Wikipedia

Formula Woman

Formula Woman, which was known as the Privilege Insurance Formula Woman Championship for sponsorship reasons, is a female-only one make racing series started in the UK. It was inspired by the lack of female drivers in other series and was created, amongst other reasons, to boost the female audience of the sport.[1][2]

It began in 2004 and ran until 2006. Formula Woman returned in 2021.[3]

2004–2006

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In 2004, all 16 drivers raced Mazda RX-8s over seven rounds around four British racing circuits. For 2005, support was dropped by Mazda and instead drivers competed in Caterham 7s.

2004

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The inaugural season of Formula Woman was based around a television series on ITV. Thousands of women applied to join, with ultimately 17 drivers being chosen to compete. Experienced motoring journalist Vicki Butler-Henderson hosted the ITV show,[4] while racing drivers Katherine Legge and Tim Harvey were both part of the judging panel. Legge left for unknown reasons early into the selection process.[1]

Race calendar

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Round Circuit Date Race Winner
1   Oulton Park 12 June   Natasha Firman
2 12 June   Natasha Firman
3   Knockhill Racing Circuit 27 June   Margo Gardner
4 27 June   Margo Gardner
5   Cadwell Park 4 July   Lorraine Pinner
6   Brands Hatch 25 July   Lorraine Pinner
7 25 July   Lorraine Pinner

Championship standings

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The 2004 championship was won by Natasha Firman.[5]

Pos Driver Pts
1 Natasha Firman 215
2 Lorraine Pinner 209
3 Bev Tyler 161
4 Juliette Thurston 146
5 Emma Hayles 122
6 Margo Gardner 112
7 Pippa Cow 104
8 Lauren Blighton 94
9 Nicola Robertson 80
10 Judith Lyons 74
11 Sarah Bennet-Baggs 73
12 Amy Handford 70
13 Victoria Hardy 63
14 Max Thompson 47
15 Catherine Gard 31
16 Joanna Linton 28
17 Karen Andrews 20

2005

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Formula Woman returned in 2005 using Caterham 7's after Mazda withdrew support. The series was run as a Nations Cup. Natalie Butler from England won the 2005 Championship.[1]

Entry list

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Nation Driver
  Emma Hayles
  Annie Templeton
  Natalie Butler
  Margo Gardner
  Rachel Owen
  Jennifer Daniel
  Jennifer Murray
  Nettan Lindgren
  Anna Walewska
  Lauren Gray
  Amanda Hennessy
  Theresia Balk

Following the end of the season in November, a novices race weekend was held at Pembrey, South Wales, using exclusive Caterham 7 race cars, with a record 62 women competing.[6] The four race winners were automatically given entry to the 2006 Formula Woman championship.

Novice Race winners

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Nation Driver
  Amanda Elliott
  Michelle Nixon
  Lucy Redding
  Amanda Black

2006

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The series continued in 2006, again using the Caterham 7 car but without any television coverage. Ultimately, Nikki Welsby won the championship.[7]

The series was not renewed for 2007.

2021–present

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In November 2020, it was announced that Formula Woman would be making a come-back.[3] The series opened for applicants in March 2021 with a view to the series starting in the autumn of the same year with an accompanying television package.[8] The new competition prize offered winners the opportunity to race a McLaren 570S GT4 in the British GT Cup Championship that 16 drivers will compete for.[9]

The series secured major sponsorship including McLaren, Trade Centre, and Vauxhall.[10]

Test days took place at circuits including Knockhill and Anglesey Circuit.[11] The assessments for the final driver decisions took place in December 2021, following a test day at Bedford Autodrome using Vauxhall Corsa-e cars.[12]

In March 2022, the competition progressed to select 15 finalists from 70, with more selections involving a track kart test at Croft to achieve 10, followed by a future final race for four contestants.[13][14][15]

2021/22

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Finalists[16]

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Nation Driver Notes
  Erika Hoffman Winner
  Jodie Sloss Winner
  Sara Misir Winner
  Anushriya Gulati Winner
  Amy Riley Reserve
  Steph Sore Reserve
  Eliza Seville
  Alicia Barrett
  Vikki Campbell
  Rebecca Mellor
  Abbie Carruthers

2022/23

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Finalists[17]

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Nation Driver Notes
  Alana Carter Winner
  Eliza Seville Winner
  Emma Vennard
  Evy Longepe
  Grace Webb
  Esme Vines
  Claudia Lance Jones
  Nicole Sharples
  Oi Man Leung
  Amanda Henir

See also

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  • W Series, an all-female F3-class racing series founded in 2018
  • F1 Academy, an all-female F4-class racing series founded in 2022

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Speedqueens: Formula Woman". 14 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Magazine / Sport : On the fast track". The Hindu. 2005-04-03. Archived from the original on 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
  3. ^ a b "Formula Woman set to return next year". 20 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Mates sponsors Formula Woman reality TV show".
  5. ^ "Privilege Insurance Formula Woman Championship 2004 standings | Driver Database".
  6. ^ "Racy Women Set New World Record". www.carpages.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  7. ^ "Speedqueens: Formula Woman". 14 September 2010.
  8. ^ "Formula Woman is Back!".
  9. ^ "McLaren Customer Racing to provide GT4 Race Cars for Formula Woman Winners".
  10. ^ "Partners".
  11. ^ "Trade Centre thrilled to support TV's Formula Woman - the Trade Centre UK".
  12. ^ "Formula Woman Assessments Conclude with the Vauxhall Corsa-e Excelling".
  13. ^ How Formula Woman is helping find female racing stars Autosport, 27 February 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022
  14. ^ Could the first female Formula One Champion come from the Midlands? ITV News, 2 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022
  15. ^ Sara Misir makes cut! ... Through to top 15 of Formula Woman Caribbean National Weekly, 4 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022
  16. ^ admin (2022-03-30). "Who are the 2022 Formula Woman Winners?". Is It Fast?. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  17. ^ "Formula Woman Newsletter - 9th December 2022". Formula Woman. Retrieved 2024-10-21.

Further reading

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