W Series (championship)

The W Series was publicly launched on 10 October 2018. Rumours about the creation of a female-only racing series had begun to circulate in November 2017.[2] It was created in response to the lack of female drivers progressing to the highest levels of motorsport, particularly Formula 1.[3]

The series has the backing of a number of prominent members of the motorsport community, including former F1 driver David Coulthard and engineer Adrian Newey. For the inaugural season all cars were operated by Hitech GP.[4]

The 2019 W Series was the inaugural season.

In early 2020 the calendar for the 2020 W Series was announced.[5] The initial drivers' list confirmed that the top twelve finishers from the inaugural championship in 2019 were automatically qualified to return for the 2020 series.[6] The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] Due to the pandemic a series of virtual races were held instead, the 2020 W Series Esports League.[8]

The 2021 W Series will support 8 races in the 2021 Formula One World Championship.[9]

Alice Powell leads Emma Kimiläinen and Beitske Visser at the 2019 W Series Brands Hatch round.

The series features eighteen female racers from around the globe, plus two reserve drivers. The drivers were selected through a selection process that began with fifty-four participants.[10]

The 2019 championship consists of six races, all in Europe.[11]

The title of 2019 W Series Champion will be awarded to the competitor with the highest number of points from all qualifying rounds run less any penalty points incurred. If two or more drivers finish the season with the same number of points, the higher place in the series shall be awarded to the driver with the most race wins. If the number of races wins is the same, it will then go on the number of second places finishes, then third-place finishes and so on.

On 30 January 2020 the series announced the breakdown of FIA Super Licence points would be attributed for the top eight finishers in the upcoming season. The series has been allocated a scoring system of 15-12-10-7-5-3-2-1 by the FIA, which puts it on a par with the NASCAR Cup, Indy Lights, Formula Renault Eurocup, Euroformula Open, Super Formula Lights, Australian Supercars and the WTCR.

The 15 points for the champion is fewer than is awarded for winning Formula Regional and Asian F3, two series run in same machinery as W Series.[12]

The Tatuus–Alfa Romeo F3 T-318 car of Sabré Cook is pushed into the paddock.

The W Series features mechanically identical cars based on the recently launched Tatuus–Alfa Romeo F3 T-318, homologated by the FIA for use in Formula 3 in Formula Regional European Championship, powered by Autotecnica Motori-tuned Alfa Romeo 1.8-litre turbocharged engines, and equipped with a halo cockpit safety device.[13]

• Chassis construction: Carbon-fibre monocoque
• Engine displacement: 1,750 cc (107 cu in) DOHC inline-4
• Aspiration: Single-turbocharged
• Fuel delivery: Direct fuel injection
• Fuel capacity: 45.5 litres (12 US gallons)
• Fuel: Aral Ultimate 102 RON unleaded
• Weight: 565 kg (1,246 lb)
• Power output: 270 hp (201 kW)
• Width: 1,850 mm (73 in)
• Wheelbase: 2,900 mm (114 in)
• Gearbox: Sadev 6-speed paddle-shift gearbox + 1 reverse
• Steering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinion

The inaugural W Series Championship is free to enter; competitors are not required to bring any sponsorship.[14]

The championship offers a total prize fund of $1.5 million, with the series champion receiving a top prize of $500,000, and the remaining $1 million being divided among the rest of the drivers.[15]

W Series race coverage is available on Channel 4 in the UK. The show is presented by long-time F1 journalist and sports presenter Lee McKenzie. In season one Claire Cottingham was the series' lead race commentator, with former Formula One drivers David Coulthard and Allan McNish in co-commentary roles and both Ted Kravitz and Amy Dargan acting as pit-lane reporters.

W Series races are live-streamed on Facebook, YouTube and/or Twitter in countries without television broadcasts.[16]

The W Series has faced criticism since it was publicly announced, with opponents of the series asserting that the category will segregate female racers rather than promote their inclusion in established series.[17]

British IndyCar Series driver Pippa Mann responded to the series’ announcement on Twitter, saying "What a sad day for motorsport. Those with funding to help female racers are choosing to segregate them as opposed to supporting them. I am deeply disappointed to see such a historic step backwards take place in my life time."[18][19]

Mann's views on segregation were echoed by Charlie Martin who stated "This series is founded on segregation, and while it may create opportunities for some female drivers, it sends a clear message that segregation is acceptable. We don’t discriminate in sport based on race, so it is particularly jarring that we feel it is acceptable to do so based on gender in 2018. As racers, we want to compete against the best drivers – regardless of age, race, sexual orientation or gender – and prove we are the best at what we do."[20][21]

Former Formula E and ex-Sauber F1 Test Driver Simona de Silvestro has suggested that the $1.5 million prize fund would be better invested in a scholarship system to support the development of talent across a wider range of motorsport disciplines. "If there’s really that much money going into the series, there are a few girls that have been pretty competitive in junior series. It seems like everyone is just struggling to get the shot. If you look at a Red Bull affiliation or a Mercedes affiliation, somehow these kids always get into the best teams and then they’re winning. I think, personally, it would have been better to do something like the Red Bull programme and make sure some girls get an opportunity on a really good team."[22]

Claire Williams, at that time deputy team principal of the Williams Formula One team, was initially critical of the series and felt it was analogous to segregation. However, she later retracted this and praised the series for promoting women in motorsports.[23]

• Formula Woman

Wikimedia Commons has media related to W Series.

• Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile
• Tatuus
• BRSCC
• W Series championship website