W Series announce eight-race calendar on F1 undercard

Formula 1 has agreed on an eight-race calendar with W Series that will serve as a support act across Europe and the Americas.

The all-female motor-racing championship will feature on the undercard of grands prix at France, Austria, Silverstone, Hungary, Spa, Zandvoort, Austin and Mexico.

W Series chief executive Catherine Bond-Muir said: "The prospect of seeing W Series race alongside Formula 1, the world's premier motor racing series, has become even more tantalising as a result of the announcement of our 2021 race calendar.

"The eight races will allow our fast and fearless female racing drivers to showcase their skills on some of the world's most iconic racing circuits, in Europe and the Americas, and literally follow in the tyre tracks of the greatest racing drivers in the world today.

"W Series' mission will always be to further the interests and prospects of female racing drivers and to inspire girls and women everywhere.

"Our 2021 race schedule in partnership with Formula 1 will significantly increase our global reach, impact and influence by placing W Series on motor racing's greatest stage and taking us to new audiences and territories.

"Our drivers are ready and raring to race and entertain, and the 2021 season curtain-raiser in France next June cannot come soon enough."

The series debuted in 2019 to great acclaim but was forced to abandon in its entirety this year's schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Welcoming W Series back for 2021, F1 managing director motorsports Ross Brawn said: "We are delighted to announce the eight Formula 1 races that W Series will join in 2021.

"There is a really exciting mix of circuits that will showcase the exceptional talent of the drivers in the series.

"We believe that it is incredibly important to give everyone the chance to reach the highest levels of our sport, and partnering with W Series shows our determination and commitment to building greater diversity across Formula 1."

It had been hoped the W Series would feature on the controversial round in Saudi Arabia where women's rights are severely restricted, but this has not come to fruition.

Further details regarding the schedule at each round and 2021 driver line-up will be announced in due course.

W Series 2021 calendar

June 26 Le Castellet, France July 3 Spielberg, Austria July 17 Silverstone, UK July 31 Budapest, Hungary August 28 Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium September 4 Zandvoort, Netherlands October 23 Austin, USA October 30 Mexico City, Mexico

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