WSeries up-coming Round 6 at Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix will race New Zealand’s Toyota Gazoo Racing cars on weekend of October 1-2. Having made debut provision of TGRS FT60 cars at Round 2 at Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix in May, WSeries and TGR have successfully deployed sustainable use of resources reducing freight costs while at same time forming collaborative arrangements between 2 Championships.
For sure, WSeries has not been shy coming forwards in providing opportunities for females to race, experience and further develop their single-seater racing skills on track from debut year in 2019 through to present 3rd season in 2022.
Equally, the all-female F3 Championship has pushed agenda to top of list, gaining highest profile exposure running Races as support category at selected Formula 1 GP’s. The opening Round at F1 Miami Grand Prix raised level of awareness of WSeries outside Europe, coupled with stellar racing on track from defending WSeries Champion Jamie Chadwick, fellow Brit Alice Powell, and 2019 runner-up Beitske Visser.
With Chadwick holding commanding points lead of 168 – taking 5 wins from 6 races, Powell and Visser tie on 68 points in P2 and P3. Battle royal resumes from P4 to P8 with first full season driver Abi Pulling stamping her mark on 65 points, with Belen Garcia, Nerea Marti, and Emma Kimilainen on 46, 44, and 40 points respectively.
Confirming the competitive field is not all odds on Chadwick to win every race, defining moments have been: Alice Powell taking the win at Round 5 at Budapest, Abi Pulling taking P2 at Barcelona followed by P3 at Silverstone, Jessica Hawkins securing P2 at Miami, Nerea Marta P3 at Miami R2 followed by P3 at Round 4 in France, Belen Garcia gaining much deserved P2 at France, and Emma Kimilainen taking P2 at Silverstone.
The collaborative partnership with NZ’s Toyota Gazoo Racing has extended WSeries principle of thought on increasing leverage to race within changeable financial market world-wide. Most definitely, freight costs, logistics of transporting cars in between Rounds, along with sustaining ethos of lowering carbon footprint have prompted decisions on achieving WSeries objectives.
Equally, the opportunity for TRS to provide the Championship’s cars for 2 Rounds of WSeries has broadened the perspective on making collaborative initiatives viable within the sport, while at the same time afforded greater recognition to NZ’s sole Formula racing Championship in northern hemisphere’s off-season.
Key to attracting International driver’s to compete in 2023 Castrol Toyota Racing Series is the opportunity to gain F1 Super License points. With 23 drivers on the grid, over 5 Rounds from weekend of January 13-15 to final Round on February 10-12, entry driver’s not only gain valuable race time, but also the ability to add to F1 points tally.
Taken in context, driver’s who fall short of the required 40 points to race F1 – as in the current case of American driver Colton Herta– have the opportunity to compete in TRS Championship gaining additional points to ramp up quota. Same for women aiming to gain valuable single-seater time on track, while gunning for F1 points within range of top 5 positions: 10- 7- 5- 3- 1.
Heading into final leg of 2022 WSeries with Round 6 at F1 Singapore GP, Round 7 at F1 United States Grand Prix and Final Round at F1 Grand Prix of Mexico, a Champion will be crowned ahead of new season. No longer the case of marking time to race again in Europe in March, NZ’s Toyota Racing Series offers nice break in gap, with racing on 5 tracks at picturesque venues in New Zealand from mid-January to mid-February 2023.
WSeries Round 6: October 1-2. Header photo: WSeries.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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