ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Britain’s Abbi Pulling will need to win the F1 Academy title for the second time in a week after organisers declared her the champion last Saturday and then left her a point short by adding an additional race in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
The Alpine driver took an 83-point lead with 82 points remaining in Qatar after the second race there was cancelled due to barrier repairs taking up the time available.
Adding a third race to the two already scheduled for Abu Dhabi means there are now 84 points to be won — 25 for a win, two for pole and one for fastest lap — and Pulling is not yet champion mathematically.
Organisers confirmed two points would be awarded for each pole in the three races.
Mercedes’ French driver Doriane Pin — Pulling’s closest rival — was awarded two points for pole in the Qatar race that was not held and retains them.
Formula One teams each nominate a driver and have their livery on a car in the Academy, a series on the Formula One support programme aimed at helping female racers climb the ladder.
The last woman to start a Formula One grand prix was the late Italian Lella Lombardi in 1976.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ken Ferris)
