Components One launches all-woman feeder sequence, F1 Academy

Components One has confirmed particulars of a brand new all-woman racing sequence, referred to as F1 Academy, which goals to offer a platform for girls drivers to progress their careers in the direction of racing’s prime championship.

F1 has made clear the brand new sequence will not be being pitched as a rival to the prevailing all-female W Sequence, which hit monetary difficulties this yr and needed to cancel its last three races. It’s not but clear if W Sequence will proceed in 2023 when F1 Academy might be launched.

The brand new sequence, first reported by ESPN in October, will see 5 groups run three vehicles over a seven-round calendar with three races at every spherical. Just one spherical is anticipated to run as a part of the help race bundle for an F1 weekend.

The sequence is being pitched as a pathway for younger feminine karters to progress towards W Sequence, Components 3 and Components 2. It’s going to use Components 4-style vehicles with 165 break horsepower engines, that are 95 bhp down on the F3-style vehicles utilized in W Sequence.

The groups concerned might be present F2 and F3 groups, with opponents needing to lift €150,000 to drive whereas F1 itself will subsidise every driver’s finances by an additional €150,000.

The sequence might be run by Bruno Michel, who additionally manages F3 and F2.

F1’s press launch mentioned the sequence is designed to fill the hole in expertise many feminine drivers have earlier than making the leap to F3.

“Throughout assessments of the boundaries younger feminine drivers face with getting into the F1 pyramid, it turned clear that they don’t have the identical quantity of expertise as their male counterparts on the identical age,” the press launch mentioned. “The aim is to fill this hole and supply them entry to extra monitor time, racing and testing.”

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali added: “Everybody ought to have the chance to observe their goals and obtain their potential and Components One desires to make sure we’re doing the whole lot we will to create larger variety and routes into this unimaginable sport,” he mentioned.

“That’s the reason I’m delighted to announce the F1 Academy that can give younger feminine drivers the perfect likelihood to fulfil their ambitions by way of a complete programme that helps their racing careers and provides them the whole lot they should transfer into F3 and hopefully to F2 after which the head of Components One. The extra alternative there’s the higher and that is designed to offer one other route for the drivers to succeed.”

W Sequence CEO Catherine Bond Muir welcomed F1’s latest creation.

“W Sequence created the primary platform for girls in motorsport which has impressed younger women all all over the world since our inaugural season in 2019. It’s unbelievable to see this develop because of our pioneering work,” she mentioned in a press release.

“W Sequence welcomes any initiative which shares our ambition to offer extra alternatives for girls in motorsport. Our goal from the beginning has all the time been to extend the expertise pool of girls racing drivers, and the addition of the F1 Academy as a feeder to W Sequence and different sequence is an additional step in inspiring the following technology to progress up the motorsport ladder.

“We’re trying ahead to finalising W Sequence’ plans for 2023 and past, offering thrilling racing and entertaining our followers all over the world. Our mission continues to be clear: to supply ladies racing drivers a platform to race globally on the pinnacle of girls’s motorsport, and in doing so proceed to unfold our message additional and wider.”