WSeries is set to make history racing in support of Formula One United States GP at COTA– Circuit of the America’s this weekend. With double header of Final 2 Races staged over coming 2 days, the all female single-seater Series will crown 2021 WSeries Champion at the iconic American venue- a first in Women’s Motorsport history.
Making debut entry in 2019, WSeries has gained remarkable upward trajectory to race as supportive Series along-side F1 in only 2nd full-season. Struck down with COVID disruptions in 2020 prompting cancellation of 6 Round Series, the 18 driver grid line-up has more than made up for any lack of racing with epic battles taking place up front.
2021 WSeries ramped up to 8 Round Series has pitched defending Champion Jamie Chadwick against fellow country-driver Alice Powell who are both locked in points at top of table board – with Powell one more win up on Chadwick: 3-2.
Never one to shy away from taking a win, as the Finnish driver Emma Kimilainen did at Round 5 at Spa-Francochamps, the double header races with 50 points up for grabs will suit the flying Finn from Practices 1 and 2, Qualifying and onto racing.
No less remarkable is debutante driver Nerea Marti’s claim at 4th position Overall on 53 points. Already guaranteed a spot in 2022 WSeries, Marti outshone her competitors gaining 3rd podium at Round 4 in Hungaroring and then went on to finish 4th at Round 6 in Zandvoort, just below Kimilainen.
If WSeries opens up opportunities for talented drivers to gain all important Formula race-time, results of 7th placed Russian Irina Sidorkova at just 18 years of age, along with Spanish F4 Championship Race winner Belen Garcia standing in 8th position- really is once-in-a-lifetime chance to pursue their respective racing careers.
All 3 debut 2021 drivers: Nerea, Irina and Belen have exceeded expectations of performance on track increasing scope of competitive racing amongst 18 driver line-up. Such a strategy not only raises the bar for previous season’s drivers to up their game, but also ramps up pressure gauge on who will make the cut for automatic selection for 2022 season.
Most certainly, the cut-off point of top 8 gaining place in following year allows for drivers 8- down to last position to vie for all important points heading into final 2 Rounds this weekend. Tough ask? Maybe so? Or more to the point- sorting out who has what it takes when your future racing F3 at supportive F1 GP is on the line.
Yes, 2021 WSeries Champion will be crowned at final chequered flag on Sunday. Yes, rewards of winning will be sweet and yes prize money received has to be celebrated in style as WSeries rewards Women racing their innovative Series.
Equally though, 2021 WSeries Final 2 Rounds in support of Formula 1 United Statyes GP at COTA represents turning point in history of Women racing single-seater Championship outside Europe. It is phenomenal in times of global COVID disruptions, AND economic uncertainties that WSeries has gained such elevation of Women competing along-side the world’s most prestigious Motorsport Series that sets precedent for inspiring women to pursue racing as a career well into the future.
Header Photo: WSeries Rounds 7 and 8 at COTA Photo Credit: WSeries.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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