Ok. I have my latte, pumpkin spice, if you're wondering, and I'm ready to sit back and talk to you about the W Series. What on earth is happening there, in regards to the state of their finances? Oh my. We have some ground to cover.
I highly doubt it, but unless you've been living under a rock in recent times you'd be aware about the financial trouble that the W Series currently finds itself in. In fact, the series has cancelled it's last few races of the 2022 championship season due to said fiance troubles. But, how have they gotten to this stage? Let's go back to the start.
The W Series is an all-female single seater championship that debuted in 2019 and according Wikipedia, it was created as a "response to the lack of female drivers progressing to the highest levels of motorsport, such as Formula One." In the three years that the championship has been held, (there was no championship in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic,) a high volume of female racing drivers have come and gone from the series, but it's been British driver Jamie Chadwick who has showed the most potential by winning all three championships to date, including 2022.
The journey that the W Series has found itself on hasn't been an easy one with plenty of criticism surrounding the championship. Ironically, some of the criticism has come from female racing drivers or females associated with motorsport. Why? Because many are under the impression that the category segregates female racers. Drivers such as Pippa Mann, Simona de Silvestro and Sophia Floersch, among others, have all been vocal on how they oppose the series. Even I, myself, had my doubts. In 2018, I wrote a post on my blog not long after the announcement of the W Series. My opinion on the all-female championship has shifted to a more positive perception overtime, especially as I got to see a race live in Silverstone in 2022, but I can't help but wonder why the series has gotten into this financial mess and whether the funding that was available to begin with could have been used in a more efficient, less controversial way as a means to bring more females into motorsport.
This where we begin to look at the success of the series. It has, in one way or another, been successful. By that I mean every season we have had nearly twenty ladies line up on the grid. That's a success in itself. But, and it's a big but, do we have a female driver any where near the likes of Formula One? No, we don't. Of course, it should be mentioned that it has helped the likes of Jamie Chadwick, Abbie Pulling, Alice Powell and Jess Hawkins to become associated with F1 teams. But, the likes of them getting into F1 soon? Unlikely. As much as it hurts to say that.
So, what could be done differently? I have a few ideas. And, they're just that, ideas from my own mind.
If W Series is to return in 2023, at the moment that is the goal, then maybe they should adopt a Formula Two-esque approach. For example; when a driver wins the championship they are not eligible to continue on into the following season. After winning the championship three times out of only three seasons, surely Chadwick is better off elsewhere? Why not make it mandatory that the champion moves up to Formula Three? No matter the talents, girls are not being given the opportunities and that's the big thing that needs to change.
Or, how about getting rid of the series completely and creating a scholarship programme? Females can be backed and given the financial help to make moves up the motorsport ladder. It could be a bit like a junior team, eg; Red Bull, but for the ladies.
Also, the funding could be used within a training programme. There are plenty of ideas out there that could be more financially feasible but like with everything, it's easier said than done.
However, the funding we speak off seems to have just dwindled and vanished leaving the future of the series in doubt. The money was never received from the contracted investor and instead of racing, the championship organisers are seeking investment from elsewhere to ensure a 2023 season. That's all I know and it doesn't overly sound too good.
Whatever happens to the series, there are people with their jobs and livelihoods on the line. And, you can't deny, it has made a big change for females in motorsport. It's giving ladies the perfect chance to showcase their talent. But something HAS to be put in place to make it more of a success because right now it's a sinking ship. It's heartbreaking to see a motorsport series reach this state but I'm intrigued to see what comes of the funding. I really wish everyone at the W Series all the best.
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