The all-female W Series is launching an esports league for female drivers, with actual racing still suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With its second season on hold and no start date set, organisers hope to maintain the series’ profile and encourage more women to compete in both the male-dominated virtual world and the real one. The W Series was launched in 2019 as a championship solely for female drivers. Inaugural championship winner Jamie Chadwick was subsequently signed to Williams’ F1 team in a developmental role.
The championship has extended its push for greater female participation in motor racing by venturing into the blossoming world of esports, which many professional racing drivers have turned to during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. F1 has created a Virtual Racing Series to contest races as they would have been held were it not for the indefinite delay caused by the pandemic.
W Series Esports League title will be contested by the 18 drivers who were signed up for the second season of W Series, including reigning champion Chadwick and runner-up Beitske Visser. American driver Sabre Cook will also take part.
W Series hopes to attract other stars to make appearances, with its launch press release stating it “reserves the right to invite other female drivers to participate.”
The series will use the iRacing platform, which will attempt to replicate the W Series’ Tatuus Formula 3 race car as closely as possible. Points will be awarded at every race, with up to three races of varying lengths and configurations being run at each of the 10 circuits.
W Series released the simulated circuits it will race on:
Autodromo Nazionale di Monza (Italy)
Circuit of the Americas, Austin (Texas, United States)
Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit (United Kingdom)
Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Interlagos (Brazil)
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)
Watkins Glen International (New York, United States)
Suzuka International Racing Course (Japan)
Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst (Australia)
Nürburgring Nordschleife (Germany)
Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit (United Kingdom)