2019 W Series
The 2019 W Series was the inaugural season of the W Series, an all-female Formula 3-level racing series.[1]
Driver selection
55 drivers were initially entered in a qualifying longlist for the 2019 season, with a further six added later on.[2][3][4] An evaluation was held at the Wachauring in Melk, Austria over 26–28 January, with series judges—including David Coulthard, Alexander Wurz and Lyn St. James—[5] selecting a shortlist of drivers that would get to test the Tatuus–Alfa Romeo T-318. Drivers completed 10 'modules' that tested their skills in racecraft, fitness, media training and sponsorship pitches, before a final knockout series of races that would decide the 28 drivers that advanced to the next stage at the Circuito de Almería.[6] The final stage held over 22–27 March, which saw additional fitness testing and data analysis alongside traditional testing, would decide the 18-driver line-up as well as four additional substitute drivers - who will be on standby in the event of a regular driver's absence.
The evaluation format drew mixed opinions from the competitors. Eliminated driver Charlotte Poynting labelled the process "confusing" and that the judges "obviously weren't looking for the fastest drivers", whereas compatriot Caitlin Wood claimed the evaluation was "as fair as they could make it".[7][8]
Eliminated drivers
- Withdrew before evaluation
Amna Al Qubaisi
Michelle Gatting
Angelique Germann- Michelle Halder
Carmen Jordá
Sheena Monk- Carrie Schreiner
- Eliminated after evaluation
Ayla Ågren
Chelsea Angelo- Carmen Boix
- Toni Breidinger
Alessandra Brena
Ivana Cetinich
Veronika Cichá- Courtney Crone
Mira Erda- Carlotta Fedeli
- Cassie Gannis
Samin Gómez- Fabienne Lanz
Milla Mäkelä
Alexandra Marinescu
Marylin Niederhauser
Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya
Taegen Poles- Charlotte Poynting
- Sharon Scolari
- Doreen Seidel
Siti Shahkirah- Sneha Sharma
Inès Taittinger
Bruna Tomaselli- Hanna Zellers
- Eliminated after testing
- Natalie Decker
Grace Gui
Natalia Kowalska
Stéphane Kox- Francesca Linossi
- Milou Mets
- Shirley van der Lof
- Alexandra Whitley
Qualified drivers
All drivers competed with the Tatuus–Alfa Romeo F3 T-318 operated by Hitech GP and fitted with Hankook tires.[9]
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^1 – Megan Gilkes, normally a regular driver, was demoted to reserve driver duties at Round 4. Vivien Keszthelyi, normally a reserve driver, was promoted to regular driver duties at Round 4.[12]
Calendar and results
A single championship race was held at six rounds of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters,[13] with an additional non-championship race at TT Circuit Assen to test different event formats.[14]
| Round | Circuit | Dates | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Race Winner | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Hockenheimring
|
4 May |  Jamie Chadwick
|
 Miki Koyama
|
Jamie Chadwick
|
Report |
| 2 |  Circuit Zolder
|
18 May | Jamie Chadwick
|
 Beitske Visser
|
Beitske Visser
|
Report |
| 3 |  Misano World Circuit
|
8 June |  Fabienne Wohlwend
|
Beitske Visser
|
Jamie Chadwick
|
Report |
| 4 | Norisring
|
6 July |  Marta García
|
 Emma Kimiläinen
|
Marta García
|
Report |
| 5 | TT Circuit Assen
|
20 July | Emma Kimiläinen
|
Emma Kimiläinen
|
Emma Kimiläinen
|
Report |
| NC | 21 July |  Sabré Cook
|
 Megan Gilkes
| |||
| 6 | Brands Hatch
|
11 August | Jamie Chadwick
|
Emma Kimiläinen
|
Alice Powell
|
Report |
Championship standings
Points were awarded to the top ten classified finishers as follows:
| Race Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 25 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
|
Bold – Pole |
References
- ^ "All-female motor racing series offers potential F1 pathway". CNN. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
- ^ "W Series names long-list of drivers". W Series. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "55 women make the first cut for 2019 W Series". Autoweek. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ "Six new drivers enter W Series selection". W Series. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- ^ "W Series a day away from historic announcement". W Series. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
- ^ "W Series name 28 drivers through to the next stage". W Series. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "Poynting 'confused' by 'vague' W Series selection process". Speedcafe. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "CAFE CHAT: Caitlin Wood". Speedcafe. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Khorounzhiy, Valentin (18 May 2019). "Top F3 team to run all W Series cars". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ "W Series announces its driver line-up". W Series. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ^ "Race numbers revealed". W Series. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ "@WSeriesRacing on Twitter". Twitter. 6 July 2019.
- ^ "DTM announces 2019 calendar and W Series on support bill". www.autosport.com. Autosport. 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Additional non-championship race to be held at Assen". W Series. 28 June 2019.