2021 W Series

Last updated

Contents

The 2021 W Series was the second season of the W Series motor racing championship, replacing the 2020 season after it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] The championship was exclusively open to female racing drivers as a Formula Regional-level racing series in support of the 2021 Formula One World Championship. [2]

Jamie Chadwick entered the season as the defending W Series champion, having won the title in 2019. [3] Chadwick secured her second consecutive championship, winning the 2021 title at the season finale race, at Circuit of the Americas.

Calendar

The series management announced on 12 November 2020 that the season would consist of eight rounds all held in support of the 2021 Formula One World Championship, including two rounds scheduled for the cancelled 2020 season at the Circuit of the Americas and Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. [4] A provisional calendar was then revealed on 8 December 2020. [5] After Formula One made slight amendments to its calendar, the W Series moved its first event from Circuit Paul Ricard to the Red Bull Ring. [6] Later on in the year, when Formula One postponed the 2021 Mexico City Grand Prix, the season finale was shifted from Mexico City to a second race in Austin. [7]

RoundCircuitDateMaps
1 Flag of Austria.svg Red Bull Ring, Spielberg 26 June
23 July
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 17 July
4 Flag of Hungary.svg Hungaroring, Mogyoród 31 July
5 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot 28 August
6 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort 4 September
7 Flag of the United States.svg Circuit of the Americas, Austin 23–24 October
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Flag of France.svg Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet 26 JuneReplaced with a second race at the Red Bull Ring
- Flag of Mexico.svg Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City 30 OctoberReplaced with a second race at the Circuit of the Americas
Sources: [6] [7] [8]

Entries

The following drivers and teams made up the grid for the 2021 W Series season. All teams used Hankook tyres, and ran two mechanically identical Tatuus F.3 T-318 cars with two drivers. [9] All cars were operated by Fine Moments, and 'teams' were purely for sponsorship and identification purposes. [10]

The series allowed commercial entrants for 2021, demonstrated here by Bruna Tomaselli and Veloce Racing. 2021 British Grand Prix (51349284686).jpg
The series allowed commercial entrants for 2021, demonstrated here by Bruna Tomaselli and Veloce Racing.
TeamNo.DriverStatusRounds
Puma W Series Team3 Flag of Poland.svg Gosia Rdest R1–2
19 Flag of Spain.svg Marta García All
20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Caitlin Wood R4–5
49 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Abbi Pulling R3, 6–8
W Series Academy 3 Flag of Poland.svg Gosia Rdest R5
20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Caitlin Wood R7–8
32 Flag of Spain.svg Nerea Martí All
51 Flag of Russia.svg Irina Sidorkova 1–6 [lower-alpha 1]
Bunker Racing5 Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Fabienne Wohlwend [lower-alpha 2] All
37 Flag of the United States.svg Sabré Cook All
Écurie W7 Flag of Finland.svg Emma Kimiläinen All
44 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Abbie Eaton All
Sirin Racing11 Flag of Italy.svg Vittoria Piria All
54 Flag of Japan.svg Miki Koyama All
M. Forbes Motorsport17 Flag of Norway.svg Ayla Ågren All
95 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Beitske Visser All
Racing X21 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jessica Hawkins All
27 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell All
Scuderia W22 Flag of Spain.svg Belén García All
26 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Moore All
Veloce Racing 55 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick All
97 Flag of Brazil.svg Bruna Tomaselli All
Drivers contracted to the championship who did not race
31 Flag of South Africa.svg Tasmin Pepper RNone
99 Flag of Rwanda.svg Naomi Schiff RNone
Source: [13]
IconStatus
RReserve driver

Driver changes

The top twelve drivers from the 2019 championship were all qualified for the 2020 season, [14] leaving eight vacancies in the driver line-up. Forty new drivers applied to take part in the season; however, only fourteen of those took part in the first test which took place between 16 and 18 September 2019 at the Circuito de Almería  [ es ], Spain. [14] [15] The final 18 drivers were announced on 17 December 2020, with the possibility of more being announced at a later date. [16] A list of five reserve drivers was announced on 11 June 2021, comprising 2019 drivers Gosia Rdest, Naomi Schiff and Caitlin Wood, British F4 podium finisher Abbi Pulling, and Tasmin Pepper, who was unable to take part in the season due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions. [17]

Championship changes

Hitech GP announced on 14 November 2020 that they would discontinue their involvement for 2021 as they moved into new series, [18] and Fine Moments took over their role for the 2021 season. [19] The series continues to use the same Tatuus T-318 Formula 3 chassis and Alfa Romeo engines. [20] On 24 June 2021 W Series announced it would pivot from a centrally-run series format to a team-based structure with assigned drivers and control over the car livery and team overalls, as well as the team name. The 2021 season would be used as a transitional season, with an unofficial teams' championship and all outfits still being centrally run, but with a vision for a fully team-structured grid and a legitimate teams' championship for the 2022 season. [10] Prioritising the importance of driver skill within the championship, and to ensure technical equality, all 18 cars, although sporting a variety of liveries and team names, will remain mechanically identical, with preparation and maintenance managed by W Series Engineering. [10] Hankook was initially dropped as the tyre supplier for the 2021 season due to the move from the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters to F1 support bill, [18] and W Series was reportedly "speaking to a number of tyre suppliers". On 5 May 2021, however, W Series announced Hankook would continue to supply tyres for the 2021 season. [9]

Season summary

Jamie Chadwick (pictured in 2019) won back-to-back championships, winning half of the seasons' eight races. Jamie Laura Chadwick.jpg
Jamie Chadwick (pictured in 2019) won back-to-back championships, winning half of the seasons' eight races.

The series' return race at the Red Bull Ring after a years' hiatus was an incident-filled affair. Having qualified outside the top five, reigning champion Jamie Chadwick was punted off the circuit on the second lap by Jessica Hawkins, but would recover to finish in the points. Débutant Belén García made a strong impression starting in the top three, but went off chasing team-mate Sarah Moore for second. Marta García broke down with a gearbox failure and the resulting safety car restart saw Beitske Visser taken out of a podium position by Emma Kimiläinen. Alice Powell remained untroubled throughout, taking a wire-to-wire win ahead of Moore and Fabienne Wohlwend, who avoided all the chaos to finish third having started ninth. [21]

Powell and Chadwick's fortunes turned around for the second round in Austria; the reigning champion cruised to her third series victory, whilst Powell finished eighth having qualified outside the top ten. Visser started on the front row, but stalled off the line and was unable to score any points. Irina Sidorkova, the youngest driver on the grid, overtook multiple cars off the circuit at the first corner but went unpenalised, surviving a battle with Kimiläinen to finish second. Bruna Tomaselli spent most of the race in fourth with a train of cars behind her, but Moore overhauled her in the closing stages. [22]

Powell qualified on pole for her home race at Silverstone, but was beaten off the front row by Wohlwend. The Liechtensteiner led the majority of the race until a safety car was deployed for Miki Koyama, who stopped with a race-long mechanical issue. Wohlwend ran wide on the restart lap, and was overtaken by an ultimately victorious Powell. Chadwick rounded out the podium whilst Abbi Pulling scored points in her first W Series race. Belén García was taken out of a points-paying position on the last lap by Hawkins. [23]

Chadwick claimed a commanding win in the fourth round of the season in Budapest, beating Powell by ten seconds in a mostly uneventful race. Nerea Martí claimed her first W Series podium and moved into third in the standings having put together a consistent rookie season. Wohlwend's strong early-season form came to an abrupt end after breaking her front wing on the opening lap and becoming the only race retirement. [24]

The series' first trip to Spa-Francorchamps was dominated by a multi-car crash in qualifying. Changeable weather resulted in unexpected damp conditions at the Radillion de l'Eau Rouge complex, resulting in a pile-up involving Moore, Abbie Eaton, Visser, Ayla Ågren, Belén García and Wohlwend – team-mates Visser and Ågren were taken to hospital for precautionary checks and neither started the race. [25] Emma Kimiläinen overtook Powell and Chadwick in extreme wet conditions to claim her first win of the season, with Chadwick second and Marta García taking her first podium since her win at the Norisring with third. [26]

Powell won her third race of the season at the final European round in Zandvoort, drawing her level with Chadwick at the top of the championship. Kimiläinen continued her strong run by qualifying on pole position, but was overtaken by the two Brits early in the race. A lack of overtaking due to a design flaw with the Formula Regional cars resulted in an uninspiring race, however Tomaselli did spin on the formation lap. [27]

The series ended with a double-header at the Circuit of the Americas, and Chadwick immediately gained the upper hand by qualifying on the front row for both races whilst Powell was mired at the back of the top ten. Chadwick won the race whilst Powell kept her title hopes alive having charged to a podium finish, overtaking her protégé Pulling – who claimed a shock pole position in just her third W Series race – in the closing stages. Eaton collided with a sausage kerb and fractured her T4 vertebrae, putting her out of the last race. [28] Marta García also sat out the final heat suffering from anxiety. In the final race, Chadwick claimed an emphatic lights-to-flag victory to seal her second title having only needed a top five finish to win the championship, with Powell unable to produce another Race 1-style fightback having been held up by Belén García. Local driver Sabré Cook, who had been uncompetitive all season having struggled with a hip injury, was taken out of a points finish by Hawkins in the final laps. [29]

Results and standings

Results summary

Alice Powell scored two pole positions and three race wins. W Series 2021 Austria Nr. 27 Powell (side).jpg
Alice Powell scored two pole positions and three race wins.
RoundCircuitPole PositionFastest LapRace WinnerWinning TeamReport
1Spielberg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell Racing X report
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Veloce Racing report
3Silverstone Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell Racing X report
4Budapest Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Veloce Racing report
5Spa-Francorchamps Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Flag of Finland.svg Emma Kimiläinen Flag of Finland.svg Emma Kimiläinen Écurie W report
6Zandvoort Flag of Finland.svg Emma Kimiläinen Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell Racing X report
7Austin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Abbi Pulling Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Veloce Racing report
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick Veloce Racing

Championship standings

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top ten classified finishers as follows: [30]

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

Drivers' Championship

Pos.Driver SPI1
Flag of Austria.svg
SPI2
Flag of Austria.svg
SIL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
BUD
Flag of Hungary.svg
SPA
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
ZAN
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
AUS
Flag of the United States.svg
Points
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick 61312211159
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alice Powell 18124136132
3 Flag of Finland.svg Emma Kimiläinen 133461323108
4 Flag of Spain.svg Nerea Martí 7753848861
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Moore 247151397456
6 Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Fabienne Wohlwend 3102Ret7169Ret42
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Abbi Pulling 874240
8 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Beitske Visser 121165DNS125538
9 Flag of Russia.svg Irina Sidorkova 82144WD1334
10 Flag of Spain.svg Belén García 4917†814812728
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jessica Hawkins 161616106561527
12 Flag of Spain.svg Marta García Ret1212731815DNS21
13 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Abbie Eaton 156913106RetDNS19
14 Flag of Japan.svg Miki Koyama 518Ret12910101214
15 Flag of Brazil.svg Bruna Tomaselli 1151191517171112
16 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Caitlin Wood 175131011
17 Flag of Norway.svg Ayla Ågren 10141511DNS151693
18 Flag of Poland.svg Gosia Rdest 917162
19 Flag of Italy.svg Vicky Piria 17†151016121114141
20 Flag of the United States.svg Sabré Cook 14131314111411130
Pos.Driver SPI1
Flag of Austria.svg
SPI2
Flag of Austria.svg
SIL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
BUD
Flag of Hungary.svg
SPA
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
ZAN
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
AUS
Flag of the United States.svg
Points
Source: [30]
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
 — Did not finish, but classified

Notes

  1. Sidorkova was entered for the Spa-Francorchamps round but withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19. She was replaced by Gosia Rdest. [11]
  2. Wohlwend is a Liechtenstein driver who competed under a Swiss licence. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Chadwick</span> British racing driver (born 1998)

Jamie Laura Chadwick is a British racing driver who races for Andretti Global in Indy NXT. She won the inaugural W Series season in 2019, before retaining her title in 2021 and 2022. She holds the records for the most wins, podiums, pole positions and points in the W Series. She has also competed in the Race of Champions for Great Britain alongside David Coulthard, as well as racing in Extreme E. She is a development driver for the Williams Formula One team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">W Series (championship)</span> Single-seater racing championship

W Series was an all-female single-seater racing championship. It was held over a total of three seasons in 2019, 2021 and 2022 before the championship fell into administration and later liquidated, with a planned season in 2020 cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All three editions were won by Jamie Chadwick.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fabienne Wohlwend</span> Racing driver from Liechtenstein

Fabienne Wohlwend is a racing driver from Liechtenstein who competed in the W Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Kimiläinen</span> Finnish racing driver (born 1989)

Emma Elina Kimiläinen is a Finnish racing driver. She currently competes in the E1 Series and formerly competed in the W Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Hockenheim W Series round</span> Motor car race

The 2019 W Series Hockenheim round was the first round of the 2019 W Series, and took place at the Hockenheimring in Germany on 4 May 2019. The event was an undercard to the 2019 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters round at the same circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Zolder W Series round</span> Motor car race

The 2019 W Series Zolder round was the second round of the 2019 W Series, and took place at Circuit Zolder in Belgium on 18 May 2019. The event was an undercard to the 2019 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters round at the same circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Misano W Series round</span> Motor car race

The 2019 W Series Misano round was the third round of the 2019 W Series, and took place at the Misano World Circuit in Italy on 8 June 2019. The event was an undercard to the 2019 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters round at the same circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Norisring W Series round</span> Motor car race

The 2019 W Series Nuremberg round was the fourth round of the 2019 W Series, and took place at the Norisring in Germany on 6 July 2019. The event was an undercard to the 2019 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters round at the same circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Assen W Series round</span> Motor car race

The 2019 W Series Assen round was the fifth round of the 2019 W Series, and took place at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands on 20 July 2019. The event was an undercard to the 2019 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters round at the same circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Brands Hatch W Series round</span> Motor car race

The 2019 W Series Brands Hatch round was the sixth and final round of the 2019 W Series, and took place at Brands Hatch in the United Kingdom on 11 August 2019. The event was an undercard to the 2019 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters round at the same circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irina Sidorkova</span> Russian racing driver

Irina Antonovna Sidorkova, also known as Ira Sidorkova, is a Russian racing driver. She has competed in the W Series and the F3 Asian Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 1st Spielberg W Series round</span> Motor car race

The 2021 W Series Spielberg round was the first round of seven in the 2021 W Series, and took place at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on 26 June 2021. The event was an undercard to the 2021 Formula One World Championship round at the same circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Silverstone W Series round</span> Motor car race

The 2021 W Series Silverstone round was the third round of seven in the 2021 W Series, and took place at the Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom on 17 July 2021. The event was an undercard to the 2021 Formula One World Championship round at the same circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Budapest W Series round</span> Motor car race

The 2021 W Series Budapest round was the fourth round of seven in the 2021 W Series, and took place at the Hungaroring in Budapest on 31 July 2021. The event was an undercard to the 2021 Formula One World Championship round at the same circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Spa-Francorchamps W Series round</span> Motor car race

The 2021 W Series Spa-Francorchamps round was the fifth round of seven in the 2021 W Series, and took place at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on 28 August 2021. The event was an undercard to the 2021 Formula One World Championship round at the same circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Zandvoort W Series round</span> Motor car race

The 2021 W Series Zandvoort round was the sixth and penultimate round of the 2021 W Series, and took place at Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands on 4 September 2021. The event was an undercard to the 2021 Formula One World Championship round at the same circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Austin W Series round</span>

The 2021 W Series Austin round was the seventh and final round of the 2021 W Series, and took place at the Circuit of the Americas in the United States on the 23rd and 24 October 2021. The event was an undercard to the 2021 Formula One World Championship round at the same circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 W Series</span> Motor racing championship

The 2022 W Series was the third and final season of the W Series motor racing championship. The championship was exclusively open to female racing drivers as a Formula Regional-level racing series in support of the 2022 Formula One World Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 2nd Spielberg W Series round</span> Motor car race

The 2021 W Series Spielberg round 2 was the second round of seven in the 2021 W Series, and took place at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on 3 July 2021. The event was an undercard to the 2021 Formula One World Championship round at the same circuit.

References

  1. "W Series cancels 2020 season but reveals plans for F1 support races in 2021". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  2. "All-female motor racing series offers potential F1 pathway". CNN. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  3. "Jamie Chadwick wins inaugural W Series Championship". W Series. 11 August 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  4. "W Series to support F1 in 2021 and beyond". ESPN.com. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  5. "2021 race calendar announced". W Series. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Preparations Hit The Home Straight". W Series. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  7. 1 2 "W Series at the Double in Austin for 2021 Season Finale". W Series. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  8. "W Series Results 2021". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Hankook continue as global tyre partner". W Series. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 "W Series pivots towards new 'Team' structure". W Series. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  11. "STATEMENT ON COVID-19 TEST RESULT FOR W SERIES ACADEMY DRIVER IRINA SIDORKOVA". W Series. 27 August 2021.
  12. "Fabienne: Ein Podium für die Nachbarn". Autosprint.ch (in German). 27 June 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  13. "W Series begins move to team-based format for new season · RaceFans". RaceFans. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  14. 1 2 "W Series to limit 2020 new driver test to less than 20 drivers". Highway F1. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  15. "Legge, Eaton, Agren among 2020 W Series applicants". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  16. "2021 Driver Line-Up Announced". W Series. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  17. "Reserve driver line-up confirmed for 2021". W Series. 11 June 2021.
  18. 1 2 Wood, Ida (14 November 2020). "Hitech confirms discontinuation of W Series involvement for 2021". Formula Scout. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  19. "W Series makes branding change to allocate drivers into 'teams'". Formula Scout. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  20. "Preparations Hit The Home Straight". W Series. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  21. "Powell Rules W Series As Moore Scores First Podium". Feeder Series. 29 June 2021.
  22. "Chadwick dominates W Series' second Red Bull Ring race". RaceFans. 3 July 2021.
  23. "SILVERSTONE W SERIES: POWELL PROFITS FROM WOHLWEND ERROR TO WIN". Motorsport.com. 17 July 2021.
  24. "Chadwick dominates in Hungary to take second 2021 W Series victory". Motorsport Week. 31 July 2021.
  25. "W-SERIES DRIVERS HOSPITALISED AFTER BIG CRASH AT SPA". GrandPrix24/7. 27 August 2021.
  26. "Kimilainen takes W Series Spa win in wet racing masterclass". RaceFans. 28 August 2021.
  27. "W SERIES: POWELL WINS IN ZANDVOORT TO REGAIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP'S LEAD". Formula Nerds. 4 September 2021.
  28. "Chadwick takes W Series lead with Race 1 win at COTA". Racer. 24 October 2021.
  29. "Jamie Chadwick wins again at COTA to take second W Series title". Formula One. 24 October 2021.
  30. 1 2 "2021 season results and standings". W Series . Retrieved 13 September 2021.