W Series Mid-Season Review

Fast and fearless female drivers took the top stage of circuit racing alongside Formula 1 this season. 

A new structure to the single-seater series was designed where 18 cars, 18 drivers from 12 different countries were put into nine teams to race and travel across the globe.

The international drivers consist of Brit Abbi Pulling, Brit Abbie Eaton, Brit Alice Powell, Norwegian Ayla Ågren, Dutch Beitske Visser, Spaniard Belen Garcia, Brazilian Bruna Tomaselli, Finn Emma Kimiläinen, Liechtensteiner Fabienne Wohlwend, Pole Gosia Rdest, Russian Irinia Sidorkova, Brit Jamie Chadwick, Brit Jessica Hawkins, Spaniard Marta Garcia, Japanese Miki Koyama, Spaniard Nerea Marti, American Sabré Cook, Brit Sarah Moore, and Italian Vicky Piria.

For the racing structure, three drivers were selected as reserves and take turns in one of the PUMA W Series team cars. The teams include Bunker Racing, Ecurie W, M. Forbes Motorsport, PUMA W Series Team, Racing X, Scuderia W, Siring Racing, Veloce racing, and W Series Academy.

Although the pandemic altered the racing calendars, the W series started with pre-season testing in Anglesey Circuit in Ty Croes, Anglesey, Wales. Then the competition kicked off at the Austrian doubleheader. The Red Bull Ring welcomed the Tatuus T-318 cars. In round 1, Brit Alice Powell powered through for the win to get 25 points. Brit Sarah Moore secured second with 18 points and Lichenstein’s Fabienne Wohlwend fought for third to gain 15 points. Beitske Visser impressed by placing second in the practice session and fourth in qualifying.

During round 2, the 2019 W Series Champion, Brit Jamie Chadwick claimed first with 25 points. Russian rookie Irina Sidorkova sealed second with 18 points. Finland’s Emma Kimiläinen took third with 15 points. Once more, Beitske Visser stepped up to finish third in the practice session and second in qualifying at the Red Bull Ring.

For round 3, it was a special Silverstone weekend for the W Series as well as six Brits who enjoyed their home track. Alice Powell took the win for 25 points. Finishing second was Fabienne Wohlwend with 18 points. Then, Jamie Chadwick took third for 15 points. It was 18-year old reserve driver, Abbi Pulling who made her debut. The atmosphere was unreal with about 300,000 fans in attendance.

Hungry at the Hungaroring, Jamie Chadwick delivered a masterclass dominating round four. Alice Powell placed second and third went to Nerea Marti. The drivers had to use mental and physical strength to manage the intensely hot tough track temperatures over 50°C. We saw pace and power at qualifying and numerous wheel-to-wheel moments. It was truly amazing driving especially for those ladies who encountered the tracks for the first time. There was no way you could tell.

Heading into the summer break, we’re at the halfway mark. The second part of the season is going to be good. Jamie Chadwick leads the current driver standings with 73 points. Alice Powell is in second with 72 points and Nerea Marti is making her way in third with 37 points. Then the following drivers are all one point apart. In fourth, Sarah Moore has 36 points. Fifth is Emma Kimiläinen with 35 points. Sixth is tight as Fabienne Wohlwend and Irina Sidorkova both have 34 points. Eighth is essential because Beitske Visser and Belen Garcia have 18 points. To round out the top 10, Bruna Tomaselli has 12 points.

For 11th and 12th, Abbie Eaton and Miki Koyama are tied with 10 points. Taking 13th, Marta Garcia has 6 points. For 14th, Abbi Pulling has 4 points. For 15th, Gosia Rdest has 2 points. Then Vicky Piria, Ayla Ågren, and Jessica Hawkins each have 1 point. Closing out the top 20 are Sabré Cook and Caitlin Wood.

The W Series will resume at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps Circuit (pictured above) in Belgium on the weekend of 27-28 August. Following that, we’ll race at Zandvoort in The Netherlands from 03-04 September. Next, COTA will welcome the drivers on 22-23 October. To end the season, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez will spice things up in Mexico from 29-30 October. See you there!