Abbi Pulling becomes first female GB3 race winner at Spa

Abbi Pulling, the 2024 F1 Academy champion, has made history by becoming the first female driver to win a race in the GB3 Championship. The 23-year-old converted pole position into victory in a rain-delayed opening race at Spa-Francorchamps, cementing a major milestone for women in motorsport.

Why it matters:

Pulling's win is a landmark moment not just for her career but for the entire F1 Academy pathway. After earning a fully funded Rodin Motorsport seat for 2025 as her F1 Academy reward, she has now proved she can compete and win at the next level. This strengthens the argument that the series is successfully creating a pipeline for female talent into higher open-wheel categories.

The details:

• The race was initially abandoned due to torrential rain and thunderstorms, typical of Spa's unpredictable weather. Once the circuit dried, racing resumed under sunny skies.
• A mid-race safety car increased the pressure, but Pulling aced the restart and held off championship leader Nikita Bedrin to take the flag.
• Pressure and composure: Pulling admitted she had to work for it, pointing to previous struggles with race starts. "I absolutely nailed it," she said, crediting her team and supporters.
• Technical challenge: Running on a different downforce level compared to her rivals, she knew she had to maximise the middle sector. "It paid off, to say the least," she added.

What's next:

Pulling remains with Rodin Motorsport for the 2026 season after staying with the outfit. This victory builds momentum as she aims to challenge for the GB3 title and potentially move toward FIA F3 or beyond. Her success validates F1 Academy's model of funding champion seats in higher formulas, and could encourage more investment in female racing talent.

"I just want to get placed on merit," Pulling said. "I've done that today."