W Series to support F1 on two 2020 weekends
Wednesday 15th January 2020
W Series to support F1 on two 2020 weekends
Reigning champ Jamie Chadwick and her rivals will race in front of F1 crowds at US and Mexican rounds
Female-only single-seater category W Series has received a big boost for its second year by becoming part of the weekend programme for Formula 1's American and Mexican rounds. The final two races of the championship, for which Britain's Jamie Chadwick is the defending champion, will take place at the Circuit of the Americas and Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez when they host F1's nineteenth and twentieth 2020 rounds respectively. It's a major deal for the W Series, not least because the former hosted 138,435 and latter 128,000 spectators during Grand Prix rounds in 2019.
With the W Series races taking place before the headline F1 events on each day, the actual spectator numbers will likely be down on those 2019 peaks - but they're still set to represent a notable increase on W Series' inaugural year. As will the viewing figures for TV coverage, because the shift onto F1 weekend rotas will move the pair of W Series rounds onto mainstream channels in several countries. It has the potential to encourage an unprecedented level of progress (in terms of reach) for the new motorsport category - not to mention the introduction of this niche series to a much wider audience. The six other rounds will support DTM weekends.
Of course, the championship's raison d'etre is to provide a platform for female drivers to progress in a male dominated sport - it being the only formula which includes gender requirements within its regulation book. 2019 champ Chadwick is certainly making the most of the opportunity; the 21-year-old also looking to enter Japan's F3-based Formula Super Lights this year alongside W Series duties, with both championships using Formula 3-spec cars powered by 270hp Alfa Romeo engines.
It's probably no coincidence that getting a female driver into the world's top racing category has also become an ambition for the sport's most famous team, Ferrari. The Ferrari Driver Academy is said to be actively seeking a female racer, with team principal Mattia Binotto stating last week that a woman "should be part" of the young driver line-up "very soon", although he refrained from mentioning any names. Chadwick's strong career performances, which also include being the youngest title winner of the British GT Championship with a top spot in 2015's GT4 class, must surely put her on the shortlist.
Discussion
I am keen to see women competing at all levels of the sport as it has been male dominated for too long, but...
Far from tackling sexism in motorsport, I feel that this type of championship is actively introducing sexism. This series excludes competitors on the basis of gender. Is this equality?
Far from tackling sexism in motorsport, I feel that this type of championship is actively introducing sexism. This series excludes competitors on the basis of gender. Is this equality?
What a great stepping stone this all female series is......oh wait last years top 12 are all back again.....
"Our drivers do not have to pay to race in W Series. They have and will only be selected on their ability rather than how rich their backers are"
Positive discrimination is still discrimination, how about a mix sex series based on the above philosophy?
"Our drivers do not have to pay to race in W Series. They have and will only be selected on their ability rather than how rich their backers are"
Positive discrimination is still discrimination, how about a mix sex series based on the above philosophy?
toys said:
I am keen to see women competing at all levels of the sport as it has been male dominated for too long, but...
Far from tackling sexism in motorsport, I feel that this type of championship is actively introducing sexism. This series excludes competitors on the basis of gender. Is this equality?
Just like every other sport where men are better so it's a Female/Male split? Far from tackling sexism in motorsport, I feel that this type of championship is actively introducing sexism. This series excludes competitors on the basis of gender. Is this equality?
Woman love inequality when it suits them.
toys said:
I am keen to see women competing at all levels of the sport as it has been male dominated for too long, but...
Far from tackling sexism in motorsport, I feel that this type of championship is actively introducing sexism. This series excludes competitors on the basis of gender. Is this equality?
its one women's sport I wouldn't mind seeing one of those opportunistic trans types turn up cause mischief.Far from tackling sexism in motorsport, I feel that this type of championship is actively introducing sexism. This series excludes competitors on the basis of gender. Is this equality?
The "nicest" thing you can say for it is it's a promotional vehicle for women in motorsport and not much more. The problem is its self-defeating - women only sports traditionally exist due to physical differences between men and women normally putting women at a significant disadvantage, so you have to think long and hard about the real message you put out with w-series, especially when you're purportedly trying to "address the issue of the sport being male dominated". Not that I suspect the virtue signalling post moderny types to grasp the nuance of that.
Sad to say that I am another one of those that doesn't believe this was the right course. Motorsport is one of the few arenas where women can compete on an equal playing field, so this didn't really seem necessary to me. Let's not forget people like Michelle Mouton or Pat Moss, who were competing at the highest levels decades ago. We lived in a far more sexist society in the 1950s and Moss did ok for herself, while Mouton was competing in probably the most challenging physical conditions motorsport has ever seen; wrestling a Group B Audi (which was a total pig) through stages long enough to make current WRC drivers weep.
Ultimately, the reason we see so few women at the top of the sport is because very few women are actually interested in getting there. For the 20 men on the F1 grid, how many male racing drivers are out there that haven't made it? Thousands upon thousands. Given that most men have almost no chance of making it to the top, when women make up only a tiny fraction of that number, their lack of presence is a result of nothing more than simple maths. You could even argue that an extremely talented female driver would represent a better investment for a top-level race team, purely because it would generate so much PR.
Chadwick is clearly a talented driver, but if she wants to progress her career, I'm not sure W-series is the place to do it. Like other budding F1 drivers, she needs to prove herself against others in one of the main feeder series. It would be deeply embarrassing if she were to be fast-tracked into a top level series because she has won this a couple of times, and then get absolutely destroyed when she makes the step up, simply because this series isn't competitive enough. I know the cars are F3-based, but is it possible to directly compare them with other F3 series? Are they using any of the same circuits? I had a quick google but couldn't find any comparisons? For this series to be relevant at all, surely some direct comparison with other drivers is not only sensible, but essential.
As someone said, this series may encourage a few more women to participate, which is fine but, ultimately, I think motorsport will always be dominated by men, because men are far more likely to want to do it. Unless we see a significant shift in which genders choose which activities (which seems quite unlikely to me), then I think little will change. I would love to see a woman on the F1 grid, or more women at Le Mans, or (another) woman in the WRC but, as with all-women shortlists for political parties, I'm a bit uncomfortable with using positive discrimination to achieve it. The best candidate should always come out on top, regardless of gender or any other factor. I have to wonder if spreading these female drivers across multiple series and just helping them with the PR and coaching side would be a much more productive thing to do, helping to raise the profile of motorsport more generally, rather than just a series for women.
Ultimately, the reason we see so few women at the top of the sport is because very few women are actually interested in getting there. For the 20 men on the F1 grid, how many male racing drivers are out there that haven't made it? Thousands upon thousands. Given that most men have almost no chance of making it to the top, when women make up only a tiny fraction of that number, their lack of presence is a result of nothing more than simple maths. You could even argue that an extremely talented female driver would represent a better investment for a top-level race team, purely because it would generate so much PR.
Chadwick is clearly a talented driver, but if she wants to progress her career, I'm not sure W-series is the place to do it. Like other budding F1 drivers, she needs to prove herself against others in one of the main feeder series. It would be deeply embarrassing if she were to be fast-tracked into a top level series because she has won this a couple of times, and then get absolutely destroyed when she makes the step up, simply because this series isn't competitive enough. I know the cars are F3-based, but is it possible to directly compare them with other F3 series? Are they using any of the same circuits? I had a quick google but couldn't find any comparisons? For this series to be relevant at all, surely some direct comparison with other drivers is not only sensible, but essential.
As someone said, this series may encourage a few more women to participate, which is fine but, ultimately, I think motorsport will always be dominated by men, because men are far more likely to want to do it. Unless we see a significant shift in which genders choose which activities (which seems quite unlikely to me), then I think little will change. I would love to see a woman on the F1 grid, or more women at Le Mans, or (another) woman in the WRC but, as with all-women shortlists for political parties, I'm a bit uncomfortable with using positive discrimination to achieve it. The best candidate should always come out on top, regardless of gender or any other factor. I have to wonder if spreading these female drivers across multiple series and just helping them with the PR and coaching side would be a much more productive thing to do, helping to raise the profile of motorsport more generally, rather than just a series for women.
Edited by Jon_S_Rally on Friday 17th January 13:41
Jon_S_Rally said:
Sad to say that I am another one of those that doesn't believe this was the right course. Motorsport is one of the few arenas where women can compete on an equal playing field, so this didn't really seem necessary to me. Let's not forget people like Michelle Mouton or Pat Moss, who were competing at the highest levels decades ago. We lived in a far more sexist society in the 1950s and Moss did ok for herself, while Mouton was competing in probably the most challenging physical conditions motorsport has ever seen; wrestling a Group B Audi (which was a total pig) through stages long enough to make current WRC drivers weep.
Ultimately, the reason we see so few women at the top of the sport is because very few women are actually interested in getting there. For the 20 men on the F1 grid, how many male racing drivers are out there that haven't made it? Thousands upon thousands. Given that most men have almost no chance of making it to the top, when women make up only a tiny fraction of that number, their lack of presence is a result of nothing more than simple maths. You could even argue that an extremely talented female driver would represent a better investment for a top-level race team, purely because it would generate so much PR.
Chadwick is clearly a talented driver, but if she wants to progress her career, I'm not sure W-series is the place to do it. Like other budding F1 drivers, she needs to prove herself against others in one of the main feeder series. It would be deeply embarrassing if she were to be fast-tracked into a top level series because she has won this a couple of times, and then get absolutely destroyed when she makes the step up, simply because this series isn't competitive enough. I know the cars are F3-based, but is it possible to directly compare them with other F3 series? Are they using any of the same circuits? I had a quick google but couldn't find any comparisons? For this series to be relevant at all, surely some direct comparison with other drivers is not only sensible, but essential.
As someone said, this series may encourage a few more women to participate, which is fine but, ultimately, I think motorsport will always be dominated by men, because men are far more likely to want to do it. Unless we see a significant shift in which genders choose which activities (which seems quite unlikely to me), then I think little will change. I would love to see a woman on the F1 grid, or more women at Le Mans, or (another) woman in the WRC but, as with all-women shortlists for political parties, I'm a bit uncomfortable with using positive discrimination to achieve it. The best candidate should always come out on top, regardless of gender or any other factor. I have to wonder if spreading these female drivers across multiple series and just helping them with the PR and coaching side would be a much more productive thing to do, helping to raise the profile of motorsport more generally, rather than just a series for women.
Firstly agree there is no physical limitation for women to compete at any level of motorsport really - although you see that parroted out all the time by kids/miserable old men who have never driven a race car and/or taken 5 mins just work work out what sort of strength and endurance is needed to operate your body at 5G (answer: a lot, but *nothing* a female cannot train to). Also, being generally smaller and having a proven slightly quicker reaction time (see NHRA) also in some respects gives the female form an advantage...Ultimately, the reason we see so few women at the top of the sport is because very few women are actually interested in getting there. For the 20 men on the F1 grid, how many male racing drivers are out there that haven't made it? Thousands upon thousands. Given that most men have almost no chance of making it to the top, when women make up only a tiny fraction of that number, their lack of presence is a result of nothing more than simple maths. You could even argue that an extremely talented female driver would represent a better investment for a top-level race team, purely because it would generate so much PR.
Chadwick is clearly a talented driver, but if she wants to progress her career, I'm not sure W-series is the place to do it. Like other budding F1 drivers, she needs to prove herself against others in one of the main feeder series. It would be deeply embarrassing if she were to be fast-tracked into a top level series because she has won this a couple of times, and then get absolutely destroyed when she makes the step up, simply because this series isn't competitive enough. I know the cars are F3-based, but is it possible to directly compare them with other F3 series? Are they using any of the same circuits? I had a quick google but couldn't find any comparisons? For this series to be relevant at all, surely some direct comparison with other drivers is not only sensible, but essential.
As someone said, this series may encourage a few more women to participate, which is fine but, ultimately, I think motorsport will always be dominated by men, because men are far more likely to want to do it. Unless we see a significant shift in which genders choose which activities (which seems quite unlikely to me), then I think little will change. I would love to see a woman on the F1 grid, or more women at Le Mans, or (another) woman in the WRC but, as with all-women shortlists for political parties, I'm a bit uncomfortable with using positive discrimination to achieve it. The best candidate should always come out on top, regardless of gender or any other factor. I have to wonder if spreading these female drivers across multiple series and just helping them with the PR and coaching side would be a much more productive thing to do, helping to raise the profile of motorsport more generally, rather than just a series for women.
Edited by Jon_S_Rally on Friday 17th January 13:41
Also agree the reason there aren't any true world class level female drivers is just maths- it's a tough business, and probability says it would take a long time with the current misrepresentation.
But - i don't think it need necessarily always be this way, and that more female heroes can only help. In that respect, am in favor or W Series in that it invests an obviously huge amount of money (theshe are all paid drives) to try and generate interest in a pool of potentially hundreds of millions of motorsport fans ..... i just would have preferred they did something different with that money. Maybe take the 3-4 best drivers (of which Jamie Chadwick clearly one of them),and paid for seasons in Euro F3, maybe F2, etc and then made a documentary out of it or something . But - it's their money, end of the day... and presumably they've done the sums.
I don't though think it harms her career at all - in that, you only really have a career if you're not on a young driver programme or lucky enough to get a paid GT drive if you have Loads and Loads of Money. She has the offer of a paid drive here, to build her profile. Good luck to her.
The percentage of actual paid drivers is tiny, and to get to that level you need so much funding that is really hard to come by. Motorsport is *not* a meritocracy - you need money, luck, talent and money to make it, and in that order. Even if on a F1 team's young driver scheme, you still need to have spent ~1m or so in karting to get the opportunity. So it may be positive discrimination - but then it's hardly fair the current crop only make it if they are minted!
Lando Norris was competing in 3 different junior series in parallel at one point - easily 1.5m a season that nobody other than his family paid for. I see lots of blokes angry that W series is female only, not so many of them noticing that most young drivers come from backgrounds of enormous privilege..... (not a dig at the kids themselves; it's not their fault. just noting nobody seems to care as much as if there is an all female race series supporting F1!)
But women have recently made it to F1, Carmen Jorda joined Renault F1 after she got two 17th places in the 2014 GP3 series
And who can forget Suzie Wolff joining Williams after getting two seven place finishes in seven years of DTM.
Surely if a woman driver was good enough she would be in F1, after all surely that is a marketing mans dream?
Hell, I bet if you put Archie Hamilton in a car against these twelve he would win every race. There must be thousands of male drivers racing in lower formulas who are better than them but will never get the chance due to money.
And who can forget Suzie Wolff joining Williams after getting two seven place finishes in seven years of DTM.
Surely if a woman driver was good enough she would be in F1, after all surely that is a marketing mans dream?
Hell, I bet if you put Archie Hamilton in a car against these twelve he would win every race. There must be thousands of male drivers racing in lower formulas who are better than them but will never get the chance due to money.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 20th January 13:05
Joey Deacon said:
But women have recently made it to F1, Carmen Jorda joined Renault F1 after she got two 17th places in the 2014 GP3 series
Surely if a woman driver was good enough she would be in F1, after all surely that is a marketing mans dream?
But there isn't yet, and it isn't just a matter of talent. if there are many thousands of talented drivers in a massive pool trying to get to be one of the tiny number who make a very good living in one of the few big paying series.... and if only 1-3% (guess) of those are female, the odds are much longer on one breaking through. So initiatives like these help try and grow the pool in the first place, by promoting the fact women absolutely can complete. But then as others point out, has done it in a clumsy way. Wouldn't be my choice, but is what it is. At least they're trying something... and putting up cash. Surely if a woman driver was good enough she would be in F1, after all surely that is a marketing mans dream?
Edited by Joey Deacon on Monday 20th January 13:05
Chadwick is a good driver. Race winner in F3 not really in a top team, won GT4 championship.... i think any kid with enough money thrown at them can make F1, i don't think motorsport is something you need any physical gift or talent for, it's just about time, money, and mental approach. So could be her, or could be an 8 year old racing now who sees her as the inspiration to keep going...
and yeah - there will be loads of talented drivers who miss out because of lack of money. I have raced with plenty of people I *know* could be F3, maybe even F2 winners with enough money or even beyond. But that's how the sport is - you just need cash! I don't see what's more unfair about some female racers being given the opportunity which might pull in more females to that pool...... no less fair than Lando Norris getting his break because his family are minted.
For some reason though, old men get more annoyed about W series than the fact you pretty much need to be a millionaire's son to be an F1 driver. Odd.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff