W Series announced plans yesterday for a brand-new W Series Esports League that’s exclusively for women racing drivers. The W Series Esports League is a partnership between W Series, Logitech G, Beyond Entertainment, and iRacing. The announcement comes as the second season of the W Series is on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The goal of the W Series Esports League is to convince more women to get involved in real and virtual racing, both of which are largely dominated by men. The W Series Esports League will feature the 18 drivers who were set to participate in the now-cancelled W Series season, which was due to begin on May 29th in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Jamie Chadwick of the United Kingdom, Beitske Visser of the Netherlands, Alice Powell, of the United Kingdom, Marta Garcia of Spain, Emma Kimilainen of Finland, Fabienne Wohlwend, of Liechtenstein, Miki Koyama of Japan, Sarah Moore of the United Kingdom, Vicky Piria, of Italy, Tasmin Pepper of South Africa, Jessica Hawkins of the United Kingdom, Sabre Cook of the United States, Ayla Agren of Norway, Abbie Eaton of the United Kingdom, Belen Garcia of Spain, Nerea Marti of Spain, Irina Sidorkova of Russia, and Bruna Tomaselli of Brazil will all be participating.
The contestants will drive digital Tatuus Formula Renault 2.0 Liter race cars, which mirror the performance of W Series Tatuus Formula 3 race cars. Although the start date is pending announcement, the organizers have released the full list of circuits. The virtual series will begin at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Italy and wrap up at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit in the United Kingdom. Other featured tracks include Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Suzuka International Racing Course in Japan, and Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany.
The W Series Esports League is expected to announce the prize money, race dates, and complete broadcast schedule shortly.
