A new dawn in motorsport – a women’s single-seater motor racing series

by Petrol Mum

Introducing the W Series; an all-new ground-breaking free-to-enter single-seater motor racing series for women drivers only, with a prize fund of US$1.5 million (US$1,500,000).

The inaugural W Series season will commence in the spring of 2019 and will encompass a number of races run on some of the best and most famous circuits in Europe, most of which have staged Formula 1 races for many decades. In forthcoming seasons the W Series schedule is set also to include races in America, Asia and Australia.

Tatuus T-318 Formula 3 cars, powered by identical Autotecnica Motori inline four-cylinder 1.8-litre turbocharged engines, using Sadev six-speed sequential gearboxes, fitted with HALO safety devices. Photograph by W Series

W Series will provide identical cars for 18-20 drivers in season one (2019), all of whom will have entered and passed a rigorous pre-selection programme/examination involving on-track testing, simulator appraisal, technical engineering tests, fitness trials etc. The successful applicants will then be given a thorough training programme centring on driving techniques, simulator exposure, technical engineering approaches, fitness, media skills etc, all of it carried out by a group of experts with decades of Formula 1 experience, meticulously recruited for the purpose: David Coulthard (multiple Grand Prix winner); Adrian Newey (the most successful Chief Design Engineer in modern Formula 1 history); Dave Ryan (40 years’ Formula 1 experience in team management with the McLaren and Manor Formula 1 teams, as well having run his own GT racing team Von Ryan); Matt Bishop (15 years’ experience as a journalist and editor in Formula 1, followed by 10 years’ experience heading up McLaren’s communications, content, media and PR operation in Formula 1).

Catherine Bond the Chief Executive Officer of the W Series began to develop the concept while at home on maternity leave after having her first baby. Catherine was sports lawyer and corporate financier for the first 25 years of her career and after almost three years she’s enormously excited to be finally announcing the inauguration of W Series.

“There are just too few women competing in single-seaters series at the moment. W Series will increase that number very significantly in 2019, thereby powerfully unleashing the potential of many more female racing drivers. W Series drivers will become global superstars – inspirational role models for women everywhere – and every organisation, every company, every sponsor and indeed every single person who helps W Series’ winners and champions achieve those ground-breaking successes will be able to celebrate their part in it, publicly, to lasting worldwide acclaim,” said Catherine.

At the heart of W Series’ DNA is the firm belief that women can compete equally with men in motorsport. However, an all-female series is essential in order to force greater female participation. W Series is therefore a mission-driven competition, the aim of which is not only to provide exciting racing for spectators and viewers on a global scale, but also to equip its drivers with the experience and expertise with which they may progress their careers, racing and honing their skills in W Series before eventually graduating to existing high-level mainstream racing series.

The drivers
After a rigorous pre-selection process involving on-track testing, simulator appraisal, technical engineering tests, fitness trials etc, involving the best, fastest and most successful female racing drivers in the world today, 18-20 successful applicants will compete in the inaugural W Series, starting in the spring of 2019.

The car
The cars will all be identical Tatuus T-318 Formula 3 cars, powered by identical Autotecnica Motori inline four-cylinder 1.8-litre turbocharged engines, using Sadev six-speed sequential gearboxes, fitted with HALO safety devices.

The circuits
The circuits will be some of the best and most famous in Europe, most of which have staged Formula 1 races for many decades.

The prize money
W Series will be free to enter for all its drivers. In addition, significant prize monies will be awarded. Out of a total prize fund of US$1.5 million (US$1,500,000), the overall W Series victor will scoop a pay-out of US$500,000, and there will be prize money awarded all the way down to 18th place in the final standings.

For more information check out the W Series website.

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