Formula 1 has been the pinnacle of motorsport and has been adored by fans of all genders.
But this sport has been very difficult to get into especially for women as there never were any female racing drivers in any top racing series around the globe.
That is unfair to the female fans and young women around the globe, who also deserve a chance to drive fast in the fastest cars in the world, and compete to win. Hence, came the W series, an all-female racing series in the Formula Racing series, which began in 2019 and went on till 2022.
When and how it all began?
In 2018, due to the lack of any women drivers in any form of major racing series, the idea of W series was brought to life. Scottish businessman Sean Wadsworth was the main financier and Catherine Bond Muir, was the CEO. Dave Ryan, former racing director for the McLaren F1 team, was the series Race Director.
The W series featured Tatuus – Alfa Romeo F3 T318 for all drivers, to maintain a fair playing field for all drivers. The first season of the W series began in 2019, with a total of 6 rounds in the entire season.
Two rounds were held in Germany and the rest in other European countries.
Before the season started, 61 drivers were shortlisted to be vetted to race. But only 54 drivers showed up.
Out of these 28 were further shortlisted, for the final list to be comprised of 18 drivers and 2 reserve drivers.
The W series proved to be very successful in its endeavour to promote women drivers
Source- TheGaurdian (Instagram)
The very first season in 2019 was won by the one and only Jamie Chadwick.
Although the first season had no teams as the entire 20 cars were run by Hitech Grand Prix (currently Hitech TGR). But from the second season, which was held in 2021, as COVID caused a year gap, Double R Racing replaced Hitech as the technical partner.
In the same year, the racing series was opened up to sponsors as nine teams with two cars each would run in the championship.
Sponsors like Puma, The Bunker an American car club, Forbes Magazine, and British e-sports team Veloce were attracted to the series and ran their own liveries, while all other teams ran with the general W series livery.
Then, in 2022, the team system was retained, which brought in newer sponsors like Caitlyn Jenner, Bristol Street Motors, a cryptocurrency Quantfury, and NFT called CortDAO.
In 2020, the season cancelled due to COVID, 6 new recruits were introduced. In 2022, 5 rookies joined the ranks of drivers.
The W series cemented the bravery and speed of female drivers as they raced their hearts out on the track in those three seasons of the single-seater series.
The W series has been the backbone of all current female centric racing series like the FIA Formula Academy series.
W series left a lasting impact in the world of motorsports
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The W series sadly saw its demise in 2022. The W series faced huge financial losses due to sponsors still owing money to the creditors and with that came a cancellation of the last three races of the 2022 championship.
The CEO had reassured the media that W series would be back on its feat by the nest year but unfortunately the debt was far greater than the profit for the series to continue.
Bringing forth other racing series – The FIA Formula Academy
Despite the demise of the W series, other racing series like the FIA Formula Academy was initiated and brought into life because of the influence the W series had on the world.
The W series had acted as the first cry in the world of motorsport, a harbinger for proper funded and sponsored female racing series at the Formula level.
Alice Powell, the first female racing driver to win a Formula Renault Championship had lost all hopes of racing because of lack of funding and sponsors.
But the W series gave her another chance. She said, “In terms of encouraging more girls into the sport, well, W Series has changed that for good.”
Drivers like Lia Block, daughter of esteemed legend Ken Block, Abbi Pulling, the W series all three seasons winner Jamie Chadwick, and so many more women were given a chance at a proper career in racing.
The F1 Academy would not have begun in 2023 if not for the huge push given to female racing series by the W series.
But what’s interesting is to ponder over just what might happen now to a women’s only racing series now that the W series is no longer in motion?