Your Complete Guide to the W-Series 2021

This weekend, the W-Series single-seater championship returns with a race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

With a mission to promote female racing drivers, the W-Series hopes that women will compete in Formula 1 in the near future.

We have all the information you need about the all-female W series.

What is the W series?

The W-Series is the world’s first all-female single-seater motorsport competition.

It was launched in 2018 to promote the best female drivers in motorsport, with the ultimate goal of creating the first female Formula 1 world champion.

In an opening season in 2019, British driver Jamie Chadwick was crowned champion.

After the 2020 season was postponed due to the coronavirus, expectations for this year’s W-Series are higher than ever.

Does motorsport need an all-female championship in 2021?

The W Series organizers believe that an all-female competition is required to bring the best female drivers into Formula One. Gender championship is seen as the most effective way to do this.

Whatever your opinion, there is no denying that female drivers are underrepresented in top-class motorsport. For example, only five women have participated in Formula 1 races since the championship began in 1950. The last woman to actually start a Grand Prix was Lella Lombardi – in 1976!

Although other series like IndyCar and NASCAR have seen younger and more regular female contestants, there is still a clear gender imbalance in motorsport.

Participation in the W series rewards the best-placed athletes with points for receiving an FIA Super license. These points are required to drive in Formula 1.

What impact did the W-Series have in 2019?

Former racing drivers have moved up the motorsport ladder in the W series.

After winning the W-Series in 2019, Jamie Chadwick became a development driver for the Williams Racing F1 team. In addition to taking part in the 2021 W-Series to defend her title, Chadwick also competes in the new Extreme E championship.

Jess Hawkins has also come closer to Formula 1. She is now the driver ambassador for the Aston Martin F1 team and supports them on race weekends. Appearances in the British Touring Car Championship have also been added to her résumé.

British rider Esmee Hawkey won a championship title in 2020. Hawkey won the Pro-Am class in the prestigious Porsche Carrera Cup GB and drives a Lamborghini Huracan at the German Touring Car Masters 2021.

Beitske Visser finished second in the 2019 W series. Since then, she has participated in the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours and will take part in the 2021 World Endurance Championship.

What happened to the W-Series in 2020?

Like many motorsport championships, the W-Series was also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. After consulting with various partners, it was decided to postpone the real W series races to 2021.

Instead, the W-Series turned attention to a virtual sim racing esports competition for 2020. Ten races reserved for female drivers were held throughout the summer.

The 2020 W Series Esports League, broadcast on YouTube and BBC iPlayer, was won by Dutch driver Beitske Visser.

How were the W-Series drivers selected in 2021?

The twelve best drivers in the 2019 W Series were automatically eligible to start again the following season.

For the rest of the grid, a three-day driver test was held on the Almeria circuit. Almost 40 applicants were evaluated on the basis of lap times and data analysis, which reduced the number to eight drivers who came on the starting grid.

With the cancellation of the W-Series 2020, the drivers who had qualified for it were invited to compete in the 2021 season.

Who are the UK contenders for the 2021 W series?

Although 12 nationalities are represented in the W-Series in 2021, British drivers occupy five of the coveted 18 seats.

First W-Series Champion Jamie Chadwick returns to defend her title in 2021. She was the first female driver to win a British GT Championship and the first woman to win a British Formula 3 race.

Esmee Hawkey has developed rapidly in the motorsport ranks. She made it from the Ginetta Junior series to winning the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Pro Am class in just five years.

Alice Powell became the first female driver to win a Formula Renault race and won the Asian Formula Renault Championship in 2014. In addition to participating in the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, she has developed into an accomplished TV commentator.

As Driver Ambassador for the Aston Martin F1 Team, Jess Hawkins has an extensive motorsport résumé behind her. From stunt work to setting a Guinness World Record for driving the fastest lawnmower, she’s done it all.

Yorkshire based Sarah Moore has competed in multiple championships. She was the first woman to win the Ginetta Junior Championship and the Britcar Endurance Championship.

Abbie Eaton admitted to having been “initially skeptical” of the W-series. However, the GT racer and test driver for Amazon’s The Grand Tour was drawn in by the competitive level of racing. This year she will also drive in the GT Cup championship in 2021.

What cars do you use in the W series?

All drivers use Tatuus F3 T-318 single-seater racers of the same type. Built according to FIA F3 rules, it has a 270 hp 1.8 liter turbo engine and a sequential six-speed gearbox.

Slick tires are used, and the cars also have adjustable aerodynamic fenders and spoilers. As in Formula 1, a HALO safety device is installed above the open cockpit.

Where do the W series races take place?

For 2021, the W-Series has secured a prestigious place that will support eight rounds of the Formula 1 World Championship.

This means that the drivers share a paddock with F1 stars and compete on the same tracks as them all year round.

After a slight change in the calendar, the first race of the season will take place at the Red Bull Ring, with the championship ending in Mexico City.

What is the format for a W-Series weekend?

On the W-Series race weekends, the drivers complete a 30-minute practice session on Friday, followed by qualifying later in the day.

The race itself takes place on Saturday afternoon and lasts around 30 minutes.

As in Formula 1, the top ten finishers will each receive championship points.

How will teams work in the W-Series in 2021?

In a last-minute update before the first race this weekend, the organizers announced a new team format for the 2021 season.

Before moving to a full team-based championship in 2022, seven partner teams will be created this year. Two “home teams” will pick up the remaining drivers.

Interest from existing motorsport teams, brands like Puma and high net worth individuals will bring additional money to the championship.

The move to launch teams is not intended to change the way the cars are prepared and built. Instead, the biggest difference will come from the introduction of new liveries with third-party sponsorship.

An unofficial team championship will be tested in the course of 2021 and, if successful, will be extended for future seasons.

How can I watch the W series on TV?

The W series will be broadcast live on Channel 4 in 2021. After football, the W-Series was the most watched women’s sport in the UK in 2019.

The W series TV team has been expanded for 2021. Lee McKenzie, David Coulthard and Ted Kravitz all return from the first W-Series in 2019.

You will be accompanied by Anna Woolhouse as presenter, Amy Reynolds as pit lane reporter and Naomi Schiff as analyst. Schiff previously participated in the first W series.

Alex Jacques will be the main commentator. This is an extension of his role as the main commentator on Channel 4’s Formula 1 coverage. He is joined by Billy Monger who was a 2020 racing expert for the W Series Esports League.

How can I see more about the W series?

To capture the drama of the first W Series championship, the organizers have commissioned an extensive documentary to accompany them.

Six episodes cover the 2019 season, from the first driver selection to the individual race weekends.

For those in the UK, all episodes can now be streamed through Channel 4’s All 4 service.

W-Series Calendar 2021