REVERSE GRID RACE: Westcott dominates from start to finish to take maiden win in Zandvoort

Payton Westcott survived the race start and two Safety Car restarts to take her first-ever F1 ACADEMY race win, leading with a dominant performance in the Zandvoort Reverse Grid Race.

Alba Larsen gained five places to achieve her first F1 ACADEMY podium finish in second. Nina Gademan enjoyed a trip to the rostrum at her home event, securing a double podium for her MP Motorsport team.

The Mercedes driver started on pole for the first time after Zoe Florescu was disqualified from Qualifying after her car was found to be in breach of the Technical Regulations. Making the most of it, Westcott got a textbook start, putting a gap between herself and Megan Bruce.

Rachel Robertson and Nina Gademan went side-by-side behind the two frontrunners, with Gademan fighting her way past the PUMA driver and then quickly making a challenge and overtaking Bruce, moving into second place.

At the back of the grid, Standings leader Alisha Palmowski stalled off the line but eventually got going and joined the back of the grid, while Mathilda Paatz also had an issue at the race start.

On Lap 2, Natalia Granada hit the wall after trying to overtake Emma Felbermayr into Turn 3, bringing out the Safety Car as they recovered the Sephora driver’s car.

Westcott held onto the lead during the Safety Car restart on Lap 4, with Alba Larsen, Bruce and Felbermayr finding themselves in a three-way battle for third into Turn 1. Felbermayr was on the inside and moved into fourth place with Larsen in fifth and Bruce dropping down to sixth. The TAG Heuer driver also found herself immediately under pressure from Esmee Kosterman, with the LEGO Racing driver following her MP Motorsport teammate through.

By Lap 6, Westcott was 1.6s clear of Gademan with the Mercedes driver continuing to extend the gap out in front.

Larsen continued making her way through the grid, battling with Felbermayr and then moved into third place with a brave overtake around the outside into Turn 1 on Robertson.

A brief scond Safety Car was brought out on Lap 9 after a collision between Jade Jacquet and her teammate Lisa Billard left the Williams driver in the gravel.

Westcott held on and once again with a great restart, while Larsen locked up into Turn 1 but the Ferrari driver managed to pull off the lunge up the inside of Gademan for P2.

Larsen instantly caught Westcott up ahead, challenging her for the race lead. Felbermayr and Robertson continued to battle, with the PUMA driver getting nudged on to the gravel, allowing Kosterman through into fourth.

Ella Lloyd was also making moves from P11 on the grid, climbing into sixth place. The McLaren driver wasn't done, closing on the back of Robertson and finding her own way through into fifth.

Out front, Westcott looked untroubled as she took the chequered flag in P1 for the first time and added the fastest lap bonus point to her tally. Larsen and Gademan completed a double podium for MP Motorsport.

Kosterman bagged herself her first points of the season in P4, followed by Lloyd, Robertson and Bruce. Felbermayr was eighth, but dropped to P13 after receiving a five-second penalty for contact with Robertson. This promoted Ava Dobson to the final point on offer in P8.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Palmowski will have her sights set on victory number four when the Standings leader starts on pole for the Feature Race. Lights go out at 10:30 local time (UTC+2) on Sunday.