F1 Academy for Women 2023 – where does that leave WSeries? The initiative announced at the end of 2022 aims to provide 15 women an opportunity to further develop their formula racing skills within 5 Teams who are operating in F2 and F3 Championships. Each Team will manage 3 female driver’s at F1 Academy selected events which total 7 Rounds with 3 races per Round, one being at F1 GP, plus 15 days of official testing.
F1 Academy will fund total of €150,000 per car, (€2.25m in total) with the driver’s covering the same amount to race in the 5 Teams confirmed: ART Grand Prix, Campos Racing, Carlin, MP Motorsport, and PREMA Racing. The cars will be Tatuus T421 chassis with Pirelli continuing as tyre provider.
WSeries founded all female single-seater Series in 2019, a brave and courageous initiative which elevated the status of women driver’s in the 3 years since to unprecedented levels within Formula racing. Most certainly, the deal to gain high profile exposure as support category in selected F1 Grand Prix’s in 2022, was sheer joy to witness, albeit premature closure of racing due to financial reasons.
There is no doubt, WSeries provided women an opportunity to further develop their racing talents behind the wheel of the Championship’s Tatuus F3 T-318 car. And, there is no denying that WSeries Championship in 2019, 2020, and 2022 elevated the profile of these women – total of 18 driver’s per season – to new heights which in turn prompted recognition from mainstream audience around the world.
For British driver and WSeries Champion 3x, Jamie Chadwick, the opportunity to gain track time, race experience, and all that encompasses racing at F1 Grand Prix’s for 6 Rounds in 2023 has been invaluable for ramping up her career pathway. Equally, credence has been further increased for WSeries Vice Champion in 2019 – Beitske Visser along with Alice Powell, Emma Kimilainen, and younger driver’s Abi Pulling, Belen Garcia, Marta Garcia, and Nerea Marti.
At time of completing this article, there were no confirmed plans for WSeries 2023. All of which begs the question, how to blend the objectives of F1 Academy for Women with WSeries when resources are at premium to get women on track to race.
Obvious option would to amalgamate WSeries established Championship resources, network of sponsors and partners within F1 Academy structure of 15 driver’s placed in 5 Teams within F2 and F3 Championships. Cross over of personal whose affiliation with industry providers funded WSeries cars and driver’s to race over 3 seasons would extend portfolio of both F1 Academy and WSeries at present and into the future.
Yes, logistical, technical, and financial communications would entail meeting of perspectives on what will be achieved, the benefits of which would flow over from board room, to individual female driver’s amped to get behind the wheel in up-coming seasons.
If F1 Academy for Women holds the key to unlocking doors which have been previously closed for women to race under F2 and F3 Teams, so to does WSeries hold the strength of mind to enter into partnerships which would evolve the nature of female formula racing. We wait with baited breath.
Header photo: F1 Academy for Women logo design 2023. Image: F1
Words: Sharon Cox.
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