WSeries heads to Formula One Grand Prix of France this weekend – halfway point of the season providing opportunities for another 3 podiums amongst 18 female drivers with real challenges on the horizon. From 4 Races at Formula One Miami Grand Prix, followed by supporting F1 category at Barcelona and Silverstone GP’s, WSeries has celebrated 7 different drivers on podiums with defending WSeries Champion Jamie Chadwick claiming top spot on table board.
In fact, while Jamie’s dominance on winning 4 consecutive races proves a likely scenario of taking the win at Paul Ricard circuit, the all female grid has number of contenders to challenge the Brit to final chequered flag. Placed 2nd Overall in Championship, fellow British driver Abbi Pulling commands no holds barred on the track, proving her first full season racing the F3 Series remains the perfect grounds of developing female talent.
With 2021 WSeries overall placings of 2nd and 3rd going to Alice Powell and Finnish driver Emma Kimilainen, the positions have been reversed for overall standings at half-way point in 2022, with Emma placed 4th and Alice 5th overall. A celebrated 3rd podium for Dutch driver Beitske Visser holds 3rd overall, with Spanish driver’s Nerea Marti and Belen Garcia rounding out 6th and 7th overall respectively.
Definitely in the mix has been Jessica Hawkins who claimed 2nd podium at F1 Miami GP Race 1, along with Liechtenstein driver Fabienne Wohlwend who battled in closely fought contest at Silverstone, finishing P4.
All of which begs the question: how close are WSeries driver’s in regard to lap times in comparison to F3 Championship? Taking into consideration WSeries drivers race same spec Tatuus F3 T-318 cars and F3 driver’s race respective Team cars, along with different race times and corresponding track temperatures, fastest lap times between the F3 Championships provide insight on where differences lie. At Formula One Spanish Grand Prix: fastest lap time was set by Jamie Chadwick at 1.47.367 and best lap time in F3 was set by Victor Martins (Art Grand Prix) at 1.37.030.
At Formula One British Grand Prix, fastest lap time was recorded by Abbi Pulling at 1.56.847 compared to F3 driver Arthur Leclerc who posted best lap time of 1.46.793. With 10 seconds difference between fastest lap times within top driver of WSeries Race at Barcelona and Silverstone GP’s, the progression for female driver’s to gain F3 Championship drive, under whichever Team looks challenging.
To answer the hard question on how to gain female driver’s opportunity to enter and race F1/2/3 Championships, key factors remain up for discussion on how Formula racing will evolve into the future. Most certainly, inclusivity of WSeries as supportive category for selected Formula One Grand Prix’s has been major turning point for raising the visibility of female driver’s on track.
Furthermore, the sheer force de majeure that Formula One/FIA are actioning programmes which focus on increasing diversity and equality within the sport act as precursor of change, whereby options for F3/F2/F1 runs by reserve driver’s at selected GP’s could include line-up of female driver’s.
There is no doubt, WSeries has broadened the scope of and scale of developing female racing talent through the all expenses paid F3 Championship – 3x over. And, there is no doubt, 18 females will give their all over the course of 8 Races, not least the back-to-back Rounds 4 and 5 in France and Hungary this weekend and next. Equally, there remains constant challenge of pushing the pendulum out further, to elevate females to the grid in F3/F2 and ultimately F1. With all changes afoot, such an open ended question will prove to be the carrot as much as the stick.
WSeries Round 4: Formula One Grand Prix of France, July 22-23. Header photo: Jamie Chadwick WSeries Jenner Racing, Image WSeries.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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