W Series in 2021: calendar, driver line-up and ticket information

W Series is set for a massive year in 2021. Following the success of the inaugural season in 2019, and after the postponement of 2020, there’s a lot of catching up to do.

But the female-only racing series has captured the imagination of the racing world. Having supported the DTM in its first year, its second instalment will see it step up to support Formula One across eight race weekends. And not only will the drivers race for glory in front of packed grandstands, but they’ll also now be competing for precious super licence points (as well as a slice of a $1.5 million prize pot).

With the competition set for a growing audience in 2021, we’ve put together a guide for those attending F1 Grand Prix this year, or anyone looking to book tickets for this exciting up-and-coming series.

History of the W Series

The W Series was officially launched in 2018, with the ambition to ‘change the face of motorsport’. It sought to provide a platform for female drivers to race against one another on track. At the time, CEO Catherine Bond Muir said: “Women in motorsport are something of a rarity today, but with W Series as a catalyst, we hope to transform the diversity of the sport.”

55 drivers entered the long list to qualify for a spot on the grid, with a driver evaluation taking place to decide which 18 would take to the grid. In 2019, the season got underway with the first of six races as a support series to the DTM. Brit Jamie Chadwick won the race at Hockenheimring, and with two more victories, became the inaugural W Series champion.

The 2020 series was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the 2021 series returns with big changes. The eight-race season will support Formula 1, elevating its platform to a huge audience. Not only will the drivers perform against packed grandstands at iconic circuits, but the races will be available on free-to-air television for fans at home.

In 2021, the winner of the series will also earn super licence points. The champion will earn 15 points, just ten less than the 25 required over three years to take place in an F1 practice session. That is a huge incentive for the coming season, plus the $500,000 prize money.

What car does the W Series use?

The drivers use identical cars based on the Tatuus-Alfa Romeo F3 T-318. That’s similar to the machine used in Formula 3 series Formula Regional European Championship. They’re powered by 4-cylinder 1.8l turbocharged engines, delivering 270bhp.

W Series 2021 season calendar

In 2021, the W Series will run its entire season supporting the Formula One World Championship. This is a huge step for the series, offering it a platform to capture new audiences. It will also see the series race at some of the best circuits in the world, such as Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. The final two rounds of the season will also be a milestone for the series, with the first races outside of Europe. The United States and Mexico will be the final two races of the year.

W Series will race across the Grands Prix weekends below. To see the series in action, book tickets for the races by using the links below.

Who will be racing in 2021?

Like the 2019 season, a qualifying selection process was run for the 2020 edition of the series. The 18 qualifying drivers will now take part in the 2021 season, following the cancellation of the 2020 season. The series has hinted that more drivers may be added to the line-up at a later date.

Many of the drivers contesting the 2021 season raced in the first year (marked with *), while some will be joining the series for the first time.