W Series girls cash in their 2019 gains!

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W Series' competitors gathered on Tuesday in London to celebrate the all-female championship's debut season and to receive their hard-earned gains for 2019.

Series champion Jamie Chadwick, runner-up Beitske Visser and Alice Powell were all smiles when the trio received its supersized checks, with Chadwick taking home a lofty $500,000, or one-third of the $1.5 million prize fund allocated to W Series.

"This has been a career-changing year for me, and I still can’t quite believe everything that’s happened over the course of a few short months," said the 21-year-old racer who will defend her title in the series in 2020.

"The crowning achievement was obviously winning the W Series title against some mega-talented drivers, and I’m not just proud of that, but also proud to lead the charge for women drivers in motorsport generally. Bring on 2020!"

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.