Rodin Motorsport’s Abbi Pulling has secured the 2024 F1 Academy title in Qatar, after claiming second place in the first race of the weekend at the Lusail International Circuit. As a result, Pulling secures a drive in the 2025 GB3 Championship with Rodin Motorsport.
Having started third, Pulling made a strong start to move up a position at the first turn, as she looked to further threaten pole sitter Doriane Pin for the lead.
Pin managed to rebuff Pulling’s challenge, but with the British driver only needing to finish second to guarantee the title with three races remaining, Pulling duly claimed her 11th consecutive podium finish to put the title beyond reach.
Pulling has enjoyed a superb season in F1 Academy, winning seven races and finishing on the podium in the other four, marking her out as a driver to watch next year.
The Alpine-backed contender can now look forward to a fully funded drive in GB3 next year, with the same Rodin Motorsport team that has won numerous GB3 titles, and propelled her to the F1 Academy crown this year.
“It’s been a tougher season than people think," Pulling said. "Going into the year, I had no choice other than to win this. I’ve struggled financially in the past, and to get the prize for next year, I know it’s so early to be talking about next year, it makes me so happy and incredibly proud. I can’t thank everyone who has got me in this position, Alpine, Rodin, Rodin Cars, David [Dicker], everyone stood over there, I can’t thank them enough. There’s so many people in my corner, my family, all the sacrifices my dad has made, it’s a sigh of relief.
“I had the adrenaline pumping, I was like ‘right it’s on’ [after the start]. Maya [Weug] was not coming past, sorry! I really enjoyed it, I’ve lost a place or two at the start sometimes, so to do it when it counts, I knew it was important. I’m really proud of myself and I showed what I was made of in that race.
“It’s such a weight off my shoulders, I think every year I go into every winter wondering what I’m going to do next. It’s been me and my dad, and recently I managed to get the likes of Alpine and Rodin Cars really pushing me, they’ve all been in my corner and helped me get this far, and that will help for the next step. I’m going to go into next year as hungry as I have this year and really put the work in, and make the most of the opportunity. I can for once say I’ll leave no stone unturned!”