Back in the days of 606 I suggested that there should be a single seater series for female drivers to encourage more involvement in the sport. I was met with a response saying that I was being entirely prejudice and everything I was saying was wrong. That it was the equivalent of me saying there should be a series specifically for black drivers and that I was basically a nazi KKK member (that's how conversations went in 606). Anyways fast forward a decade and we discover David Coulthard obviously never posted on 606 as he is heading up a single seater series specifically for female racing drives. The W series - or Formula W they don't seem to have decided yet.
The idea of the series is that it's free to enter for any female driver. The champion will get £500,000 and there are money prizes for positions down the order. The idea is that its a good way for drivers to fund their way front the regular feeder series. There will be 18-20 drivers in the field all driving identical 1.8 litre Tatuus T-318 Formula 3 cars. Adrian Newy is involved in the series so whether he was involved in the design I don't know.
The series has been confirmed on the DTM calendar for every round and will start in Hockenheim on the weekend of the 3rd May. 5 other rounds confirmed including Brands Hatch on weekend of Aug 10th. The web site says there will be races in the US, Asia and Australia too but no sign of them yet. Maybe they mean in later seasons.
Who are the drivers? Well anyone wanting to enter had to apply and do some behind the scenes testing where they would be judged by an experienced panel. The panel were David Coulthard, Alexander Wurz and Dave Ryan (All McLaren old boys). Its all very X Factor. It was also said that they weren't looking for the fastest drivers but drivers who were the whole package. To me that sounds silly. Anyway the 28 who have made it to judges houses are as follows:
Sarah Bovy (Belgium)
Jamie Chadwick (UK)
Sabre Cook (US)
Natalie Decker (US)
Marta Garcia (Spain)
Megan Gilkes (Canada)
Grace Gui (China)
Esmee Hawkey (UK)
Jessica Hawkins (UK)
Shea Holbrook (US)
Francesca Linossi (Italy)
Vivien Keszthelyi (Hungary)
Emma Kimilainen (Finland)
Natalia Kowalska (Poland)
Stephane Kox (Netherlands)
Miki Koyama (Japan)
Milou Mets (Netherlands)
Sarah Moore (UK)
Tasmin Pepper (South Africa)
Vicky Piria (Italy)
Alice Powell (UK)
Gosia Rdest (Poland)
Naomi Schiff (Belgium)
Shirley Van Der Lof (Netherlands)
Beitske Visser (Netherlands)
Alexandra Whitley (Australia)
Fabienne Wohlwend (Liechtenstein)
Caitlin Wood (Australian)
The 4 names who jump out at me there are Vicky Piria who has mixed it up in F3, Beitske Visser who has banged wheels and looked fiesty in lots of junior formula, Alice Powell who is David Cameron's favourite racing driver and Jamie Chadwick who is very much poster girl for the whole thing and has done the rounds on BBC radio.
Anyway does anyone have any thoughts on Formula W? Think it's a great idea or think women shouldn't drive? Time to let us know. I shall be watching with interest as to if this series works.
The idea of the series is that it's free to enter for any female driver. The champion will get £500,000 and there are money prizes for positions down the order. The idea is that its a good way for drivers to fund their way front the regular feeder series. There will be 18-20 drivers in the field all driving identical 1.8 litre Tatuus T-318 Formula 3 cars. Adrian Newy is involved in the series so whether he was involved in the design I don't know.
The series has been confirmed on the DTM calendar for every round and will start in Hockenheim on the weekend of the 3rd May. 5 other rounds confirmed including Brands Hatch on weekend of Aug 10th. The web site says there will be races in the US, Asia and Australia too but no sign of them yet. Maybe they mean in later seasons.
Who are the drivers? Well anyone wanting to enter had to apply and do some behind the scenes testing where they would be judged by an experienced panel. The panel were David Coulthard, Alexander Wurz and Dave Ryan (All McLaren old boys). Its all very X Factor. It was also said that they weren't looking for the fastest drivers but drivers who were the whole package. To me that sounds silly. Anyway the 28 who have made it to judges houses are as follows:
Sarah Bovy (Belgium)
Jamie Chadwick (UK)
Sabre Cook (US)
Natalie Decker (US)
Marta Garcia (Spain)
Megan Gilkes (Canada)
Grace Gui (China)
Esmee Hawkey (UK)
Jessica Hawkins (UK)
Shea Holbrook (US)
Francesca Linossi (Italy)
Vivien Keszthelyi (Hungary)
Emma Kimilainen (Finland)
Natalia Kowalska (Poland)
Stephane Kox (Netherlands)
Miki Koyama (Japan)
Milou Mets (Netherlands)
Sarah Moore (UK)
Tasmin Pepper (South Africa)
Vicky Piria (Italy)
Alice Powell (UK)
Gosia Rdest (Poland)
Naomi Schiff (Belgium)
Shirley Van Der Lof (Netherlands)
Beitske Visser (Netherlands)
Alexandra Whitley (Australia)
Fabienne Wohlwend (Liechtenstein)
Caitlin Wood (Australian)
The 4 names who jump out at me there are Vicky Piria who has mixed it up in F3, Beitske Visser who has banged wheels and looked fiesty in lots of junior formula, Alice Powell who is David Cameron's favourite racing driver and Jamie Chadwick who is very much poster girl for the whole thing and has done the rounds on BBC radio.
Anyway does anyone have any thoughts on Formula W? Think it's a great idea or think women shouldn't drive? Time to let us know. I shall be watching with interest as to if this series works.