WSeries was launched end of October 2018 and already has made impressive head-lines with selected 18 drivers vying for Title honours in 6 Race Series. Heading into Race 5 at Assen TT cicuit in Netherlands this weekend, we take a look at who’s in contention for Championship Title and purse, and who is coming up through points table.
British 19 year old racing driver Jamie Chadwick heads table standings with 83 points winning Race 1 at Hockenheim, Germany in May, followed by 2nd at Race 2 at Zolder, Belgium and another top step at Race 3 at Misano circuit in Italy, beginning of June.
It was Race 4 at Norisring, Germany that proved a game changer, with Chadwick being pipped to 3rd with fast paced Spanish 18 year old Marta Garcia taking Round 4 Overall.
With first maiden win boost to Marta’s confidence on track, #19 looks set for repeat peformance racing up front, to improve WSeries Championship standings of 3rd Overall.
Slotted in between top 3 Title contenders, Dutch driver Beitske Visser holds 2nd place with 73 points having finished 2nd Race 1, winning at Zolder and then posting 2 consecutive 2nd places at Misano and Race 4 at Norisring on July 6th.
What really stands out in WSeries is the opportunity offered to selected 18 drivers. As WSeries CEO Catherine Bond Muir explains:
‘W Series is all about: a highly competitive race series in which the best female racing drivers in the world race one another in state-of-the-art Tatuus T-318 Formula 3 cars- on iconic racetracks, and thereby gain crucial on-track experience which will enable them to progress their careers on and up to more senior single-seater formulae, where they can race – and beat – their male rivals. And from 2020 onwards they’ll be earning Superlicence points as they do so.”’
Which has never been done before. Which is proving very successful. Which has elevated Women drivers like Vicky Piria from Italy out of brink from not racing again, to British driver Alice Powell showing all determination to gain podium results even when plans go wrong.
And there are historic milestones to build on, particularly from WSeries British driver Sarah Moore. Most notably, Sarah is first female to win number of Race Championships in UK: Ginetta Junior Championship in 2009 and received Rising Star status by the British Racing Drivers Club.
Special note is fact that Sarah is 3rd generation involved in racing with family’s Tockwith Motorsport Team founded by her grandfather. Sarah stands 7th Overall heading into Race 5 at Assen this weekend and WSeries Final Race 6 at Brands Hatch, UK on August 11th.
Equally, American Sabre Cook is definitely unique- not only has the 24 year old been selected to race in WSeries at beginning of 2019, but Sabre also gained a scholarship as Mechanical Engineer with Infiniti Engineering Academy based in UK.
Sabre works double whammy, working on the Infiniti engineering programme, with access to Renault F1 Team facilities and competing in WSeries currently placed 10th Overall.
With both opportunities catapulting Sabre’s career skyward- #37 knows what it means:
#37: ‘”The fact that I get all this seat time on new tracks, on a consistent basis for the first time ever is why I feel like I’m progressing quite fast right now. It’s been a great experience”‘.
Photo Header Alice Powell WSeries Race 3 Misano comments: ‘little trip through the air’.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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