Racing driver Jade Edwards has announced that she will be competing in the 2021 British Touring Car Championship.
The British driver has secured a seat with the independent BTC Racing team, driving a Honda Civic Type R.
Jade will become one of only a handful of female drivers to race a full season in the BTCC. She will become the first to do so since Fiona Leggate in 2007.
Major opportunity for 2021
Jade undertook one race weekend in the BTCC during 2020, contesting the Silverstone rounds of the championship for the Power Maxed Racing team.
She made a strong impression with race fans during three eventful races. This was despite her Vauxhall Astra being hampered by maximum success ballast.
A full season will hopefully allow Jade to fully demonstrate her abilities in the ultra-competitive series. BTC Racing-prepared cars took several wins during 2020, and saw Michael Crees secure the Jack Sears Trophy.
The team will retain a three-car roster for 2021, with Jade lining up alongside Josh Cook and Michael Crees.
Motorsport in the blood
Edwards has competed in various levels of motorsport since 2006. This has included the British GT Championship, and the Renault Clio Cup UK series.
Her father, Jim Edwards Jr., was the 2000 Renault Clio Cup UK champion, whilst her grandfather won the 1979 Renault UK 5 TS Championship.
Jade holds the record for being the first female driver to take an outright win in an Aston Martin. As a qualified ARDC driver coach, she was also responsible for training Jonny Vegas on the ITV show DRIVE.
In 2018, Edwards was subject to a sponsorship scam, which left her without funding to complete the Clio Cup season. A social media campaign resulted in new sponsors being found to allow her to keep racing.
A later start for the 2021 season
The Northamptonshire-based driver will at least have longer to prepare for the 2021 BTCC season to begin.
A revised calendar has been published by series organiser, TOCA, delaying the first rounds by five weeks. It is hoped that such a move will increase the chances of spectators being able to attend races in person.
Thruxton will now host the opening rounds on 9 May 2021, with nine further race weekends following.
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