W Series introduces six new names to 18-driver 2020 selection
A total of six new drivers have been announced for the second season of the W Series championship in 2020, with all 12 racers with guaranteed entry named alongside.
Abbie Eaton, known for her driving in Amazon’s ‘The Grand Tour’ series, Ayla Agren, Belen Garcia, Bruna Tomaselli, Irina Sidorkova and Nerea Marti are set to race in the series for the first time.
All six took part in its 14-driver selection test in Almeria in September that tested their skills in simulators and in the Tatuus T-318 F3 machine drivers compete in.
This leaves Caitlin Wood, Gosia Rdest, Esmee Hawkey, Naomi Schiff, Vivien Keszthelyi, Shea Holbrook and Sarah Bovy currently without a drive, with the grid set to be increased to 20 before the season begins.
Megan Gilkes – who won its experimental reverse-grid race at Assen – is also not included on the list.
Reigning champion Jamie Chadwick returns alongside 2019 championship rivals Beitske Visser, Marta Garcia and Alice Powell.
Chadwick earned the $500,000 prize as winner, is a finalist for the Autosport BRDC Award, and will represent Scotland’s Graham Brunton Racing in Formula Ford 1600’s Walter Hayes Trophy event in November.
She is also part of the current Williams F1 team line-up, working as its development driver, and won the MRF Challenge in India in February.
The top 12 in the first season of the series were given automatic offers to make a comeback for its second campaign.
The series supported DTM in 2019, with a calendar yet to be announced for the coming year, while it is also set to be worth FIA superlicence points.
