Jamie Chadwick to defend her crown as W Series announces first 18 drivers for 2021
W Series is pleased to announce the first 18 drivers who will race in the 2021 on-track season, in partnership with Formula 1.
The provisional W Series 2021 race calendar will consist of eight Formula 1 support races, and the following 18 drivers will drive in the 2021 W Series championship:
- Jamie Chadwick, UK, 22
- Beitske Visser, Netherlands, 25
- Alice Powell, UK, 27
- Marta García, Spain, 20
- Emma Kimiläinen, Finland, 31
- Fabienne Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, 23
- Miki Koyama, Japan, 23
- Sarah Moore, UK, 27
- Vicky Piria, Italy, 27
- Tasmin Pepper, South Africa, 30
- Jessica Hawkins, UK, 25
- Sabré Cook, USA, 26
- Ayla Ågren, Norway, 27
- Abbie Eaton, UK, 28
- Belén García, Spain, 21
- Nerea Martí, Spain, 18
- Irina Sidorkova, Russia, 17
- Bruna Tomaselli, Brazil, 23
W Series reserves the right to announce further drivers in due course.
Jamie Chadwick (2019 W Series champion) said:
“People are most aware of me because of W Series and the last two years have been a life-changing whirlwind. Winning the inaugural W Series Championship in 2019 was the biggest stepping stone in my career, providing me with so many amazing opportunities. The same has been true for lots of the drivers from our maiden on-track season and it just proves that W Series’ mission to provide greater opportunities for women in motorsport is working.
“W Series’ new partnership with Formula 1 from 2021 is a ringing endorsement of the series and a testament to the immense skill of all the drivers. I am relishing the prospect of racing alongside them on some of the greatest circuits in the world next year in a bid to defend my W Series title. FIA Super Licence points will be on the line and, having already had a taste of the F1 world in my role as development driver for the Williams F1 team, I am determined to earn as many as possible and move a step closer to my dream of competing in Formula 1.”
Catherine Bond Muir (Chief Executive Officer, W Series) said:
“I am delighted that the 18 drivers who would have competed in our 2020 on-track season will all get the chance to showcase their talents on-track in 2021, in partnership with Formula 1. I am also pleased that they will be eligible for FIA Super Licence points as they do so.
“This year has been incredibly testing for everybody, but our fast and fearless drivers have displayed remarkable resilience and dedication, and they can now look forward to competing on motor racing’s biggest stage thanks to W Series’ new partnership with Formula 1. Our eight races next year will take us right across Europe and the Americas, and our 18 drivers represent 12 countries, therefore helping us to enhance the reach and impact of W Series globally, and to achieve our mission of inspiring young girls and women everywhere.”
Dave Ryan (Racing Director, W Series) said:
“Our 18 highly skilled drivers have been working hard this year to make themselves faster and fitter, and they are now ready and raring to race in 2021 in partnership with Formula 1 on some of the world’s most iconic circuits, and thereby show motor racing fans, new and old, that they deserve their place at the top table of our sport. Having had to wait almost two years for an on-track W Series race, and with FIA Super Licence points up for grabs, I expect the competition to be fierce and the racing to be spectacular when our 2021 season begins in France next June.
“Our inaugural on-track champion, Jamie Chadwick, and 2019 runner-up and 2020 W Series Esports League winner, Beitske Visser, are sure to be very competitive again, but many of the drivers have made good progress. I expect our six rookies to shine too, and we are looking forward to finding out how they will cope with the pressure of competing against our established high performers. One of the great things about any sport is its unpredictability, so I am sure we will see lots of surprises along the way.”
Find out more about the W Series 2021 calendar.
