Championship points leader Simona De Silvestro has taken a step closer to the series title after a close win over the second-placed John Edwards at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres in Quebec.
Jonathan Summerton cemented his form as one of the most promising up-and-coming young US racing drivers with a win in the Atlantic Championship event at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course at the weekend. And it was also a good race for British rookie James Winslow.
Ireland’s Peter Dempsey dominated the Star Mazda Series double-header in Joliet, Illinois, by setting the fastest practice times, qualifying twice on pole, and leading every lap on the way to a pair of wins ahead of Adam Christodoulou.
Katherine Legge’s record as the most successful woman in Atlantic Championship history has fallen as Simona De Silvestro took her third win of the season and fourth of her career at Lime Rock, Connecticut.
James Winslow remains seventh in the Atlantic Championship after the second race in the series, finishing in the points again despite having to find a new team to drive for.
James Winslow has got himself a three-race open-wheel drive in the United States with a team that could potentially provide a promotion to the Indy Racing League.
Could A1GP rookie James Winslow pick up a more regular slot with Team GBR in the wake of Danny Watts’ decision to sign a season-long contract with a sportscar team?