W Series
The W Series was publicly launched on 10 October 2018. It was created in response to the lack of female drivers progressing to the highest levels of motorsport.
The W Series has faced criticism since it was publicly announced, with opponents to the series highlighting fears that the category will serve to segregate female racers rather than promote their inclusion in established series.
Former Formula E and ex-Sauber F1 test driver Simona de Silvestro has suggested that the $1.5 million prize fund would have been 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."
The inaugural W Series Championship will be free to enter and drivers competing in the series will not be require to bring any sponsorship to fund their drive. It will offer a total prize fund of $1.5 million, with the series champion receiving a top prize fund of $500,000.
The series has the backing of a number of prominent members of the motorsport community, including fellow W Series chief and former F1 driver David Coulthard and F1 engineer Adrian Newey.
Races will be organised by the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC).
For a first season an 18-driver roster was announced, following a final selection test at Spanish circuit of Almeria. The 18 drivers were selected from the list of 28 who had made it through the initial assessment led by Dave Ryan in Austria in January.
The four-day test in Almeria marked the drivers' first opportunity to sample the series' Tatuus T-318 car.
The first 12 names on the grid were selected on the basis of the first three days of running, leaving the final day as a shoot-out for the remaining six places in the roster, as well as the four reserve driver slots.
W Series also revealed that from the next season drivers will be awarded Superlicence points with a view to a female driver potentially the Formula 1 grid in the future. The top 12 drivers in W Series this season will automatically qualify for next season.
Let's se who will race at first season of W Series.
W Series 2019 championship grid
 Jamie Chadwick, UK |
British F3, British GT (GT4 champion) Age: 20 First race: A karting race aged 12 at Little Rissington circuit Favourite track: Nurburgring Nordschleife Racing hero: Lewis Hamilton Proudest moment: Winning my first Formula 3 race Life ambition: To be a world champion |
 Sabre Cook, USA |
Road to Indy, US F4 Age: 24 First race: Kid kart (50 Comer) at Grand Junction Motor Speedway Favourite track: Karting: GJMS & Musselman Honda Circuit Car: Laguna Seca Racing hero: Ayrton Senna, Lyn St. James, Alan Rudolph, Alex Zanardi Proudest moment: Winning my first TAG World Championship in 2007, Winning the 2012 Pro Tour National Championship, and Winning the 2018 Infiniti Engineering Academy. Life ambition: To become an IndyCar driver and an F1 Race Engineer. |
 Marta Garcia, Spain |
Spanish F4 Age: 18 First race: Circuito de Karting Fuente Alamo (Murcia, Spain) Favourite track: Jerez, Spain. (formulas) and Ortona, Italy. (karting) Racing hero: Lewis Hamilton Proudest moment: Victory Troffeo Della Industria 2015 Life ambition: Get the challenges that I propose and learn and improve every day. |
 Megan Gilkes, Canada |
F1200 Canada Age: 17 First race: 2010 60cc Easykart Championship Barbados, finished second Favourite track: Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Mosport) Racing hero: Jackie Stewart Proudest moment: Qualifying on pole for the first time in a car, at Road Atlanta in the rain, against a two-time US national champion and several drivers who have won national-level championships Life ambition: To work in Formula 1 |
 Esmee Hawkey, UK |
Porsche Carrera Cup GB Age: 20 First race: My first race was a kart race at Blackbush in Surrey where I finished 1st Novice and 2nd Overall. Favourite track: Monza Racing hero: My father Proudest moment: My proudest moment was starting pole in Monza in Carrera Cup GB. Life ambition: To be a professional racing driver. |
 Jessica Hawkins, UK |
Mini Challenge Age: 23 First race: Cars - 2013 Clio cup at Rockingham- 2nd with fastest lap. Karting - 2005 at Sandown Park Favourite track: Snetterton Racing hero: Michael Schumacher Proudest moment: Winning the British Open Championship Life ambition: To win a race at Monaco at the highest level of motorsport |
 Shea Holbrook, USA |
Lamborghini Super Trofeo, America's SRO World Challenge Age: 28 First race: Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (first pro race) Favourite track: Watkins Glen Racing hero: Lyn St. James Proudest moment: When I win the W Series, winning the Long Beach Grand Prix or, marrying my husband Life ambition: Live life fearless – Fear is a state of mind, Will is an action taken. |
 Emma Kimilainen, Finland |
STCC Age: 29 First race: 1995 in Finland Favourite track: I have to be honest, I don't have one. I like every track. Racing hero: Ayrton Senna or Michael Schumacher Proudest moment: When I became a mother Life ambition: Being happy and fulfilling your ambitions and goals. |
 Miki Koyama, Japan |
Japanese F4 Age: 21 First race: Karting: APG TRY in 2003 Single Seater: FIA-F4 in 2015 Favourite track: Suzuka, Sugo Proudest moment: Winning the Kyojo Ladies Championship 3 years in a row Life ambition: Not to be an F1 driver, but also be successful |
 Sarah Moore, UK |
LMP3, Ginetta Junior (champion) Age: 25 First race: Wombwell Kart Circuit (Karts), Brands Hatch Indy (Cars, Ginetta Junior) Favourite track: Nordschleife (Nurburgring) Racing hero: Nigel Moore Proudest moment: Winning the Ginetta Junior Championship. (First female to have won a Ginetta Junior Race and Championship) Life ambition: To be a successful racing driver competing in ELMS and Le Mans 24hr |
 Tasmin Pepper, South Africa |
VW Engen Polo Cup Age: 28 First race: Aged 5 in go-karts Favourite track: Sepang in Malaysia, Killarney in South Africa Racing hero: Kimi Raikkonen and my father Proudest moment: Receiving my national colours Life ambition: To be a professional racing driver, and help other girls progress in the sport |
 Vicky Piria, Italy |
GP3, European F3 Open Age: 24 First race: Karting when I was 8 yrs old. Formula Renault 2.0 in 2009 at Misano Favourite track: Spa-Francorchamps Racing hero: Ayrton Senna Proudest moment: My first karting podium, it's always a special memory Life ambition: Professional Race Car Champion, to race in Le Mans 24 Hours |
 Alice Powell, UK |
GP3, Formula Renault UK (champion) Age: 25 First race: Reading kart club in cadets. In cars, Donnington Park in a Ginetta Junior Favourite track: Thruxton, UK Monaco, Europe Racing hero: Michael Schumacher Proudest moment: Becoming the first female to win a Formula Renault race Life ambition: Race! |
 Gosia Rdest, Poland |
Audi TT Cup, GT4 Age: 25 First race: Karting – Stary Kisielin – 2009 Formula – Silverstone – 2013 Cars – Red Bull Ring – 2013 Favourite track: Red Bull Ring, Hockenheimring Racing hero: Robert Kubica Proudest moment: Qualifying P1 at Hungaoring in GT4 European Series, class win in 24h of Dubai 2018 Life ambition: To be a role model for young drivers and to become a factory driver |
 Naomi Schiff, Belgium |
Formula Renault 2.0, GT4 European Age: 24 First race: Kart - 2007 Zwartkops Club Championship in Rotax Mini Max. Circuit - 2010 Formula VW at the Aldo Scribante race circuit in Port Elisabeth, South Africa F avourite track: Spa Francorchamps & Sepang Racing hero: Lewis Hamilton Proudest moment: Theres nothing quite like the feeling of winning a championship so im proud to have won the 2014 Clio Cup Asia Championship and the 2018 KTM one make series X-bow battle GT4 Championship Life ambition: To have a sustainable successful Career in Motorsports |
 Beitske Visser, Netherlands |
Formula Renault 3.5, GT4 European Age: 23 First race: 2000 Vernay Favourite track: Ascari Proudest moment: European championship KZ 2010 win in Varennes Life ambition: F1, FE and DTM |
 Fabienne Wohlwend, Liechtenstein |
Ferrari Europe Age: 21 First race: 2007 Swiss Karting Championship / 2016 Formula 4 Italian Championship Misano Favourite track: Imola, Spa Proudest moment: Winning the Ferrari World Final 2018 Life ambition: Professional Racing Driver |
 Caitlin Wood, Australia |
Blancpain GT Age: 21 First race: in Australia 2005 in go-karts at Manning Valley Kart Club. Favourite track: Bathurst or Spa-Francorchamps Racing hero: Leanne Tander - she is an Australian racing driver who has been an amazing mentor for me over the years. Proudest moment: So far probably our podium finish in GT3 in the 2017 Blancpain Sprint Series at Misano in Silver Cup or winning the inaugural Reiter Young Stars Championship in GT4 in 2016. |
 Sarah Bovy, Belgium |
Mainly competed in: Belgian Touring Car Championship, Blancpain GT Series, 24H Series 2012: 2nd in Belgian Racing Car Championship - Long Races - Silhouette ProEvo 2018: 2nd Total 24 Hours of Spa - Group N class |
 Vivien Keszthelyi, Hungary |
2016: Two-times Hungarian national touring car champion 2017: Audi TT Cup, The youngest Hungarian point scorer at the international level 2018: GT4 Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup, Rookie champion, absolute vice-champion 2019: F3 Asian Championship Winter Series, finished 13th |
 Stéphanie Kox, Netherlands |
2015: touring car racing - BMW M235i Championship champion, won the 24 hours of Zolder. 2016: winner 12 hours of Zandvoort at Audi TTRS KTM XBOW GT4 took double pole in first weekend competing in the XBOW Cup |
 Francesca Linossi, Italy |
2018: Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe - Pro-Am 2 podiums from 12 races 2017: Porsche Carrera Cup Italia 1 podium from 14 races 2016: Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo - Super GT3 |
W Series will hold a pre-season test at Lausitzring on April 14-16 2019, before it commence in the spring of 2019 with the six-round campaign, running in support of the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters), begins at Hockenheim on May 4-5.
| Round | Circuit | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hockenheimring, Germany | 4 -5 May |
| 2 | Circuit Zolder, Begium | 18 - 19 May |
| 3 | Misano World Circuit, Italy | 8 - 9 June |
| 4 | Norisring, Germany | 6 - 7 July |
| 5 | TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands | 20 - 21 July |
| 6 | Brands Hatch, Great Britain | 10 - 11 August |
W Series we will be running mechanically identical cars based on the recently launched Tatuus T-318, homologated by the FIA for use in Formula 3 competition, and powered by 1.8-litre turbocharged engines tuned by Autotecnica Motori, and equipped with a halo cockpit safety device.
CAR: Tatuus F3 T-318 Fully homologated to the latest FIA F3 2018 specification |
WEIGHT: 565 kg (1,246 lb) CHASSIS: Carbon-fibre monocoque ENGINE: 4-cylinder turbocharged 270hp engine tuned by Autotecnica Motori, Direct fuel injection ENGINE DISPLACEMENT: 1.8L (110 cu in) DOHC inline-4 POWER: 270 hp (201 kW) GEARBOX: Sadev SL-R 82 six speed gearbox with LSD and Magneti Marelli STEERIG WHEEL paddle shift gear change ELECTRONICS: ECU and data acquisition by Magneti Marelli SUSPENSION: Front: double wishbone with pushrods Rear: double wishbone with pushrods DAMPERS: Koni two way adjustable BRAKES: Brembo WHEELS: Front: OZ Aluminium 10″ x 13″ Rear: OZ Aluminium 12″ x 13″ |
The full prize breakdown for first seson is as follows:
1st place: $500,000
2nd place: $250,000
3rd place: $125,000
4th place: $100,000
5th place: $90,000
6th place: $80,000
7th place: $70,000
8th place: $60,000
9th place: $50,000
10th place: $40,000
11th place: $30,000
12th place: $25,000
13th place: $20,000
14th place: $15,000
15th, 16th, 17th and 18th places: $7500
Reserves: $7500
