The “world’s spotlight” will be on the all-new W series this weekend as the women’s only racing series begins in Germany.
Eighteen female racers will take to the Hockenheim circuit on Saturday with the hope of this being their first steps towards Formula 1.
“We believe we have the best female drivers in the world driving W Series and we are going to put the world’s spotlight on them,” chief executive Catherine Bond-Muir told Reuters.
“Hopefully, we can make stars of our drivers and they therefore can attract more sponsorship so they can go on into international Formula Three, Formula Two and who knows, into Formula One.”
The new series, which is backed by former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard, has seen a field of 54 candidates wittled down to just 18.
Racing identical 1.8 litre Formula Three cars, the 18 ladies will take part in a Friday practice before qualifying and racing on Saturday.
The first event takes place this weekend in Hockenheim with the event’s finale being held at Brands Hatch in August.
Race week 1⃣
Race preview 1⃣
Get set for the first round of #WSeries races with our new preview: https://t.co/1tUNBjjq97 pic.twitter.com/ChA8oe0WOd
— W Series (@WSeriesRacing) April 30, 2019
There is prize money of $500,000 for the series winner, however, the ultimate goal is to progress through motor racing’s ranks.
“Formula One is…very, very tough to reach and it is always going to be my dream, it is my dream and it will remain my dream,” Belgian-born South African Naomi Schiff told Reuters at the recent media day.
“If that is really realistic at this point, I don’t know. Hopefully the W Series will help us to move forward and closer to those goals and make that possible for younger women in the future.”
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