There are moments in a racing driver’s career that are measured in victories, championships and podiums.Then there are the moments that transcend the results sheet.For Jamie Chadwick, this was one of them.Daily Mail Sport was in Portugal as the 28-year-old climbed into the Williams FW47 at Portimao and became the first woman to drive a modern Williams Formula One car since Susie Wolff in 2015.Seven years after first joining the Williams Driver Academy, Chadwick finally got the opportunity she had once thought might never become reality.And, speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Sport after completing 32 laps of the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, she admitted the experience could ultimately sit at the very top of a career which already includes three consecutive W Series titles, victories in Indy NXT and the European Le Mans Series. Jamie Chadwick climbed into the Williams FW47 at Portimao and became the first woman to drive a modern Williams Formula One car since Susie Wolff in 2015 Seven years after first joining the Williams Driver Academy, Chadwick finally got the opportunity she had once thought might never become reality’I haven’t done my list of achievements yet, but once I’ve done it, I would imagine it will be right up there as number one,’ Chadwick said. ‘It’s not like I’m racing, so obviously, racing and winning is another feeling altogether.’But so few people get the chance. It’s the pinnacle of our sport. It’s such an extreme level in terms of the level of the sport at the moment. So yeah, it’s going to be pretty surreal and it’s certainly top until the next step.’The scale of the opportunity had not been lost on her before she even reached the circuit. Chadwick revealed she had deliberately tried not to get too excited after the prospect of the test had been discussed for some time.’It was spoken a bit about not that long ago, and then it kind of went down to the chances of 50-50,’ she said. ‘I try to manage expectations even now until I’ve actually driven. I’m not going to believe that it’s actually happening.’So yeah, I try to manage my expectations, but also enjoy it. It’s pretty surreal and it’s a dream come true for sure.’Then came the reality.After simulator running, neck training and a seat fit at Williams’ Grove headquarters, Chadwick arrived at Portimao and was finally faced with the FW47.’The first time I got into the car for the seat fit, it was pretty surreal,’ she said. ‘I think when you see the steering wheel, you see the vision that you have when you play a computer game. That first feeling was unbelievable.’But nothing compared with the moment the car left the garage.’The first drive out of the garage and the first lap, that was something else, just the sheer acceleration,’ she recalled. ‘Even the feeling in the pit lane felt crazy enough.’Chadwick has driven some formidable machinery during her career, including IndyCar and a Hypercar. Speaking to Daily Mail Sport after completing 32 laps of the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, she admitted the experience could ultimately sit at the very top of a careerThe Williams, however, was operating in another world.’I think the F1 car sits where I expected it to, and that it is fully in a league of its own,’ she said. ‘I’ve been lucky enough to drive a few different amazing cars, IndyCar, Hypercar, but nothing really compares to what this car does and what it’s able to do on a lap like Portimao.’Just in terms of the sheer downforce, the grip, the straight-line speed. It’s phenomenal.’There was another, more personal, detail that followed Chadwick around on the day.For years, she has written the word ‘confidence’ on the inside of her racing gloves – a reminder to back herself whenever doubts creep in behind the wheel. It started during her W Series days.’I did it for my last W Series race in Austin in I think 2022, maybe 2021,’ she explained. ‘I always lacked a bit of confidence in the car, and for me, a lot of performance comes from confidence in a race car.’So I wrote confidence to remind myself to be confident to do what I needed to do every time I looked down.’She did not have the word written on her gloves for this particular test though. Perhaps she no longer needed it.’Maybe today I should have had it,’ Chadwick laughed. ‘But yeah, I think it’s seeped into my skin now. It’s ingrained in me now.’I’m just confident. I know what I am capable of. I don’t need that reminder.’That confidence has been built over years of experience – much of it alongside Williams.Chadwick joined the team’s Driver Academy in 2019 and has since progressed through different roles, while continuing to compete at the highest levels of motorsport.She is now an ambassador and F1 Academy Adviser for the team, giving her a unique perspective on what it takes to reach the very top. Chadwick used to write ‘confidence’ on her racing gloves to inspire her while driving The 28-year-old’s CV already includes three consecutive W Series titles, victories in Indy NXT and the European Le Mans Series’I think the level Formula One teams operate at is such a high level. You learn a huge amount,’ she said. ‘The infrastructure of a Formula One team, the inner workings. It’s not just about one individual. There’s multiple departments, multiple people, all kind of follow suit.’I think how that operates, the level at which it operates, the technicality of a Formula One car in itself, everything, and then you throw that into a sporting setting is incredible.’So I’ve been very lucky to be a part of it, and I’ve learned a huge amount over the years.’Her test was also significant because of what it represented beyond Chadwick herself.She became the first woman to drive a modern Williams F1 car since Wolff’s 2015 test, underlining the progress made in creating pathways for female drivers while also highlighting just how difficult the final step remains.Chadwick believes one of the biggest obstacles is simply the size of the talent pool.’I think the reason we’ve not seen a woman in over 50 years is a few reasons,’ she said. ‘One is the talent pool is just so small. This is changing, but still, I think when you start in the sport, there’s so few women, and so naturally to filter through to the pinnacle, there’s only 22 seats in Formula One.’It’s such a small amount that it takes a lot more, I think, to be getting into the sport.’But she believes that is changing. F1 Academy, grassroots karting initiatives and the growing involvement of Formula One teams are helping identify and develop female talent at an earlier age.’Hopefully, eventually we’re going to see some women racing in Formula One,’ Chadwick said.And perhaps that is why the significance of her day at Portimao goes beyond the 32 laps she completed.She can now take the experience of actually driving a modern F1 car directly to the young women hoping to follow her.’I now think my feeling of the sport at the top level is that much greater,’ she said.’I better understand what it takes to be a Formula 1 driver, and that’s what a lot of these young drivers have aspirations of, and now I can feel a little bit closer to that.’For Chadwick herself, though, the little girl who first climbed into a kart could never have imagined where it would lead.She has previously spoken about getting into karting after going to a party with her brother Ollie – initially driven by the very simple desire to beat him.Years later, she is a three-time champion, an Indy NXT and Le Mans race winner, a Williams ambassador and now a woman who has driven a Formula One car.And yet there is still one driving-related problem she has apparently failed to solve.’Still struggle with parking,’ she admitted with a laugh.’I wouldn’t want to show you the state of the rims on my car. It’s not even the rims. I’ve done even worse than that.’I think I’ve done a few corners as well. So yeah, it’s just parking, reversing. I mean, it’s the stereotype, isn’t it? But yeah, it’s not good. It’s bad.’Parallel parking? Bay parking?’Honestly, all of it,’ she said. ‘Trying just not to hit anything. So then I think I panic so much about hitting other cars as well. And yeah, it’s like when I get into those situations, I’m either fine and I nail it, or it’s terrible.’The irony is hard to miss.A woman capable of controlling a Formula One car around one of Europe’s most demanding circuits at extraordinary speeds, but still liable to panic when asked to reverse into a parking space.Yet perhaps that is what makes the significance of the day all the greater.Because beneath the history, the technology and the Williams badge was simply a driver living out a dream she once never expected to come true.’Big Jamie’s pretty overwhelmed,’ she said when asked what the younger version of herself would make of it. ‘It’s insane. It’s a dream come true more than anything else, and very surreal.’I mean, to anyone that’s not driven a Formula One car, it’s hard to put into words just what that feeling is like.’It’s phenomenal. It’s something so few people get the chance to do, and yeah, it’s unbelievable.’And for the next generation of girls watching her do it, Chadwick has one simple message.’Don’t let anything put you off,’ she stressed. ‘If there’s a tiny bit of today’s feeling that you can feel in the future, then it’s absolutely worth it.’Days like today are unbelievable, and yeah, I think it’s possible.’I cannot wait for the day that we see a young female driver line up on the Formula One grid.’READ MORE: REVEALED: Why Christian Horner could land dream Ferrari role, how Bernie Ecclestone is pushing his cause, Geri’s view on Italy move and the Prancing Horse chief under pressure – VOICE OF THE PADDOCK