2019 W Series

Last updated
Jamie Chadwick, the 2019 drivers' champion. Jamie Laura Chadwick.jpg
Jamie Chadwick, the 2019 drivers' champion.

The 2019 W Series was the inaugural motor racing season of the W Series, an all-female Formula Regional-level racing series. [1]

Contents

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  [ es ] in Almería, Spain. [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 would 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
Eliminated after evaluation
Eliminated after testing

Qualified drivers

All drivers competed with the TatuusAlfa Romeo F3 T-318 operated by Hitech GP and fitted with Hankook tires. [9]

No.DriversClassRounds
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Esmee Hawkey All
3 Flag of Poland.svg Gosia Rdest All
5 Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Fabienne Wohlwend All
7 Flag of Finland.svg Emma Kimiläinen 1, 4–6
11 Flag of Italy.svg Vicky Piria All
19 Flag of Spain.svg Marta García All
20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Caitlin Wood All
21 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jessica Hawkins All
26 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Moore All
27 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell All
31 Flag of South Africa.svg Tasmin Pepper All
37 Flag of the United States.svg Sabré Cook All
49 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Megan Gilkes R 1 1–3, 5–6
55 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick All
58 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Sarah Bovy R2–3, 6
67 Flag of the United States.svg Shea Holbrook All
77 Flag of Hungary.svg Vivien Keszthelyi R 1 2–4, 6
85 Flag of Japan.svg Miki Koyama All
95 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Beitske Visser All
99 Flag of Germany.svg Naomi Schiff [lower-alpha 1] All
Source: [10] [11]
IconClass
RReserve driver

^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

Beitske Visser scored four podiums including a race win. 2019 Brands Hatch W Series round 32.jpg
Beitske Visser scored four podiums including a race win.

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]

RoundCircuitDatesPole PositionFastest LapRace WinnerReport
1 Flag of Germany.svg Hockenheimring 4 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Flag of Japan.svg Miki Koyama Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Report
2 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Circuit Zolder 18 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Flag of the Netherlands.svg Beitske Visser Flag of the Netherlands.svg Beitske Visser Report
3 Flag of Italy.svg Misano World Circuit 8 June Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Fabienne Wohlwend Flag of the Netherlands.svg Beitske Visser Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Report
4 Flag of Germany.svg Norisring 6 July Flag of Spain.svg Marta García Flag of Finland.svg Emma Kimiläinen Flag of Spain.svg Marta García Report
5 Flag of the Netherlands.svg TT Circuit Assen 20 July Flag of Finland.svg Emma Kimiläinen Flag of Finland.svg Emma Kimiläinen Flag of Finland.svg Emma Kimiläinen Report
NC21 July Flag of the United States.svg Sabré Cook Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Megan Gilkes
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brands Hatch 11 August Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Flag of Finland.svg Emma Kimiläinen Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell Report
Sources: [15] [16]

Championship standings

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top ten classified finishers as follows: [17]

Race Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th 
Points251815121086421

Drivers' Championship

Jamie Chadwick was champion in the inaugural season. 2019 Brands Hatch W Series round 25.jpg
Jamie Chadwick was champion in the inaugural season.
Pos.Driver HOC
Flag of Germany.svg
ZOL
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
MIS
Flag of Italy.svg
NOR
Flag of Germany.svg
ASS
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
BRH
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Points
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick 121334110
2 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Beitske Visser 412243100
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell 23RetRet2176
4 Flag of Spain.svg Marta García 34619866
5 Flag of Finland.svg Emma Kimiläinen RetWD51253
6 Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Fabienne Wohlwend 673415551
7 Flag of Japan.svg Miki Koyama 7846Ret2030
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Moore 559Ret101024
9 Flag of Italy.svg Vicky Piria 1595128624
10 Flag of South Africa.svg Tasmin Pepper 8678Ret1222
11 Flag of the United States.svg Sabré Cook 13158713912
12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jessica Hawkins 111315Ret7712
13 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Caitlin Wood 1011141151111
14 Flag of Poland.svg Gosia Rdest 9Ret131461310
15 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Esmee Hawkey 12Ret11911162
16 Flag of Germany.svg Naomi Schiff 1410181012152
17 Flag of Hungary.svg Vivien Keszthelyi Ret1013141
18 Flag of the United States.svg Shea Holbrook 1612161516170
19 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Megan Gilkes Ret141714180
20 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Sarah Bovy DNS12190
Pos.Driver HOC
Flag of Germany.svg
ZOL
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
MIS
Flag of Italy.svg
NOR
Flag of Germany.svg
ASS
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
BRH
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Points
Source: [17]
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

Notes

  1. Schiff is a Rwandan-Belgian driver who competed under a German racing licence.

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References

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