W Series launches new simulated motor sport for female racing drivers

W Series, the international single-seater motor racing championship for female drivers, has announced the inauguration of a new W Series Esports League. Partnering with Logitech G (PC and console gaming gear), Beyond Entertainment (tournament hosting) and iRacing (e-sports simulation platform), the League will commence its sim racing season in the coming weeks in the current absence of on-track motor racing anywhere in the world.

A new initiative, the League aims to inaugurate, publicise, promote and empower a shared commitment to raising female sim racing visibility to encourage more women and girls everywhere to take up eracing, thereby opening up a new world of equality and diversity in what has previously been seen as a predominantly male-dominated activity.

The drivers

The League will be contested by women only, and all 18 drivers who have qualified to race in the on-track W Series this year are expected to take part, as follows:

Jamie Chadwick, United Kingdom, 21
Beitske Visser, Netherlands, 25
Alice Powell, United Kingdom, 27
Marta Garcia, Spain, 19
Emma Kimilainen, Finland, 30
Fabienne Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, 22
Miki Koyama, Japan, 22
Sarah Moore, United Kingdom, 26
Vicky Piria, Italy, 26
Tasmin Pepper, South Africa, 29
Jessica Hawkins, United Kingdom, 25
Sabre Cook, United States, 25
Ayla Agren, Norway, 26
Abbie Eaton, United Kingdom, 28
Belen Garcia, Spain, 20
Nerea Marti, Spain, 18
Irina Sidorkova, Russia, 16
Bruna Tomaselli, Brazil, 22

W Series reserves the right to invite other female drivers to participate in League races on an invitational basis. “Nothing beats the sheer thrill of driving a real race car flat-out on a real racetrack, and I don’t mind admitting I’m missing that enormously,” says reigning W Series champion Jamie Chadwick.

“But I’ve been massively impressed by the work that W Series, Logitech, Beyond Entertainment and iRacing have done together over the past few weeks, and the result, the W Series Esports League, is seriously impressive. When I saw the list of circuits, I literally gasped: it’s a truly mouth-watering schedule. So you can be well sure I’ll be practising hard from now until the first League race. It won’t be easy to continue my winning form – I respect all the W Series drivers and I know how keen they’ll all be to do well – but I’ll definitely be giving it my best shot. Bring it on!”

The circuits

The League races will be run on 10 of the greatest circuits in the world, in the following order:

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)

The cars

Working closely with Logitech, Beyond Entertainment and iRacing, the League will feature digital versions of the Tatuus Formula Renault 2.0 race car, similar in performance to the W Series Tatuus Formula 3 race car, accurately modelled to replicate its looks, performance and driver ‘feel’, thereby creating an innovative state-of-the-art visual spectacle that further blurs the lines between real and virtual.

The racing
League points will be awarded in every race. At the end of the season, the driver who has scored the most points will be declared the winner.
Up to three races will be run at each of the 10 circuits, of varying lengths/durations, the majority of them conventional races started on grids formed according to normal qualifying sessions, but some of them reverse-grid races started on grids formed in reverse order of current W Series Esports League points standings.

•W Series is pleased to announce the addition of two new race drivers and one new reserve driver to the line-up for the W Series Esports League for female racing drivers only, as follows:

Caitlin Wood, Gosia Rdest and Naomi Schiff

Caitlin Wood, Australia, 23
Gosia Rdest, Poland, 27
Naomi Schiff, Germany, 25

The three drivers will join the 18 who have qualified to race in the on-track W Series this year, all of whom are expected to take part in the W Series Esports League.