W Series confirms calendar change as five-day Anglesey test begins
W Series has confirmed a change to its calendar after the Formula 1 Turkish Grand Prix was cancelled, relocating the first race of the season to the Styrian Grand Prix on 26 June.
The first race had originally been planned to take place at the French GP on the same weekend, but that event was brought forward by a week after COVID travel regulations forced the cancellation of the race at Istanbul Park.
This led to the introduction of a double-header race in Austria the following two weekends (25-27 June and 2-4 July), with W Series racing at both.
2021’s championship will see eight races in support of F1, with other circuits to host the following rounds including Silverstone, Hungaroring and Spa-Francorchamps.
The series, in its second season, begins a five-day pre-season test at Anglesey on Monday.
It is almost two years since the last W Series race at Brands Hatch in August 2019, after the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with 17 of the 18 drivers so far confirmed for the 2021 W Series season taking part in the test at Anglesey.
South Africa's Tasmin Pepper is unable to attend the test due to travel restrictions.
The drivers will be joined by three additional drivers who have been invited to take part - Abbi Pulling, Gosia Rdest and Caitlin Wood.
Jamie Chadwick took the crown in front of a home crowd at the inaugural championship in 2019 despite being overtaken for the final podium place by her title rival Beitske Visser with three laps remaining.
W Series' 2019 champion Jamie Chadwick and runner-up Beitske Visser ahead of the 2021 pre-season test
Photo by: W Series
The Williams Formula 1 development driver went on to compete in the Formula Regional European Championship and the new Extreme E series, while Visser contested the Le Mans 24 Hours after winning last summer's W Series Esports League.
Other returning drivers include Alice Powell, who finished third in 2019 with one win and three further podiums, and fourth place finisher Marta Garcia.
The revised 2021 W Series race calendar:
| 26 June | Spielberg, Austria (in support of the Styrian Grand Prix) |
| 3 July | Spielberg, Austria (in support of the Austrian Grand Prix) |
| 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 |
Related video
W Series moves five-day pre-season test to Anglesey
W Series continues free-to-air broadcasts with Channel 4 for 2021 season
How Chadwick's u-turn poses big questions for W Series
With two W Series titles under her belt, Jamie Chadwick appears to be the perfect candidate to break into FIA Formula 3. But a shock return to the series in 2022 appears a curious move – not just for her, but for the all-female series too
How W Series' standout star took the challenge to its champion
Heading into 2021, much of the discussion around W Series centred on Jamie Chadwick and her fight for a second crown. Chadwick duly won out, but only after a season-long battle with Alice Powell, who came into the final double-header level on points and almost stole the show
How Chadwick’s second W Series title poses more questions than answers
Jamie Chadwick successfully defended her W Series title as the series returned after a year out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She saw off a fierce fight from Alice Powell to keep the crown but with both looking to climb the motorsport ladder, what is next for both the two star drivers and series itself?
How W Series can confront its biggest enduring issue
Two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick finds herself in a predicament. The Williams F1 development driver has more than proven herself in the all-female series and has little to gain from returning. But where should she go next? And how will the series move forwards if she elects to take up her reserved slot on next year's grid? Whatever she decides, it poses important questions for the series' future
The nightmare season of a W Series title favourite
She came into 2021 as a W Series title contender, but Beitske Visser has had a frustrating season, marred by a horrific crash at Spa and floundering in 12th place in the drivers’ standings. After misfortune and on-track clashes, the Dutch driver wishes the season was just starting now
The rational brain of W Series' outside title bet
As the only mum in W Series, Emma Kimilainen has a different perspective than many of her rivals. After her swashbuckling drive to victory at a sodden Spa, the Finn now has a real chance of getting into the title fight, and can call on an approach that has been a boost through myriad past disappointments
The comeback trail Brit making the most of a second chance
After four years of making only irregular race appearances, Alice Powell had good reason to believe that her dreams of becoming a professional driver were over. But W Series has provided a second chance that she has firmly grasped, Powell's popular home win at Silverstone prompting the new series leader to look ahead to a bright future
Why W Series' champion is taking nothing for granted ahead of its return
W Series is back this weekend after a year away. This time it’s supporting F1, and reigning champion Jamie Chadwick is up for the challenge of taking another title - but knows with higher stakes will come even more motivated opposition