RSS_Auto_Poster
Well-known member
Written by Jason Barlow
If motor racing is one of the few sports in which the sexes can theoretically compete head-on, do we really need a women-only racing championship? This weekend the idea will be rigorously stress-tested for the first time, as the W Series debuts on the same bill as the DTM at Hockenheim. From an initial talent pool of 54 drivers, 18 women from around the world have been selected to compete, including British Formula 3 star Jamie Chadwick, ex-Formula Renault driver Alice Powell and 2018 BritCar endurance racing champion Sarah Moore. Each race will last 30 minutes, the cars are all identical, private equity backing means that the drivers" expenses are all covered, and terrestrial TV coverage Channel 4 in the UK automatically gives it an audience potential now denied pay-per-view Formula One. The series champion, meanwhile, will win 380,000, out of a total prize fund of 1.14m. An incentive, for sure, but that"s also missing the point somewhat. Forget for a moment that this is the world"s first female-only racing championship, what the W series also does is emphasise talent over funding, and levels the playing field. Which motor racing fan doesn"t love the concept of that?
Date written: 3 May 2019
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 15592
If motor racing is one of the few sports in which the sexes can theoretically compete head-on, do we really need a women-only racing championship? This weekend the idea will be rigorously stress-tested for the first time, as the W Series debuts on the same bill as the DTM at Hockenheim. From an initial talent pool of 54 drivers, 18 women from around the world have been selected to compete, including British Formula 3 star Jamie Chadwick, ex-Formula Renault driver Alice Powell and 2018 BritCar endurance racing champion Sarah Moore. Each race will last 30 minutes, the cars are all identical, private equity backing means that the drivers" expenses are all covered, and terrestrial TV coverage Channel 4 in the UK automatically gives it an audience potential now denied pay-per-view Formula One. The series champion, meanwhile, will win 380,000, out of a total prize fund of 1.14m. An incentive, for sure, but that"s also missing the point somewhat. Forget for a moment that this is the world"s first female-only racing championship, what the W series also does is emphasise talent over funding, and levels the playing field. Which motor racing fan doesn"t love the concept of that?
Date written: 3 May 2019
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 15592
