W SERIES

Much was made of the new-for-2019 all-female W Series when it was announced last year and even now opinions remain divided.

Is it creating more opportunity for females in motorsport or just widening the divide that already exists between men and women in the sport?

Personally, I feel it’s the former (at least in the short-term) and I’m looking forward to seeing how it fares in its inaugural season.

The series isn’t short of support, with ex-formula 1 driver David Coulthard and F1 designer Adrian Newey both giving it their backing. A total prize fund of $1.5 million [£1.1 million] with the winner of the category earning $500,000 [£390,000] isn’t to be sniffed at either. All six rounds will support the high-profile DTM championship, with its final meeting taking place at Brands Hatch in August. It could be the perfect opportunity to inspire the next generation of female drivers in the UK.