2022 WSeries enters testing at Inde Motorsports Ranch, Arizona, USA in final preparations to confirm 18 driver line-up for up-coming season as support category in 2022 Formula One. Capping off successful 2019 and 2021 WSeries, the 8 Rounds will venture further in terms of racing new track venues along with providing opportunities for 6 newly selected Women to experience racing at the world’s highest professional level.
With automatic selection for 2022 WSeries confirmed for top 12 drivers from 2021 WSeries Championship, test days for newly recruited 15 drivers from 11 countries will prove invaluable experience for all women- on and off the track. High on the list will be testing the levels of performance from each female behind the wheel of US specification F4 cars along with making most of the experience to work with WSeries engineers over 5 days. WSeries Race Director Dave Ryan explains what he will be looking for:
‘In the car, they’ve got to be quick, consistent, understand what the car is doing, and respond to what their engineers are asking them to do. Out of the car, it’s about attitude. Do they really want to be doing it? Are they willing to give 100% and work hard? You want them to want it badly, to understand that it’s hard work and to apply themselves. There are plenty of drivers who will do a quick lap, but many don’t understand how they did it in order to repeat it again and again. So, we’re looking to get an understanding of what they are capable of, whether they are receptive to learning and can apply it’. Reference: WSeries.
From initial debut seasonĀ in 2019, WSeries has upped ante on providing 18 female drivers the opportunity to further their racing careers – all expenses paid and topped with prize money- significant feat in itself. Equally, the single-seater Championship has leveraged global recognition as support category with Formula One at the most iconic track venues in the world.
2022 WSeries races include capitalizing on huge fan-base for F1 in USA, with Round One in Miami, May 6-8 followed by Round 2 at Barcelona, Spain on May 20-22. Round 3 heads back to Silverstone, UK for 2nd time before heading to Le Castellet, France for Round 4 and Budapest, Hungary capping off Round 5 before summer break on July 29-31. Breaking new ground and marking significant turn around for Women racing in Japan, will be WSeries Round 6 at Suzuka circuit on October 7-9 backed by final 2 Rounds at Austin, USA and Mexico City on October 28-30.
Most certainly, 2022 WSeries adds new level of anticipation on what Women can achieve racing F3 in today’s world of Motorsport.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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