Sports.com Racing Women Nations Trophy Race Report

Donington Park, 20–21 September 2025

Sports.com Nations Trophy Winner Jorden Dolischka with Sports.com Media President and actor Tamer Hassan.

Eight Racing Women competitors from seven nations lined up at Donington Park last weekend for the Sports.com Nations Trophy, supported by Radical Motorsport, DW Racing and Valour Racing. Across three days of mixed weather and demanding race conditions, the drivers demonstrated resilience, skill, and determination.

The Nations Trophy was structured around teams of two with drivers splitting the racing duties across the weekend. One driver contested Sprint Race One while the other took part in Sprint Race Two, before both shared the car for the Endurance race through a mandatory pitstop and driver change.

Lena Galyó of Hungary and Maral Ghazarian of Switzerland teamed up in the #70 Valour Racing entry, while the Team Ireland duo of Hanna Celsie and Laura O’Connell took to the track in the #40 Valour Racing. DW Racing fielded Team Nordic in their #30 car, consisting of Swedish racer Michelle Sundnäs and Norway’s Johanna Thrane, while Austria’s Jorden Dolischka and Luxembourg’s Nathalie Neumann joined forces in the #20 car.

From left to right: Laura O'Connell (Ireland), Johanna Flatabø Thrane (Norway), Jorden Dolischka (Austria), Maral Ghazarian (Switzerland), Chloe Wilkinson (England), Becky Frankland (England), Nathalie Neumann (Luxembourg), Lena Galyo (Hungary), Hanna Celsie (Ireland), Michelle Sundnäs (Sweden).

Running in Thursday’s rain-soaked test sessions was interrupted by multiple red flags and off-track moments, but clearer skies on Friday offered the eight Racing Women a chance for cleaner runs to better prepare for the trio of races.

Qualifying took place early on Saturday morning with Dolischka setting the benchmark time of 1:32.925. Galyó was second fastest of the Racing Women with a 1:36.265, just five tenths ahead of Ghazarian. Neumann followed with a 1:38.802, with Thrane, O’Connell, Sundnäs , and Celsie rounding out the times in the brief, 25 minute qualifying session.

Sprint Race One started a few hours later with Dolischka, Galyó, O’Connell and Sundnäs taking part, with their teammates set to race in Sunday’s Sprint Race Two. Although race was initially dry, the rain clouds looming over Donington Park soon introduced themselves and brought sprinkling rain into play for the final section of the race, triggering spins across the field and bringing out the safety car. Dolischka made rapid progress into the top six before a spin dropped her to P15, however she still set the fastest Racing Woman lap of 1:33.533.

On Sunday morning it was time for Neumann, Thrane, Celsie, and Ghazarian to take to the track under blue skies. Despite the sunshine, the circuit remained slippery from the cold humid morning, and much of the race took place behind the safety car. Thrane, still recovering from a Friday testing accident, started the race from the pit lane and endured two further spins that left her unclassified. Neumann emerged as the top Racing Women finisher, recording the session’s fastest lap among the group.

After a break, it was time for the Endurance Race which saw Dolischka lead the Racing Women pack with a strong opening stint from P8 to P6 before handing the car over to teammate Neumann for the final leg. The duo scored a third place finish in the Team class of the Radical Cup UK’s final round.

Jorden Dolischka and Nathalie Neumann accepting their 3rd place Team award at the Radical Cup UK Round 6.

Ghazarian showcased good speed before a gear selection problem forced her to retire, putting an end to her and teammate Galyó’s weekend, who until this point had been a strong contender in 2nd place of the Nations Trophy, only a few points behind Dolischka. Team Ireland, featuring O’Connell and Celsie, finished just one position behind Dolischka and Neumann, while an early end to the weekend was on the cards for Team Nordic who were unable to start the race following recurring problems throughout the weekend.

Points were awarded to drivers individually based on their fastest laps in qualifying, their sprint race performance, and their endurance pace. The combined results proved Austria’s Jorden Dolischka to be the clear and deserved Sports.com Nations Trophy winner: she consistently set the quickest laps of all Racing Women competitors, impressing both teams and coaches.

President of Sports.com Media, Tamer Hassan, presented commemorative medals to all participants before awarding the Sports.com Nations Trophy to Dolischka.

By winning the Nations Trophy, Dolischka has secured a funded drive in the Radical Gulf Cup season opener at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, on 1–2 November 2025, where Valour Racing will be running her car and supporting her drive with professional race support.

“I’ve had the most challenging four days of my career, with the track conditions changing so much in the English weather. But now I’m proud to be the winner of the Sports.com Racing Women Nations Trophy. It’s been an amazing weekend, and to have my trophy presented by Tamer Hassan was a real privilege. Now I’ll turn my focus to preparing for the opening round of the Radical Gulf Cup in Abu Dhabi this November.” said Dolischka.

Racing Women founder and CEO Graeme Glew added:

“It’s been a testing weekend for all the girls, but they all learned something. Conditions were challenging at the start of the weekend, but we ended on a high with a very worthy winner who will receive her prize in November at Abu Dhabi, where she will race in the opening round of the Gulf Radical Cup.”

From left to right: Tamer Hassan (President of Sports.com Media), Johanna Thrane, Michelle Sundnas, Lena Galyo, Hanna Celsie, Laura O'Connell, Nathalie Neumann, Maral Ghazarian, Jorden Dolischka.

Media Release issued 12:00pm BST, 21 September 2025 For enquiries contact: dori@f1.co.uk