Photo: W Series
Emma Kimilainen will miss this weekend?s third W Series round at Misano after pulling out on medical grounds.
The Finnish racer also skipped?the previous round at Zolder, despite taking part in the first two free practice sessions, due to the re-occurrence of an old injury following her crash with Megan Gilkes at the Hockenheim season opener.
Kimilainen was tipped as a frontrunner ahead of the inaugural W Series season, having shown strong pace in the Tatuus regional F3 car, but the crash has left her a pointless last in the standings.
?I’m very disappointed not to be able to race at Misano this weekend, but I understand the advice I’ve been given and I’ll abide by it,? said Kimilainen.
“I feel I’ve been on top of the W Series car in the practice sessions and qualifying sessions I completed at Hockenheim and Zolder, and it?s obviously a great pity that, through no fault of my own, I didn’t get a chance to translate that pace into race results.
“But my hope is now to be fully fit for Norisring in early July, so that I can finish the W Series season with three strong performances at Norisring, at Assen and at Brands Hatch.”
Kimiliainen?s absence means that reserve drivers Sarah Bovy and Vivien Keszthelyi will again get race opportunities at Misano, having both made their series debuts at Zolder, as part of a 19-car grid.
Hungarian driver Keszthelyi replaced Kimilainen at Zolder, but failed to finish after an early clash with Sabre Cook, while Belgian racer Bovy was an additional entry at her home race, but also failed to finish after her car developed a technical issue on the grid.
“We’re disappointed for Emma, who has been competent and quick whenever she’s driven the W Series car, but of course we look forward to welcoming her back as and when she’s fit enough to compete again,? said W Series racing director Dave Ryan.
“In the meantime, we’re happy to be able to offer the opportunity to race at Misano to both Sarah and Vivien, our two reserve drivers.
?It’s a positive development for them both, and indeed for all of us, that they’ll travel to Misano with the foreknowledge that they’ll be competing in both practice sessions, in qualifying and in the race.?