Visser beats Chadwick and Powell to Zolder W Series win

Beitske Visser claimed a dominant victory in the second round of W Series at Zolder, as Jamie Chadwick pipped Alice Powell to second on the penultimate lap.

BMW junior Visser out-dragged pole-sitter Chadwick off the line to lead into the first corner, before the race was interrupted by two safety car periods.

When racing resumed for the second time with 15 minutes to go, Visser was able to pull away from Chadwick to win by 8.451s.

In the closing stages Powell, who started from third, passed fellow Briton Chadwick for second into the final chicane after the two cars went side-by-side for several corners.

On the penultimate lap, Chadwick reclaimed second place after going around the outside of Powell at Turn 1 and completing the move into the next corner, finishing half a second ahead of Powell.

Marta Garcia finished fourth, a further three seconds behind, closely followed home by Sarah Moore, Tasmin Pepper and Fabienne Wohlwend after a race-long battle between the quartet.

Japan?s Miki Koyama finished eighth ahead of Vicky Piria, with Naomi Schiff completing the top ten.

It was a disappointing race for series debutants Sarah Bovy and Vivien Keszthelyi. Belgian driver Bovy failed to start after her car caught fire on the grid, while Keszthelyi – who received a late call up to replace the unwell Emma Kimilainen – retired after an early incident with Sabre Cooke, the American receiving a drive through penalty as a result.

Esmee Hawkey and Gosia Rdest also retired early in the race after Hawkey outbraked herself and ran into the side of the Polish driver.

Race results (19 laps)