Caitlin Wood
Caitlin Wood is belatedly inducted into the W-Series double race this weekend at the Circuit of The Americas after a passenger was denied entry to the United States.
The Russian teenage girl Irina Sidorkova competed at the end of the season, which will serve as the support category for the 17th round of Formula 1.
However, although she held a National Interest Exemption, she was unable to obtain a visa.
“I was denied a visa to the United States, even though, as a professional athlete, I have the status of an exception to national interests,” said Sidorkova on social media.
“First I was turned down by the US Embassy during an interview, and then nothing worked when the W Series, F1, and Texas Congressman McCaul’s office tried to somehow get it to work until yesterday. I really appreciate this help and am very grateful for it.
“This is happening for the first time in my life and my racing career. I miss the races and the opportunity to fight for the good points and the price that I wanted to invest in my training.
“I just want to say that I am proud to be a [Russian] Racing drivers and I will continue to race, whatever is necessary. “
Their absence opens the door for substitute driver Wood to return to a racing seat.
The Australian has made two appearances in Hungary and Spa so far this year, with the latter finishing fifth.
Sidorkova isn’t the only driver who struggled to travel to the US this weekend as Ferrari F1 star Charles Leclerc arrived after an interrupted trip.
“There was just one guy at Nice Airport who for some reason didn’t really know what a NIE was and I got stuck there,” Leclerc said.
“He only realized the NIE was okay a minute before the flight was due to close, but I didn’t have my passenger locator form so I had to stay in Nice.
“Anyway, it’s not a big deal. I could take a plane to New York with the same papers, which helped me visit the city for the first time. “
Sidorkova, who was on the podium in Austria this year, is guaranteed to be a member of the W Series Academy in 2022.
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