Garcia feels she's 'back on the map' after Norisring win
Marta Garcia says she feels she is 'back on the map' of junior single-seater racing after scoring her first W Series win at the Norisring last weekend.
The Spanish racer dominated last weekend's fourth round of the season at the Nuremberg street track, making a strong start from pole and keeping her pursuers at bay to secure her first-ever victory in single-seaters.
Garcia spent 2017 as a Renault Formula 1 junior before being dropped by the French marque after only a single season in Spanish F4, leaving her on the sidelines before the chance to be part of the inaugural W Series grid arose.
The 18-year-old says that makes every race she contests in the DTM-supporting championship even more important as she seeks to catch up with her more experienced rivals.
"At the start of the season my target was to be in the top five, and catch up on the experience I lost last year because I didn’t do any [car racing]," Garcia told Motorsport.com.
"I’m still trying to catch up, I’m still realising what’s better and what’s worse on the driving style, so it’s getting better each time.
"My last F4 race was in November 2017, and my first race this year was in May. So it was quite a long time [I was on the sidelines]. I needed to adapt again, I needed time.
"I’m still learning. Even if I won a race, I’m still learning and I’m still working out what is best. It takes time to get everything right and get used to it."
Asked if she felt being a frontrunner in the W Series has helped to put her back on the map after her spell in the wilderness, Garcia replied: "Yeah, I think so.
"The W Series gives all the drivers quite high visibility, I think, so it’s helping for people to know me, also the teams in DTM. If you win, it’s more heard about. So it also helps to find sponsors, or maybe a place in a team [in the future]."
Garcia admits her mind has already turned to what she will do beyond the end of her W Series campaign, which concludes next month at Brands Hatch.
"I’ve talked to my manager about doing some races in Formula Renault in the last part of the year, but we still don’t know yet," she said. "It’s just a possibility.
"And then next year it would be good to do another year of W Series and Formula Renault. That would be the plan. But I don’t know yet, maybe we will know at the end of the season."
Garcia's Norisring victory puts her within 23 points of series leader Jamie Chadwick with only two races left this season, and 13 behind second-placed Beitske Visser.
On her title prospects, Garcia said: "I can still win the championship. It’s difficult, but it’s possible. But I would be happy with third for my first year.
"Now I try to focus race-by-race, to win, and then we’ll see later."
Podium: Race winner Marta Garcia, second place Beitske Visser, third place Jamie Chadwick
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
Norisring W Series: Garcia scores maiden victory
W Series reveals breakdown of prize pot, 2020 season details
How W Series can confront its biggest enduring issue
Two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick finds herself in a predicament. The Williams F1 development driver has more than proven herself in the all-female series and has little to gain from returning. But where should she go next? And how will the series move forwards if she elects to take up her reserved slot on next year's grid? Whatever she decides, it poses important questions for the series' future
The nightmare season of a W Series title favourite
She came into 2021 as a W Series title contender, but Beitske Visser has had a frustrating season, marred by a horrific crash at Spa and floundering in 12th place in the drivers’ standings. After misfortune and on-track clashes, the Dutch driver wishes the season was just starting now
The rational brain of W Series' outside title bet
As the only mum in W Series, Emma Kimilainen has a different perspective than many of her rivals. After her swashbuckling drive to victory at a sodden Spa, the Finn now has a real chance of getting into the title fight, and can call on an approach that has been a boost through myriad past disappointments
How Powell is making the most of a second chance in W Series
After four years of making only irregular race appearances, Alice Powell had good reason to believe that her dreams of becoming a professional driver were over. But W Series has provided a second chance that she has firmly grasped, Powell's popular home win at Silverstone prompting the new series leader to look ahead to a bright future
Why Chadwick is taking nothing for granted ahead of W Series return
W Series is back this weekend after a year away. This time it’s supporting F1, and reigning champion Jamie Chadwick is up for the challenge of taking another title - but knows with higher stakes will come even more motivated opposition
Why a sabbatical doesn't spell disaster for W Series
W Series finally got off the ground in 2019 despite its critics and had expected to build on its momentum this season. Instead the COVID-19 crisis has put its plans on hold, but for the fledgling series it could prove a blessing in disguise
The one thing W Series needs in 2020 to continue its rise
The first season of the W Series can be considered a major motorsport success story, but at the same time certain elements of its philosophy were exposed as problems. For its second season, there's one issue in particular it needs to address
What W Series should look like in 2020 and beyond
While the maiden season of the W Series can be regarded as a success, it must now capitalise on its strong debut and make the most of its opportunity to cement a long-term future. Here's how it could do just that.