W Series held talks with the ABB FIA Formula E world championship about the possibility of racing on its bill at some events in 2021.
The Race can reveal that the discussions, which took place earlier this year, were ultimately not taken forward largely because it was felt W Series’ internal combustion engines were not compatible with the Formula E package.
Formula E has, as of the end of last season, a slot available at its events after the cessation of the Jaguar I-PACE e-TROPHY.
Having paused in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, W Series will begin again in 2021 with an eight-round calendar entirely on the Formula 1 support bill.
Formula E co-founder, deputy CEO and chief championship officer Alberto Longo confirmed to The Race that talks were held but said his personal preference is to see women competing on mixed gender grids.
“We have talked a lot to them and most of the drivers that are racing there tested in some of our teams as well,” he said.
“I think it’s a fantastic championship. They have a link with there with Formula 1 as well now.
“But I am a great believer in having a championship that doesn’t care about gender.
“For me, the goal of all of us should be that one rather than creating exclusive championships.
“We are familiar with trying to promote women in motorsport as much as possible, as we do with the Girls on Track initiative from the FIA, and we have been big supporters and partners of that venture and hopefully we will keep doing that for the future as well.”
A W Series spokesperson also confirmed to The Race that the Formula E talks had taken place.
“We conducted exploratory discussions with a number of racing series, including Formula E, but we are delighted to have been able to create a partnership with Formula 1, on whose global platform W Series will be racing in 2021,” said the spokesperson.
Formula E has a strong pedigree of giving female racers seat time with Michela Cerruti, Katherine Legge (pictured above) and Simona de Silvestro all making appearances across the first two seasons from 2014 to 2016.
Promoter Formula E Operations also organised a special test at the inaugural Diriyah event in Saudi Arabia in December 2019 in which the majority of teams fielded a female driver.
Among them was inaugural W Series champion Jamie Chadwick, who tested for the NIO team and then made another appearance for Jaguar at the rookie test in Marrakesh last March.
With W Series paused, Chadwick has raced this season in the Formula Regional European Championship with the Prema Powerteam, finishing ninth in the final standings.
Current Super Formula driver Tatiana Calderon also followed up the Diriyah test in 2018 with a further appearance for the DS Techeetah squad in Morocco last year.
W Series reveals 2021 calendar
On Wednesday, W Series announced its 2021 calendar, comprising eight races alongside F1.
The season begins with a trip to Paul Ricard in June before continuing on the European leg of the F1 season as far as Zandvoort at the start of September.
It then finishes with a double-header in the US and Mexico, as was originally planned for this year before the series cancelled its second season because of the pandemic.
“We wanted an exciting series in 2021 where the races were as close together as possible, and secondly we took into account what’s happening in the world and wanted a later start to the season because if at all possible we would like to have crowds there,” said W Series CEO Catherine Bond Muir.
“Our ambition is to be a global race series and ultimately we want to be in countries all across the world, but this is our second season.
“I think we have a compelling schedule with four races across June and July, then back after the summer break at Spa and Zandvoort and then a build up the grand finale when everything is being shipped off to the States.
“Apart from Silverstone, what I’m most looking forward to is being in Mexico and seeing our cars through the baseball stadium and hopefully our fans can be there for that.”
W Series 2021 calendar
June 26 Paul Ricard
July 3 Red Bull Ring
July 17 Silverstone
July 31 Hungaroring
August 28 Spa-Francorchamps
September 4 Zandvoort
October 23 Austin
October 30 Mexico City
