It's on to the next level for W Series' happy 28!

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The W Series announced yesterday the names of the talented 28 young women that will be moving on to the next round of the all-female series' trial that will take place in Spain in March.

The initial 54 applicants were filtered down after a series of evaluations were conducted last weekend at the Wachauring in Austria.

The girls were profiled and tested to assert their abilities behind the wheel and beyond by a panel of judges that included former F1 racers David Coulthard and Alex Wurz, and US racing legend Lyn St James.

"All W Series’ qualifier-drivers here at the Wachauring are superstars, every single one of them," said W Series CEO Catherine Muir.

"But the sad fact is that not all of them will continue to the next stage of our driver selection programme. That’s competition. That’s sport. That’s racing.

"So to all of them who’ve made it through to the next stage, I say: congratulations and good luck in Spain in March, the final stage of our driver selection programme."

The 28 finalists will regroup in Spain in March where they will be track-tested driving the W Series Tatuus F318 Formula 3 car, with the hope of featuring among the final 18 that will form the inaugural championship's 2019 grid.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.