MOTOR RACING: Powell earns first GP3 point in Monza finale (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cotswold racer Alice Powell hopes to be back in the GP3 series next year

12:03pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in Sport

NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Cotswold racer Alice Powell clinched her first GP3 Series Drivers’ Championship point in the season finale at Monza on September 9.

She becomes the first female driver to score a point in the series, making history at the iconic Italian track. It was Alice’s first time at the Autodromo Nationale Monza and she earned 21st place on the grid.

Alice made a decent start to race one on Saturday afternoon. She gained a couple of places before turn one and moved up a further position when 2012 championship winner Mitch Evans went off at turn seven.

Alice had a good battle with Visou and Brundle and managed to overtake them both into turn one on lap four. From then on, she avoided further race incidents to reach 12th place at the chequered flag.

After a poor start to race two on Sunday morning, dropping from 12th to 15th, Alice took advantage of Conor Daly’s visit to the gravel trap to gain a place by the end of lap one. She then managed to break away from Alex Brundle and she came home in a charging and well-deserved tenth.

Fortunately for Alice, two drivers received post-race penalties which meant that she was promoted to eighth and was awarded her first GP3 Championship point.

Alice said: “To get my first point in GP3 is brilliant and I am so chuffed. I could not have learnt the amount I did if it wasn't for help of the Status crew – so a big thanks to them.

“I hope to raise enough sponsorship to compete in the fantastic GP3 series next year.”