Formula Woman

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Formula Woman, which was known as the Privilege Insurance Formula Woman Championship for sponsorship reasons, is a female-only one make racing series started in 2004 in the UK. It was inspired by the lack of female drivers in other series and was created, amongst other reasons, to boost the female audience of the sport. [1] [2]

Contents

In November 2020 it was announced that Formula Woman would be making a come-back in 2021. [3]

Original series

In 2004, all 16 drivers raced Mazda RX-8s over seven rounds around four British racing circuits. For 2005, support was dropped by Mazda and instead drivers competed in Caterham 7s.

2004

The inaugural season of Formula Woman was based around a television series on ITV. Thousands of women applied to join, with ultimately 17 drivers being chosen to compete. Experienced motoring journalist Vicki Butler-Henderson hosted the ITV show, [4] while racing drivers Katherine Legge and Tim Harvey were both part of the judging panel. Legge left for unknown reasons early into the selection process. [1]

Race calendar

RoundCircuitDateRace Winner
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oulton Park 12 June Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Natasha Firman
212 June Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Natasha Firman
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Knockhill Racing Circuit 27 June Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Margo Gardner
427 June Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Margo Gardner
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Cadwell Park 4 July Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lorraine Pinner
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brands Hatch 25 July Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lorraine Pinner
725 July Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lorraine Pinner

Championship standings

The 2004 championship was won by Natasha Firman. [5]

PosDriverPts
1 Natasha Firman 215
2Lorraine Pinner209
3Bev Tyler161
4Juliette Thurston146
5Emma Hayles122
6Margo Gardner112
7Pippa Cow104
8Lauren Blighton94
9Nicola Robertson80
10Judith Lyons74
11Sarah Bennet-Baggs73
12Amy Handford70
13Victoria Hardy63
14Max Thompson47
15Catherine Gard31
16Joanna Linton28
17Karen Andrews20

2005

Formula Woman returned in 2005 using Caterham 7's after Mazda withdrew support. The series was run as a Nations Cup. Natalie Butler from England won the 2005 Championship. [1]

Entry list

NationDriver
Flag of England.svg Emma Hayles
Flag of England.svg Annie Templeton
Flag of England.svg Natalie Butler
Flag of Scotland.svg Margo Gardner
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Rachel Owen
Flag of Ireland.svg Jennifer Daniel
Flag of South Africa.svg Jennifer Murray
Flag of Sweden.svg Nettan Lindgren
Flag of Poland.svg Anna Walewska
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lauren Gray
Flag of the United States.svg Amanda Hennessy
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Theresia Balk

Following the end of the season in November, a novices race weekend was held at Pembrey, South Wales, using exclusive Caterham 7 race cars, with a record 62 women competing. [6] The four race winners were automatically given entry to the 2006 Formula Woman championship.

Novice Race winners

NationDriver
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Amanda Elliott
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michelle Nixon
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lucy Redding
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Amanda Black

2006

The series continued in 2006, again using the Caterham 7 car but without any television coverage. Ultimately, Nikki Welsby won the championship. [7]

The series was not renewed for 2007.

New Formula Woman series

In November 2020, it was announced that Formula Woman would be making a come-back. [3] The series opened for applicants in March 2021 with a view to the series starting in the autumn of the same year with an accompanying television package. [8] The new competition prize will offer winners the opportunity to race a McLaren 570S GT4 in the British GT Cup Championship that 16 drivers will compete for. [9]

The series secured major sponsorship including McLaren, Trade Centre, Vauxhall, and many more. [10]

Test days have taken place at circuits including Knockhill and Anglesey Circuit. [11] As of December 2021, the assessments for the final driver decisions were on-going following a test day at Bedford Autodrome using Vauxhall Corsa-e cars. [12]

In March 2022, the competition progressed to select 15 finalists from 70, with more selections involving a track kart test at Croft to achieve 10, followed by a future final race for four contestants. [13] [14] [15]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Speedqueens: Formula Woman". 14 September 2010.
  2. "Magazine / Sport : On the fast track". The Hindu . 2005-04-03. Archived from the original on 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
  3. 1 2 "Formula Woman set to return next year". 20 November 2020.
  4. "Mates sponsors Formula Woman reality TV show".
  5. "Privilege Insurance Formula Woman Championship 2004 standings | Driver Database".
  6. "Racy Women Set New World Record". www.carpages.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  7. "Speedqueens: Formula Woman". 14 September 2010.
  8. "Formula Woman is Back!".
  9. "McLaren Customer Racing to provide GT4 Race Cars for Formula Woman Winners".
  10. "Partners".
  11. "Trade Centre thrilled to support TV's Formula Woman - the Trade Centre UK".
  12. "Formula Woman Assessments Conclude with the Vauxhall Corsa-e Excelling".
  13. How Formula Woman is helping find female racing stars Autosport , 27 February 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022
  14. Could the first female Formula One Champion come from the Midlands? ITV News , 2 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022
  15. Sara Misir makes cut! ... Through to top 15 of Formula Woman Caribbean National Weekly, 4 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022

Further reading