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Abbi Pulling has etched her name into motorsport history, becoming the first female driver to win a race in the GB3 Championship. The 2024 F1 Academy champion converted pole position into a commanding victory in the delayed opening race of the weekend at Spa-Francorchamps — the iconic home of the Belgian Grand Prix.
The race itself faced a rocky start. Torrential rain and thunderstorms forced the opening contest to be abandoned, but once sunny skies returned and the circuit dried, Pulling was ready to seize the moment.
A mid-race safety car raised the stakes, but the Rodin Motorsport driver delivered precisely when it mattered most, nailing the restart to pull clear and secure victory ahead of championship leader Nikita Bedrin.
The result carries weight beyond a single race win. Pulling stepped up to GB3 after earning a fully funded seat with Rodin as a reward for her F1 Academy title in 2024. Having remained with the team in 2026, she has now graduated from champion to race winner in one of Britain's most competitive single-seater series.
It is also a significant milestone in the broader story of women in motorsport — a movement gaining momentum both on and off the track. Our series The hidden horsepower: the women driving Formula 1 explores how women are shaping the sport from every angle, not just behind the wheel.
After the race, an emotional Pulling reflected on a victory that felt hard-earned and deeply personal.
"I had to work for it, and there's some sore points that I've had from Silverstone. My race starts being one, and I absolutely nailed it. I just can't thank the team enough. Can't thank everyone around me. I've got so many people around me."
The 23-year-old was also candid about the strategic battle she faced during the race, acknowledging the performance differences at play.
"I was just happy I got racing, happy I got the result, and I tried really hard. I know the boys are on different downforce levels to us. So, I knew I really had to make a difference in that middle sector, and it paid off, to say the least."
Pulling was equally emphatic about what the win means to her as a competitor.
"I'm absolutely over the moon. I always say I want to get placed on merit, and just show that I can compete at the front no matter what, no matter the competition, and I've done that today. I can't thank the team, Rodin Motorsport, Rodin Cars, all my sponsors. I've had a few people come on board this weekend. I can't thank them all, 'cause there are too many. But everyone who's helped me knows that this thanks is to them."
A landmark result for Pulling, and for women in motorsport as a whole.
Ciara is a Dublin native, award-winning film producer, podcaster and writer with 20 years of storytelling experience. A lifelong Leinster and Ireland rugby fan, she turned her attention to the grid after moving to Berlin and co-founding Formula Live Pulse. Now, she applies her producer’s brain to Formula 1, navigating the highs of Oscar Piastri’s rise and the unique stress of being an adopted Ferrari fan. She loves talking and talking about F1, if you give her the chance!
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