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  • Beitske Visser Grabs First Race In Virtual W Series

    Beitske Visser Grabs First Race In Virtual W Series

    With no real racing scheduled for 2020, W Series went virtual racing Thursday night for the Italian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.

    There were many unknowns for this event, but for the most part, it went as smooth as you could hope for. The race format was laid out well ahead of time, with three races taking place in one event.

    In the first race, 20 minutes made up the total length while the second feature was 15 minutes but in a reverse grid. The main event was another 20 minutes.

    Race No. 1

    Australian’s Caitlin Wood set the pace in qualifying by qualifying on pole position. Visser also made her name known too, as she would place her car in second right behind Wood.

    As the first virtual went green, Visser edged out Wood going into and coming out of Turn 1. Visser set the pace with Wood trying to catch her in the remainder of the 20-minute event. However, it was 16-year-old Irina Sidorkova who impressed many early on by jumping to third and passing Nerea Marti. Sidorkova took it one step further and climbed to second in the middle of the event at the 15-minute mark.

    As Sidorkova settled in second, Visser continued at a dominating pace, making it difficult for her other competitors to catch her. Pole sitter, Wood, fell back to the sixth position 13 seconds from the race leader. Visser went onto take the first checkered flag of the three race venture over Sidorkova and Marti. Visser also set the fastest lap for this race as well.

    Official Race 1 Results

    1. Beitske Visser
    2. Irina Sidorkova
    3. Nerea Marti
    4. Tasmin Pepper
    5. Gosia Rdest
    6. Caitlin Wood
    7. Jessica Hawkins
    8. Marta Garcia
    9. Jamie Chadwick
    10. Belen Garcia
    11. Ayla Agren
    12. Sabre Cook
    13. Abbie Eaton
    14. Alice Powell
    15. Sarah Moore
    16. Vicky Piria
    17. Naomi Schiff
    18. Bruna Tomaselli
    19. Fabieene Wohlend, one lap down
    20. Emma Kimilainen, one lap down
    21. Miki Koyama, Did Not Star

    Race No. 2

    The second race featured a reverse grid which meant that the last-place finisher in race No. 1 sat on the pole along with everyone else moving up from the back. This would mean, Emma Kimilainen, who finished last and one lap down, would start first and race winner Visser, would start last.

    As race two ensued, there was major chaos when the field piloted into Turn 1. Many of the competitors wrecked but Kimilainen made it through with the lead.

    Amidst the early wreck were Bruna Tomaselli and Naomi Schiff who were both sent to the back early on. With the first turn accident, a few drivers were able to take advantage. Gosia Rdest went from 16th to third, and Sidorkova from 19th to sixth, while Visser started last and fought back to 10th.

    As the time of the event began to wind down, the battle for the lead started to heat up. Fabienne Wohlwend started to reel in the leader, Kimilainen. Despite a few challenges from Wohlwend, Kimilainen took the race victory 1.7 seconds over Wohlwend. Race No. 1 winner, Visser would finish ninth on the grid.

    Official Race No. 2 Results

    1. Emma Kimilainen
    2. Fabienne Wohlwend
    3. Gosia Rdest
    4. Irina Sidorkova
    5. Jamie Chadwick
    6. Marta Garcia
    7. Sarah Moore
    8. Ayla Agren
    9. Beitske Visser
    10. Alice Powell
    11. Abbie Eaton
    12. Tasmin Pepper
    13. Nerea Marti
    14. Caitlin Wood
    15. Vicky Piria
    16. Sabre Cook
    17. Jessica Hawkins
    18. Belen Garcia
    19. Naomi Schiff, one lap down
    20. Bruna Tomaselli, one lap down
    21. Miki Koyama, Did Not Start

    Race No. 3

    Caitlin Wood would sit on the pole once more for the beginning of race three, while Beitske Visser took second in qualifying.

    When the final race went green, Nerea Marti who started fourth and Ayla Agren who started third, had a solid start, more so than the leaders. Unfortunately, Agren spun in Turn 1, which saw Visser move into second.

    Visser continued to move forward and passed Marti for the lead, as the race hit the 13 minute mark. Visser went on to her second checkered flag, as Marti and Sidorkova rounded out the top three finishers.

    Official Race No. 3 Results

    1. Beitske Visser
    2. Nerea Marti
    3. Irina Sidorkova
    4. Tasmin Pepper
    5. Alice Powell
    6. Gosia Rdest
    7. Sarah Moore
    8. Caitlin Wood
    9. Ayla Agren
    10. Abbie Eaton
    11. Marta Garcia
    12. Bruna Tomaselli
    13. Emma Kimilainen
    14. Naomi Schiff
    15. Fabienne Wohlwend
    16. Jamie Chadwick, one lap down
    17. Vicky Piria, one lap down
    18. Sabre Cook, one lap down
    19. Jessica Hawkins, one lap down
    20. Belen Garcia, four laps down
    21. Miki Koyama, Did Not Start

    Beitske Visser who won two out of the three races said that her race went okay but learned to hopefully have a better mindset for upcoming reverse grid races.

    “In the first race I got off to a good start, got into the lead and pulled away,” Visser said. “The second race was more chaotic. I had to line up last on the grid and didn’t have a very good start. I had damage so I wasn’t very fast, but I managed to get some points. In the last race, Caitlin [Wood] outqualified me again so I have to work on that. We both messed up the start and were five-wide into turn one, but luckily we survived. In the first few laps Nerea [Martí] was very fast but then I could catch up, overtake her and pull away. The aim is to maintain this form in Austin and hopefully survive the reverse-grid race a bit better.”

    On the other hand, Emma Kimiläinen who won the reverse grid, was very excited about claiming the victory.

     “I can’t believe I won the reverse-grid race – it’s crazy!,”Kimiläinen said. “This is completely new to me – the last time I raced cars on a computer I just used the keyboard. It was so nerve-wracking. I’ve never felt like that in a real race because I know what I’m doing, but I have no experience of this so I don’t trust myself under braking. My heartrate was around 140bpm throughout the race, but I didn’t make any mistakes and I’m so happy. What a great experience! I tried to improve after the first race and I’m so grateful to the other girls for helping me with my set-up.”

    Impressing many viewers and even at one point leading the championship standings, Irina Sidorkova says she was happy with the results.

    “I’m not used to racing on the sim, so it was great to see all the drivers on the grid and I’m very happy with the results,” Sidorkova said. “Before the races in Austin I’ll prepare hard to be a winner, but I know all the girls will do the same so it will be difficult.”

    Chief Executive Officer of the W Series, Catherine Bond Muir, was pleased with how the first virtual event turned out.

    “In the absence of on-track racing, we’re delighted to have launched the W Series Esports League. The first races, which were run on the fast and historic Autodromo di Monza, were successful and entertaining, and it’s clear that Beitske [Visser], who won a W Series race on track last year [Zolder], is every bit as competitive on an eracing rig as she is in a real race car. Congratulations to her for winning two of the three races at Monza.

    “Congrats also to Emma [Kimiläinen], who won the reverse-grid race despite not being a practiced eRacer and therefore not having as much relevant experience as most of her rivals. We’re already looking forward to the next round of races, which will be run on the Circuit of the Americas [Austin, Texas, USA] and will be streamed/broadcast on Thursday, June 18th.

    “Many thanks to our eracing partners Logitech, iRacing and Beyond Entertainment, our broadcast partners the BBC and Whisper, our streaming partners YouTube, Twitch and Facebook, our eracing photographic partner Getty Images and of course our global partner ROKiT: a seriously impressive team.”

    Up Next: The W Series will virtually travel to Austin, Texas for Round No. 2 Thursday, June 18 at the virtual Circuit of the Americus.

  • BBC scheduled to host virtual W Series challenges

    BBC scheduled to host virtual W Series challenges

    W Series Racing league announced today that BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) will be the home for the 10 W Series virtual races that are slated to begin Thursday, June 11. The virtual series races can be seen on the BBC including the BBC digital channels.

    Catherine Bond Muir, W Series Chief Executive Officer, says partnering with BBC is going to be major step for the series.

    “We want the brand-new W Series Esports League to be intensely competitive, serious and authentic. Our partnerships with Logitech G, Beyond Entertainment and iRacing are going a long way to help us realise that ambition, and this new partnership with the BBC takes us further still. The W Series Esports League can open both W Series and the world of esports to a wider audience, and the BBC’s unrivalled experience, trusted voice and diverse platforms will be the perfect conduit for that.”

    Yesterday, the series also revealed their race format for the first race.

    Race 1 is set for 15 minutes plus one lap, race No. 2 is a reverse grid race plus one lap, while the third and final race is 20 mins and one lap. For the reverse grid, the starting lineup will be set by the finishing order of race one.

    As far as the points situation goes, the winner of each race earns 20 points maximum and an additional point should any driver score the fastest lap of the event. The points will look like this if all goes to plan.

    Race 1: 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st – 15th) & 1 point for fastest lap
    Race 2: 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st – 15th) & 1 point for fastest lap
    Race 3: 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st – 15th) & 1 point for fastest lap

    The race for the virtual W Series Challenge is Thursday, June 11 at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza (Italy) at 7 p.m. BST, 2 p.m. ET United States time.

  • W Series Racing announces 2020 plans, 2021 outlook also announced

    W Series Racing announces 2020 plans, 2021 outlook also announced

    The W Series organization announced Thursday afternoon that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the league will not provide any races in the 2020 season.

    The season was originally scheduled to take place the last weekend of May at Russia, though that was previously postponed to a later date. Eventually, the season was slated to end October 31 at New Mexico. Despite the original 2020 schedule now not being able to take place, the series said it was not an easy decision to make. However, with the eight planned races not happening, the organization has also provided a 2021 outlook that sees stops in Austin, Texas and Mexico City.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the W Series, Catherine Bond Muir, said that the 2020 season not happening is a disappointment but exciting things are shaping up for next year.

    “After the resounding success of W Series’ debut season in 2019, our decision not to stage on-track races until 2021 is not one that has been taken lightly.

    “However, we are already working on an exciting new W Series race calendar for 2021, and we are delighted to be able to confirm that W Series races will feature on the support cards of a number of Formula 1 Grands Prix next year, including the 2021 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas and the 2021 Mexican Grand Prix at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

    “W Series is a global movement that exists to support the careers of female racing drivers everywhere, and to foster interest in and enthusiasm for motor racing among girls and women all over the world. The 18 women who had qualified to race in the 2020 W Series represent 12 different countries, and the eight circuits on which they were due to race this year are located in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America and Central America. Delivering an international calendar of the kind that W Series requires, so as to take W Series’ diversity and inclusion message to girls and women globally, while prioritising during a global pandemic the health and safety of our drivers, our staff and the many other people who make W Series events such a success, requires resource at a level beyond the scope of a brave new start-up such as W Series.

    “However, now that we have taken the very difficult but ultimately unavoidable decision to end any uncertainty surrounding our 2020 plans, we will focus our energies clearly on 2021, when we will resume our on-track racing programme, bigger and better than ever before.

    “In the meantime, this year, we remain committed to developing our drivers and entertaining our loyal fans all over the world. To that end, we are progressing with our exciting and innovative new W Series Esports League, which will go live on June 11 2020. In addition, our brilliant management team – including 13-time F1 Grand Prix winner David Coulthard and our hugely experienced Racing Director Dave Ryan – will continue to provide our drivers with invaluable career advice and support.”   

  • W Series announces commentary team for Esports Series

    W Series announces commentary team for Esports Series

    As the W Series racing in the real world is still on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series gears up for its all-new sim racing league that will feature 10 races at all kinds of different race tracks.

    Tuesday, the league announced its commentary team for the virtual races. Leading the way in the commentary team is Luke Crane. Crane is a racer experienced in the Esports series. Following crane is 13-time winner in Formula 1, David Coulthard. Lee McKenzie, host of Channel 4 and BBC Channel for W Series will be the presenter and Billy Monger (presently a British Formula 3 driver, E-racer, and a Formula 1 analyst for Channel 4) serves as the racing pundit.

    In order for the virtual races to take place, the series has partnered with Logitech G, the global leader in PC gaming.

    Commentator Luke Crane says, he looks forward to the virtual series.

    “I’m really looking forward to seeing how the W Series drivers’ on-track skills transfer over to the virtual world, and the difference in results between last season’s on-track races and these virtual ones.”

    The 13-time Formula 1 winner, Coulthard is in the same boat as Crane, as he also can’t wait for the league to take off.

    “I’m very excited about the W Series Esports League which, thanks to the huge amount of work done not only by my W Series colleagues but also by our friends at Logitech, Beyond Entertainment and iRacing, ably supported by our broadcast partner Whisper and major sponsor ROKiT Phones, looks set to be an extremely entertaining competition. I can’t wait to watch it – and commentate on it.”

    Lead presenter, Lee McKenzie, was the first to open up the W Series last year when it arrived at Hockenheim, Germany.

    “Having presented W Series’ very successful first on-track season last year [on Channel 4], I’m very much looking forward to presenting the W Series Esports League this year. The fact that it will be contested by the W Series drivers, all of them extremely keen to do well in eRacing in the current absence of on-track racing, will make it very special.”

    The eRacer, Billy Monger, hopes to add his experience that he learned from competing on the sim to the race broadcasts.

    “I very much enjoyed watching the W Series races on TV [Channel 4] last year – I found the racing both impressive and entertaining. I’m a keen eracer and I think the combination of iRacing, Beyond Entertainment and Logitech will make a great platform on which the W Series drivers will be able to race one another hard but fair. So I’m really looking forward to adding my views and analysis to the commentary.”

    With the virtual series scheduled to take off next week, the W Series was originally supposed to have their first race of the 2020 season this past weekend in Russia. That race was postponed due to the ongoing pandemic across the country. While the first race is postponed, there are no new announcements on what the rest of the schedule may be, due to the pandemic which is creating a fluid situation.

    As for the virtual league challenge, the series has not yet made an official announcement on prize money.

    All the races can be seen on the W Series YouTube page.

    10-race virtual challenge schedule

    1. Thursday June 11-Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Italy
    2. Thursday June 18- Circuit of the Americas, United States
    3. Thursday June 25- Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit, United Kingdom
    4. Thursday July 2- Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Interlago, Brazil
    5. Thursday July 9- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
    6. Thursday July 16- Watkins Glen International, United States
    7. Thursday July 23- Suzuka International Racing Course, Japan
    8. Thursday July 30- Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, Australia
    9. Thursday August 6- Nurburgring Nordschleife, Germany
    10. Thursday August 13- Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit, United Kingdom

    Drivers scheduled to compete are Ayla Agren, Jamie Chadwick, Sabre Cook, Abbie Eaton, Belen Garcia, Marta Garcia, Jessica Hawkins, Emma Kimilainen, Miki Koyama, Nerea Marti, Sarah Moore, Tasmin Pepper, Vicky Piria, Alice Powell, Gosia Rdest, Naomi Schiff, Irina Sidorkova, Bruna Tomaselli, Beitske Visser, Fabienne Wohlwend, and Caitlin Wood.

    All races are scheduled for 19:00 BST (British Summer Time) or in translation at 7 p.m. and the races in the United States will start at 2 p.m. ET.

    For more information the Esports challenge, visit their website.

  • Interview: Catching up with Nerea Marti

    Interview: Catching up with Nerea Marti

    In this interview, Speedway Media catches up with race car driver, Nerea Marti, who competes in the W Series and has done other forms of Motorsport, including Formula 4, throughout her career.

    Marti discusses a wide range of topics such as the W Series, what she is currently doing during this down period of racing, sim racing, and a language she would like to learn more about.

    SM: Due to this current pandemic, you haven’t been able to get any racing done this year. Are you growing tired of sitting at home and not being able to race?

    NM: “It’s a difficult situation for everyone,” Marti said. “Thanks to CETDM (CENTRO DE TECNIFICACIÓN DEL MOTOR) that sends me a training session, I can keep both physically and mentally 100 percent. Now, W Series provided us a simulator and we can keep with the preseason preparation.

    SM: Is it difficult for a driver like you knowing that you are almost always on the go, but then have to pause and wait not knowing when the next race might be?

    NM: “It’s an uncertainty moment, that we don’t know what happens or when we will go back,” she said. “But, we must be positive and prepared for when the time comes.”

    SM: W Series announced a couple of weeks ago, you (among the other drivers) will be participating in their new sim racing league. How much are you looking forward to that?

    NM: “It’s a great opportunity to be able to train and prepare (for) the tracks which I will compete, and thanks to W Series, this is possible,” Marti said. “I can’t wait for the first race.”

    SM: Do you think by doing sim racing on tracks you compete at in real-life that it will help give you some practice by doing them on the sim?

    NM: “The simulator helps a lot to learn the tracks and have references,” she said. “It helps a great deal.”

    SM: Has this break altered your normal routine than what it normally is? How have you been able to adjust to the different circumstances?

    NM: Normally, I live in Cheste, a village near Valencia, the CETDM program and there, I’m internal from Monday to Friday, combining the studies with training and other elite athletes,” Marti said. “This lockdown, I have continued my training at home, following the information received by my trainer daily.”

    SM: During this lockdown, have you been watching any Netflix or Hulu? If so, what is your favorite TV show right now?

    NM: “I have organized very well the time to take advantage of it to the maximum,” she said. “I have been studying and training a lot and in my free time, watching Netflix without binge-watching. I also speak to my friends via video conference, etc. My favorite TV show is a Spanish one called “La casa de papel.”

    SM: What been the most random or funniest thing that has happened to you during a race?

    NM: I don’t have any random situation,” Marti said. “But, I remember once when I was training with my kart, I felt one bee inside my helmet and I had to stop. I was scared, but it was also funny.”

    SM: Is there a language that you wish you can learn how to speak?

    NM: “I would like to talk as many languages as possible, in order to communicate with many people,” she said. “During this lockdown, I have been improving my English.”

    SM: If you could not be a race car driver anymore, what would your other career choice be and why?

    NM: “I like sport in general, but I have always been surrounded by motorsport,” Marti said. “It is my passion.”

    SM: If you could choose someone to play you in a movie about your life. Who would that person be?

    NM: “I don’t know, but if I have to choose I would say my mom,” she said. “Only because she knows me a lot, although she is not an actress. I think she can speak like me and act like me. I think it would be funny.”

    SM: Is there a song out there that best describes you?

    NM: “I think that I don’t have any song which describes my life, but in this moment, I’m listening to reggaeton, a lot of the times.”

    SM: If you could visit any planet in the solar system, which planet would it be?

    NM: “If I had to choose one planet, I would choose Mars,” Marti said. “I would like to know if there is life.”

    SM: Wrapping it up, what is one accomplishment that you are most proud of?

    NM: “One of my greatest accomplishments has been to drive a Formula (Car),” she said. “It has always been my dream and I am very proud of it.”

    Fans of Nerea can follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and check out her website.

    Special thanks to Nerea Marti for taking the time out of her busy schedule to do the interview.

  • Formula W Series sets grid for 2020

    Formula W Series sets grid for 2020

    Announced on Monday afternoon by the W Series officials was the starting grid for the 2020 season.

    Eighteen drivers will get to compete in 2020 and have their shot at a championship for the second year in the W Series. The announcement comes as many drivers took to the track for a test at Almeria in southern Spain in an attempt to qualify and get to race in season two.

    Overall, there will be six new drivers that are coming to the grid and 12 drivers who were already selected, thanks in part to their points finishing position in last year’s championship.

    They include last year’s champion Jamie Chadwick, Beitske Visser who finished second in points, Alice Powell third in points, Marta Garcia fourth in points, Emma Kimilainen fifth in points, Fabienne Wohlwend sixth in points, Miki Koyama seventh in points, Sarah Moore eighth in points, Vicky Piria ninth in points, Tasmin Pepper 10th in points, Jessica Hawkins 11th in points and Sabre Cook who finished 12th in last year’s standings.

    The new drivers that are coming over to the series are Ayla Agren from Norway, Abbie Eaton from the UK, Belen Garcia and Nerea Marti both from Spain, Irina Sidorkova from Russia and Bruna Tomaselli from Brazil. There will be two additional drivers that will be added to the grid, which will round it out to 20 drivers officially. However, that will come much later.

    Catherine Bond Muir, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the W Series commented on looking ahead to the new season.

    “Almost as soon as the sun had set on Brands Hatch, scene of the 2019 W Series championship finale, on Sunday, August 11, we at W Series began preparing for our 2020 season. More than 40 new drivers applied to race with us in 2020 and, after a three-day on-track test at Almeria [southern Spain] last month, and a rigorous lap-time and data-analysis program thereafter, we’re now able to announce the first 18 of the 20 drivers who’ll compete in the 2020 W Series championship.

    “It’s an impressive list, including the top 12 from our 2019 season and six new drivers, who all performed well at Almeria. The result is a varied and international group, comprising 18 drivers from 12 countries, ranging in age from the super-experienced Finn, Emma Kimilainen, 30, to the very promising young Russian, Irina Sidorkova, 16.  

    “Our commiserations go to those whom we haven’t selected, but sadly their disappointment is simply an example of the jeopardy inherent in any athlete’s life at the higher levels of competitive sport. The more you can win, the more you can lose.”

    Dave Ryan, the Racing Director for the W Series was also excited to see the new crop of drivers entering the series second season.

    “I was generally impressed by the 14 drivers whom we tested and appraised at Almeria [southern Spain] last month, and making our selection was correspondingly difficult. But we’ve crunched all the data to the best of our ability, and I’m therefore confident that the 18 drivers whom we’ve selected so far represent an excellent line-up. But we’ve left two spaces available, to allow us a little more time to select the final two drivers who, together with the 18 drivers we’ve already selected, will make up the 20 drivers who’ll contest the 2020 W Series championship.

    “However, all the stars of our 2019 season will race again with us in 2020 – including Jamie [Chadwick], who’ll be defending her crown, as well as Beitske [Visser], Alice [Powell], Marta [Garcia] and Emma [Kimilainen], who all won races with us last year – but some of the new drivers on our 2020 entry list are clearly very good too. I’m consequently hoping our 2020 season will be even better than our 2019 season.”