The W Racing Series has announced 18 riders for the first season of 2019. The contestants were selected after the final tests at Almira.
British GT4 and MRF series champion Jamie Chadwick, former Red Bull junior Baitzke Visser and former Formula Renault racer Alice Powell have moved into the new series.
18 riders were selected from a list of 28 applicants who passed the first tests in Austria back in January.
“After four days of intense testing in Almeria, which ended yesterday, and four harsh days of testing in Melku in January, as you can imagine, we have collected a tremendous amount of data,” said W-Series CEO Catherine Bond Muir.
So our judges, led by Dave Ryan, processed the data to determine the 18 riders who would compete in the first women's racing series. For those riders who did not pass, I offer my condolences, but I also say they are great.
All our riders worked diligently, studied well and rode well, including those who did not pass. I would like to congratulate and praise all 18 pilots who did this for a very good job."
The four-day test in Almeria was also the first opportunity for riders to test the Tatuus T-318 series.
The first 12 contestants were selected based on the first three days of the race, with the last day being the most important day for applicants for the remaining six spots, as well as four reserve spots.
Sarah Bovey, Vivienne Kestelli, Stefan Cox and Francesca Linossi were named reserve riders for the first season of the W series.
Series W director Ryan said: “It wasn't easy to pick from a few women, but to be honest, the ones that passed did a very good job during the four days in Almeria.
This is the end of one part and the beginning of another. We are all happy, although obviously some applicants are disappointed, but unfortunately this is how it is and they just have to keep trying.
It was a very difficult selection process than we could ever imagine ourselves,”added W-Series founder David Coulthard.
Serie W will run pre-season tests at the Lausitzring on April 14-16, ahead of the start of a six-stage DTM support race starting in Hockenheim on May 4-5.
List of riders / C of which series came
- Jamie Chadwick British F3, British GT (GT4 champion)
- Sabre Cook Road to Indy, US F4
- Marta Garcia Spanish F4
- Megan Gilkes F1200 Canada
- Esme Hockey Porsche Carrera Cup GB
- Jessica Hawkins Mini Challenge
- Shay Holbrook Lamborghini Super Trofeo
- Emma Kimilainen STCC
- Miki Koyama Japanese F4
- Sarah Moore LMP3, Ginetta Junior (champion)
- Tasmin Pepper VW Engen Polo Cup
- Wiki Piria GP3, European F3 Open
- Alice Powell GP3, Formula Renault UK (champion)
- Goya Rdest Audi TT Cup, GT4
- Naomi Schiff Formula Renault 2.0, GT4 European
- Baitze Visser Formula Renault 3.5, GT4 European
- Fabien Wolwend Ferrari Europe
- Caitlin Wood Blancpain GT
