Overview
The W Series is a single-seater racing championship made exclusively for female drivers. Launched in October 2018, the inaugural season began in 2019 as part of the DTM support race and it lasted for three seasons until the series entered administration due to financial difficulties.
Vehicle
The racing machine used in the W Series is the Tatuus F3 T-318, homologated to current Formula 3 specifications. It runs on a 4-cylinder Autotecnica Motori turbo engine producing 270hp of power while mated to a six-speed Sadev gearbox. It features double wishbone pushrod suspension, Koni two-way adjustable dampers, Marelli ECU, and Brembo brakes. The tires used in this machine were supplied by Hankook Tires, which served as the official tire supplier of the W Series.
History
The inaugural season kicked off in 2019 as part of the DTM's support bill and it spans six venues with the first race set at the Hockenheimring, followed by Zolder, Misano, Norisring, Assen, and concludes with a season finale at Brands Hatch. Jamie Chadwick was crowned as the W Series' first champion.
In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the motorsports industry, the W Series shifts into e-sports with the W Series Esports League in collaboration with Logitech G, Beyond Entertainment, and iRacing. 18 female drivers who qualified to race in the on-track W Series in 2020, as well as special guests, took part in the e-sports initiative that spans ten virtual racetracks. Beitske Visser wass named the winner of the 2020 W Series Esports League.
In 2021, the W Series is back on track for its second season while adhering to COVID health protocols. For the first time, it became a support series in the Formula 1 2021 season and it adds Circuit of the Americas, which served as its two-part season finale. It also features new team suit designs made by sportswear maker PUMA. Of all the seven venues in the 2021 season from Europe to the United States, Jamie Chadwick was crowned as the champion for the second time.
In the 2022 season, the W Series continued its partnership with Formula 1. It was originally meant to be an 8-venue season but got shortened to six venues with the Japan race getting replaced with the Singapore race while the COTA and Mexico races were removed, prematurely ending the 2022 season with Jamie Chadwick becoming a three-time W Series champion.
Less than a year after the 2022 season ended early due to financial difficulties, the W Series has gone into administration as it had been unable to commit to the 2023 race season due to its liquidity position. Administrators said only one member of the staff remained at the business and they also added that they will "explore all available options to allow the W Series to restart in the future."
The W Series was replaced by the F1 Academy, which was first announced in early February of 2023 and had its first season in Spielberg in late April of 2023. It is equivalent to Formula 4 and acts as a junior championship for female drivers.
