W Series reveals 2021 calendar, eight events as F1 support selected
W Series has revealed the eight Formula 1 support races that will form its 2021 calendar, which includes the British Grand Prix and flyaway events in the US and Mexico
The all-female driver championship was set to join the F1 support bill in 2020 for two races as part of its second campaign, which had to be cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The championship, which ran alongside the DTM for its inaugural season in 2019, announced last month that it would join the 2021 F1 support package after the Formula 2 and Formula 3 series were moved to run at separate events in a bid to save costs.
The 2021 W Series calendar will start at the French GP on 26 June, then move with F1 to the Austrian GP a week later at the Red Bull Ring on 3 July.
Two events will then take place in the rest of July - one at Silverstone (17 July) and then the Hungaroring (31 July) - before W Series joins F1 again at the Belgian GP after the summer break on 28 August.
The last race in Europe will take place at the returning Dutch GP (4 September) before the two flyaway events close out the season at Austin (23 October) and Mexico City (30 October).
Further details on W Series' schedule for each round - F2 and F3 events will have three races each during their time on the F1 support bill - will be announced in due course, per a championship statement.
"The prospect of seeing W Series race alongside Formula 1, the world's premier motor racing series, has become even more tantalising as a result of today's announcement of our 2021 race calendar," said Catherine Bond Muir, W Series' CEO.
"The eight races will allow our fast and fearless female racing drivers to showcase their skills on some of the world's most iconic racing circuits, in Europe and the Americas, and literally follow in the tyre tracks of the greatest racing drivers in the world today.
"W Series' mission will always be to further the interests and prospects of female racing drivers, and to inspire girls and women everywhere.
"Our 2021 race schedule in partnership with Formula 1 will significantly increase our global reach, impact and influence by placing W Series on motor racing's greatest stage and taking us to new audiences and territories.
"Our drivers are ready and raring to race and entertain, and the 2021 season curtain-raiser in France next June cannot come soon enough."
F1 sporting boss, Ross Brawn, added: "We are delighted to announce the eight Formula 1 races that W Series will join in 2021.
"There is a really exciting mix of circuits that will showcase the exceptional talent of the drivers in the series.
"We believe that it is incredibly important to give everyone the chance to reach the highest levels of our sport, and partnering with W Series shows our determination and commitment to building greater diversity across Formula 1."
2021 W Series calendar
26 June Le Castellet, France
3 July Spielberg, Austria
17 July Silverstone, UK
31 July Budapest, Hungary
28 August Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
4 September Zandvoort, Netherlands
23 October Austin, USA
30 October Mexico City, Mexico
Conway and Blundell to race Double R-restored Group 2 Escort in 2021
Motorsport Network's Canossa Events acquires Cavallino Inc
Laser Tools Racing continues in BTCC with Hill
The Laser Tools Racing name that was carried to British Touring Car Championship titles in 2020 and 2021 will continue in the series after all with Jake Hill.
McLaren to share F1 reserve driver Schumacher with Mercedes
Mercedes Formula 1 reserve driver Mick Schumacher will be also made available as a stand-in to McLaren, the Woking team has announced.
NASCAR Next Gen car gets safety upgrades for 2023 season
NASCAR unveiled some changes to the Next Gen car for the 2023 season, with most enhancing its safety aspects.
O’Ward optimistic about Rossi and that McLaren IndyCar DNFs can be reduced
Arrow McLaren ace Pato O’Ward says he’s confident that Alexander Rossi will be a strong addition to the line-up and that the team has gotten on top of its mechanical woes.
The 2022 Autosport Awards winner using Esports as a launchpad
A trail blazed in Esports has inspired a revamp of the annual prize that aims to discover the best young engineering talent. Autosport met Autosport Williams Engineer of the Future winner Michael Preston
The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right
Nyck de Vries’s Italian GP exploits weren’t the first post-eleventh-hour call-up in motorsport history, and won’t be the last either. Here are some offbeat tales from the past
Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past
Rising sportscar star Adam Smalley had to pinch himself when offered the chance to drive the car that won the world’s most famous enduro in 1987
Why romanticism isn't the key factor in Lola’s racing return
The iconic Lola name is being relaunched after it was taken over by new ownership. Part of that reboot is a planned return to racing, though the exact details of this are still to be finalised - though its new owner does have a desire to bring the brand back to the Le Mans 24 Hours. But romanticism doesn't appear to be the driving force behind this renewed project...
Rating the best drivers of the century so far
Autosport's Top 50 feature has been a staple of the magazine for the past two decades since its first appearance in 2002. Here are the drivers that have featured most prevalently during that time
The best motorsport moments of 2021
Motorsport produced one of its greatest years of all-time in 2021 despite a backdrop of ongoing COVID-19 challenges and an ever-changing racing landscape. Through the non-stop action Autosport has collected the finest moments from the past 12 months to highlight the incredible drama and joy motorsport generates
The racing comeback artists who resurrected long-dormant careers
Making it in motorsport can be tough, and sometimes drivers move elsewhere before their best chance arrives. Here are some of those who made it back
The hidden racing gem attracting ex-F1 heroes
It’s rarely mentioned when it comes to assessing the best national contests, but the Brazilian Stock Car series that reaches its climax this weekend has an ever-growing appeal. Its expanding roster of ex-Formula 1 names has helped to draw in new fans, but it's the closeness of competition that keeps them watching
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.