W Series has announced that the final two races in the 2020 season will take place during the F1 US GP and Mexico GP, respectively.
In a massive boost for W Series, the all-female championship will feature on the F1 grand prix weekend schedule in USA at the Circuit of the Americas and Mexico at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, to conclude their 2020 season.
The race in USA will take place on October 24 (Saturday), while the race in Mexico will be on October 31 (Saturday). This will complete the 8-event season, which starts with two brand new rounds as well, in Russia (St. Petersburg) and Sweden (Anderstorp).
Ross Brawn, Managing Director, Motorsport at F1, said: “We are delighted to welcome W Series to two such spectacular events of the 2020 FIA Formula 1 World Championship such as those in Austin and Mexico City. In just one year, W Series has contributed significantly to increasing interest in the topic of diversity and inclusion in motorsport.
“We are convinced that our sport must offer equal opportunities for men and women to compete together – it is no coincidence that improving the diversity of the F1 grid by supporting and promoting driver talent from underrepresented backgrounds is one of our strategic objectives.
“The ability for the great crowds who traditionally attend the Austin and Mexico City Grands Prix to see these talented female drivers up close will definitely further raise the awareness of the importance of inclusion and diversity in motorsport.”
At the same time, Catherine Bond Muir, W Series’ Chief Executive Officer, added: “We at W Series are absolutely delighted that, in only our second season, our championship has been welcomed by Formula 1, and we’re utterly thrilled that the final two races of the 2020 W Series season will therefore take place as part of the F1 platform.
“Our two all-new races will follow six races on the DTM platform, making a very varied, extremely exciting and truly international eight-race championship, in eight countries across the globe. I’m particularly pleased that W Series will now stage races outside Europe, and the USA and Mexico are of course both very important new territories for us.
“Interest in and enthusiasm for the series was enormous in our first season, 2019, among media and fans alike, and the addition of two all-new W Series races on the F1 platform will inevitably increase that enthusiasm and interest.
“A lot of work has gone into stitching the W Series/Formula 1 deal together, but above all I want to thank W Series’ drivers, the brave and talented young women who captured the imagination of the sporting world last summer. Mark my words: they’ll do so again this year, from May to October, all over the world.”
Here’s the full 2020 calendar – the first six rounds is in support to DTM:
St Petersburg, Russia: May 30th
Anderstorp, Sweden: June 13th
Monza, Italy: June 27th
Norisring, Germany: July 11th
Brands Hatch, UK: August 23rd
Assen, Netherlands: September 5th
Austin, USA: October 24th
Mexico City, Mexico: October 31st
Here’s details on the F1 superlicense points
Here’s the full 2020 driver line-up