Britain’s Jamie Chadwick has made a significant step towards realising her Formula One dream after securing a deal with Rodin Cars to drive for reigning  champions Prema Powerteam in Formula Three later this summer.

The 22 year-old, who won the inaugural all-female W Series in 2019, was preparing to defend her title before the season was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She would also have had the chance to compete for FIA Super Licence points which are necessary in order to become eligible to race in Formula One.

However, the new deal means she will now be able to boost her licence hopes earlier than expected.

The young driver will race for Prema in regional Formula 3 with aims of rising to International F3 and F2 and earn her F1 eligibility ‘by 2023 or 2024.’

Talking to Telegraph Sport  the champion driver said it felt ‘like the stars are starting to align’ after her initial disappointment at the cancellation of the W Series.

“My original plan was to do the W-Series this year," she said.

"In only a few days I found out it was cancelled and I’d secured the backing from Rodin Cars to do this series and a seat became available with Prema. 

"It’s been crazy,” she added.

Chadwick was optimistic that this move would have a significant positive impact on her dreams of a spot in F1, thus breaking the 43-year barren spell since a female driver, Lella Lombardi, last featured on the starting grid.

“I now have a clear structure and clear path and if I perform, I know I have the support to potentially go all the way,” she said.

She regarded that the move now provides ‘a huge amount of security’ and that ‘hopefully F1 isn’t too far away.’

Founder of Rodin Cars David Dicker was full of praise for the ‘exceptional racing talent’ and was optimistic that she could make it all the way.

“We are taking a long-term view on this in fully supporting her journey as she moves up the ladder towards F1,” he said.

The series offers a potential 25 Super Licence points, which are vital to add to the 10 Chadwick accumulated in last winter’s Asian F3 series.

In signing with the team, whose alumni include F1 stars Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly, she is hoping to earn the remaining 30 points she needs to reach the top tier.