F1 Academy announces new global karting series
F1 Academy attempts to increase female participation in motorsport by creating a new series.
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F1 Academy race at Monza (Via IMAGO)
The F1 Academy replaced the failed W-Series as the new premier Female open-wheel racing series to empower woman racers and help them climb the F1 ladder. A new Karting series is in the pipeline to accelerate this process. The all-female junior series will collaborate with Champions of the Future (COTF), and they will create a new ‘three-tiered karting’ system.
Being a new series with small teams and newer racers, they cannot take the risk of spending vast amounts of money on this series. The program will include a series of cost control measures, and the engines on the car will be limited to provide everyone with a ‘fair chance’ at winning. There will be a chassis lottery system as well.
This series will contain ‘mixed ages’ of racers. Minis (ages 8–11), Juniors (ages 11–14), and Seniors (ages 14–17). There will be six ‘double-header’ races around the world. The aim is to host one race that will take place outside Europe. The academy will support three female racers and the best three racers will be invited to an ‘official F1 academy test’.
F1 Academy will use this series to raise awareness for F1 Academy’s ‘Discover Your Drive youth participation and talent identification initiatives’. This series will join the Grand Prix calendar in 2024 to earn more visibility and create closer ties with Formula 1. This introduction of a new series has grabbed the attention of F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff.
What does Susie Wolff say about the new series introduced in motorsport?
Susie Wolff, the chief of F1 Academy, said that there is a lot of ‘momentum’ being built around F1 Academy. This requires the directors to strengthen the pipeline of talent coming into motorsport. Wolff adds that she ‘looks forward’ to this collaboration. “We look forward to this collaboration with Champions of the Future, which will create a clear pathway from karting into the F1 Academy.”
Wolff commented on women’s participation in the sport and said that “Champions of the Future aims to increase female participation, create opportunity, and allow clear progression up the motorsport ladder.”
James Geidel, President of Champions of the Future, adds that he is ‘pleased’ due to this collaboration with F1 Academy. He also claimed that both series have ‘similar’ goals and ambitions for motorsport. He also claims that this series aims to expand the driver pool in the sport.
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Justin P Joy
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