New W Series puts together initial list of 55 drivers!

The new all-female W Series has unveiled a list of 55 drivers that will compete for a spot on the inaugural championship's 18-strong 2019 grid.

The series, which was launched earlier this year with the backing of F1 notables David Coulthard and Adrian Newey, aims to showcase the talent of young women racers and support their quest to reach F1.

The series will kick off in May 2019 and include six 30-minute rounds scheduled on European tracks, with drivers racing identical Tatuus F3-spec cars.

The championship's prize fund will amount to $1.5M with the final winner granted a $500,000 check to help her move on to the next motorsport level.

But W Series will also fund travel and subsistence costs, which opens the competition to drivers from all economic backgrounds across the world.

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The initial 55 qualifying drivers were carefully selected from a pool of more than 100 applicants from 30 countries around the world.

“We are thrilled but perhaps not surprised by the response,” series CEO Catherine Bond Muir said.

“Even today there is a massive gender imbalance in motorsport and W Series is making the first step to correct that.

“Drivers from all over the world have stepped forward, so it's clear that with the right framework we can make the changes this sport desperately needs.”

Among the list of prospects are a few well-known names such as former Lotus F1 tester Carmen Jorda and British F3 race winner Jamie Chadwick.

BMW-backed Beitske Visser, who will take in next month's in-season Formula E test at Ad Diriyah, is also among the most well-known candidates.

"We designed W Series specifically to shine a light on female talent right around the world," said David Coulthard. “I can’t wait to be part of the next stage and to see some of that talent in action.”

The final grid will be determined in two months following a three-day process that will include fitness tests and psychometric profiling, as well as multiple driving skill tests overseen by Coulthard, former F1 driver Alex Wurz and W Series racing director Dave Ryan.

Full qualifier list

Ayla Agren, 25, Norway
Amna Al Qubaisi,18, UAE
Chelsea Angelo, 22, Australia
Carmen Boix, 23, Spain
Sarah Bovy, 29, Belgium
Toni Breidinger, 19, USA
Ivana Cetinich, 22, South Africa
Jamie Chadwick, 20, UK
Veronika Cicha, 31, Czech Republic
Sabre Cook, 24, USA
Courtney Crone, 17, USA
Natalie Decker, 21, USA
Mira Erda, 18, India
Carlotta Fedeli, 26, Italy
Cassie Gannis, 27, USA
Marta Garcia, 18, Spain
Michelle Gatting, 24, Denmark
Angelique Germann, 27 Germany
Megan Gilkes, 17, Canada
Samin Gomez, 26, Venezuela
Grace Gui, 27, China
Michelle Halder, 19, Germany
Esmee Hawkey, 20, UK
Jessica Hawkins, 23, UK
Shea Holbrook, 28, USA
Carmen Jorda, 30, Spain
Vivien Keszthelyi, 17, Hungary
Emma Kimilainen, 29, Finland

Natalia Kowalska, 28, Poland
Stephane Kox, 24, Netherland
Miki Koyama, 21, Japan
Fabienne Lanz, 32, South Africa
Milla Mäkelä, 25, Finland
Alexandra Marinescu, 18, Romania
Milou Mets, 28, Netherlands
Sheena Monk, 29, USA
Sarah Moore, 25, UK
Marylin Niederhauser, 22, Germany
Tasmin Pepper, 28, South Africa
Vicky Piria, 24, Italy
Taegen Poles, 20, Canada
Alice Powell, 25, UK
Charlotte Poynting, 20, Australia
Naomi Schiff, 24, Belgium
Carrie Schriener, 20, Germany
Sharon Scolari, 23, Switzerland
Doreen Seidel, 33, Germany
Siti Shahkirah, 24, Malaysia
Sneha Sharma, 28, India
Bruna Tomasell, 21, Brazil
Shirley Van Der Lof, 31, Netherlands
Beitske Visser, 23, Netherlands
Fabienne Wohlwend, 21, Lichenstein
Caitlin Wood, 21, Australia
Hanna Zellers, 21, USA