Following the reshuffle of the Formula One calendar, the opening race of the W Series moves from France to Austria to support the Styrian Grand Prix.
With Istanbul dropping off the Formula One calendar due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, dates for the French Grand Prix have been moved forward a week to the 20th June and there is the return of the Styrian Grand Prix in its place on the 27th June. This has of course had implications for the start of the W Series due to support the French Grand Prix on the 26th June.
With all the changes, the opening race of the all-female series will take place as originally scheduled on the 26th June, but with the new location of Austria.
With pre-season testing beginnig this week in Angelsey, Wales, CEO Catherine Bond-Muir had this to say on the fast approaching start of the season; “I am overjoyed that the waiting is finally over and our drivers are back on track for W Series’ second season. If you had told me when Alice Powell won our last race at Brands Hatch that I would have to wait 646 days to see our cars on track again, I wouldn’t have believed you because our first season was such a resounding success.
The postponement of our second season actually gave us time to accelerate our plans, and we return bigger and better in 2021 and ready for a new era of racing. Today we are just 40 days away from the first race of our landmark new partnership with Formula 1, which demonstrates not only the power of our mission but the excitement of our racing too.”
Pre-season testing also gives us and the drivers a glimpse of the new 2021 racewear, supplied by Puma Motorsport. The race suits are designed specifically for the female form and will provide the highest levels of protection.
Hankook will also continue as the 2021 tyre partner. They will be supplying the Ventus Race F200 slick tyres for dry conditions and Z217 tyres for intermediate or wet conditions.
The revised 2021 calender is as follows;
Date Location
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
