W Series Cancels 2020 Season
The W Series has confirmed that it has cancelled its eight-race 2020 season, and will wait until 2021 to stage on-track races.
The season was scheduled to start in St Petersburg on 30th May, and set to finish in Mexico City on 31st October – a race which would have taken place on the Formula 1 support card.
The all-female single seater series, however, says plans are already in place for a ‘bigger and better’ season in 2021, which it says will include at least two races on the Formula 1 calendar – in Austin, Texas and again in Mexico City.
“After the resounding success of W Series’ debut season in 2019, our decision not to stage on-track races until 2021 is not one that has been taken lightly,” said Catherine Bond Muir, CEO, W Series.
“However, we are already working on an exciting new W Series race calendar for 2021, and we are delighted to be able to confirm that W Series races will feature on the support cards of a number of Formula 1 Grands Prix next year, including the 2021 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas and the 2021 Mexican Grand Prix at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
“However, now that we have taken the very difficult but ultimately unavoidable decision to end any uncertainty surrounding our 2020 plans, we will focus our energies clearly on 2021, when we will resume our on-track racing programme, bigger and better than ever before.
Ross Brawn, Managing Director of Motorsports, Formula 1, said: “W Series has had an incredible impact on the world of motorsport, and we were excited to have them join our schedule this year. It is a big disappointment for all of us that due to the difficulties presented by COVID-19 the events will not take place, but we are looking forward to some exciting racing in 2021 when W Series returns.”
Although the W Series will not host its 2020 events as planned, organisers have launched a new esports series for female drivers only, which will include a host of sim-racing drivers as well as commentary from 13-time F1 Grand Prix winner David Coulthard and current Formula 3 driver Billy Monger.
