F3 organizes private tests for W-Series stars and Iron Dames racers

Photo: W series

Nerea Marti and Irina Sidorkova of the W Series as well as the Iron Dames drivers Maya Weug and Doriane Pin will take part in a specially organized FIA Formula 3 test in Magny-Cours next month.

Testing is heavily regulated in F3, with an official pre-season, in-season, and then post-season test this year. The last of these will take place in Valencia from November 1st to 3rd, after which private tests of the current car will be prohibited.

However, a private test will be held on 9/10. November at Magny-Cours as part of a “larger diversity plan” involving F3 promoter Formula Motorsport Limited, following CEO Bruno Michel’s comments in July about creating testing opportunities for W-Series drivers.

“It is our wish that more and more female riders join our championship,” said Michel after the announcement.

“We were very happy to have Tatiana Calderon and Sophia Floersch on our starting grid, but it looks like it’s still very difficult for female riders to do the same. We hope that this test is the first step towards making the path to Formula 1 more systematic for a female driver. “

The first day of testing will be for the W-Series drivers, the second with Ferrari F1 Junior Weug – who is rumored to be moving to Prema in Italian Formula 4 next year after driving for Iron Lynx in their rookie season – and Le Mans Cup Star Pin. It is not clear how many cars will be used and if they will be used by existing F3 teams.

Michel said the W-Series drivers’ choice was that they were “in the best age bracket to eventually step into the single-seater pyramid”. Marti, 19, and Sidorkova, 18, both scored podium places in their rookie W-series campaigns in 2021 under the banner of the “W Academy”.

Iron Dames is a project led by Iron Lynx co-founder Deborah Mayer, described by Michel as an “active partner of F2 and F3” supporting women in motorsport. She mainly competes as a team in sports cars, but is also represented by Weug in the single-seater formula.

“This is another big milestone for the promotion of female talents in motorsport and stands for everything that I have set out to do with the Iron Dames project – to open doors in motorsport for aspiring women,” said Meyer.

“This experience will be important to show Maya and Doriane what the next level of racing means and I would like to thank F3 for giving both drivers this great opportunity.”

Catherine Bond Muir, CEO of the W Series, made a similar statement, calling the test “the natural step” for the W Academy riders.

“The W Series exists to pave the way for female racers as they advance to the upper echelons of motorsport,” she said. “Today is [test] is the proof that we succeed in this mission. “

“We launched the W Academy this season to give young drivers the additional coaching and mentoring they need to realize their potential.”