W Series to introduce team format in 2022
The W Series will shift format for the 2022 season, splitting the grid into nine two-car teams as a sign of confidence in the future of the women's only category.
The free-to-enter series, designed to promote opportunities for women in motorsport, will use the 2021 season as a transition year to prepare for the entry of nine teams in the following year.
The nine teams bring together a range of interests, from sponsors, motorsport teams, businesses and high net-worth individuals, who will be represented by a field of brightly-coloured entries.
Beginning in 2019, the series was raced with 18 identical cars all managed by the same group of engineers and support staff to ensure parity across the field.
The move brings the series one step closer in line to its equivalents on the FIA ladder, with most open-wheel series contested by independent teams from FIA Formula 2 all the way down to FIA Formula 4.
While there is no indication yet that teams will be fully independent, but with organisers emphasising that plans are still being finalised, it is still on the table.
The competition between teams this year will be unofficial while organisers confirm details for the 2022 championship.
Postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the W Series returns for its second season in 2021.
The category is growing in popularity and visibility, with races this year promoted to the support card for the Formula 1 World Championship, following it to eight events across Europe and the Americas.
Now, the series welcomes new stakeholders Bunker Racing, M. Forbes Motorsport, PUMA, Racing X, Sirin Racing, and Veloce Racing.
Jamie Chadwick and Stéphane Sarrazin celebrate a second place Extreme E finish for Veloce Racing. (Sam Bloxham/Extreme E)
Veloce is a significant inclusion given the team recently made the jump from esports to the real world with an entry in the Extreme E series, with Jean-Éric Vergne signing on as a cofounder and Adrian Newey as 'Lead Visionary'.
Catherine Bond Muir, CEO of the W Series, said "in a short period of time we have made a mark in the sector for our disruptive and innovative approach."
"This new structure paves the way for significant new investment to supplement our current series sponsors, which supports our continued rapid growth and our partnership with Formula 1."
The Puma W Series Team car. (W Series)
2019 champion Jamie Chadwick races for Veloce in Extreme E and will join the team's W Series entry.
"This is brilliant news for drivers too," she said.
"We learned so much about the cars and the tracks in 2019, but a team set-up will take us to the next level – giving us great insight into what it's like working closely with a team partner and racing with a team championship in mind rather than just for yourself."
The 2021 W Series entry list:
Bunker Racing: Fabienne Wohlwend (5) and Sabre Cook (37)
M. Forbes Motorsport: Beitske Visser (95) and Ayla Agren (17)
Puma W Series Team: Marta Garcia (19) and Gosia Rdest (3)
Racing X: Alice Powell (27) and Jess Hawkins (21)
Sirin Racing: Miki Koyama (54) and Vicky Piria (11)
Veloce Racing: Jamie Chadwick (55) and Bruna Tomaselli (97)
Ecurie W: Emma Kimiläinen (7) and Abbie Eaton (44)
Scuderia W: Sarah Moore (26) and Belen Garcia (22)
W Series Academy: Irina Sidorkova (51) and Nerea Martí (32)
