The W Series international single-seater championship for women has confirmed that its 2022 season will be curtailed, and the final three races will not take place. The reason for the curtailment is a lack of funding, following a contracted investment not being received.
The series says that a decision has been made to focus on the longer-term fundraising process, which it is hoped will ensure the longevity and financial health of the W Series into 2023 and beyond, while also enabling cost cutting by canceling the remaining races in Austin and Mexico City.
Catherine Bond Muir, W Series CEO, commented. “It’s with both great sadness and frustration that we announce that our much-anticipated final three races of the 2022 season in Austin and Mexico City will not go ahead. As a startup in only our third season of racing, we are always working hard to ensure regularity of funding as we continue to grow our business, but due to recent unforeseen circumstances outside of W Series’ control, we had not been in receipt of contracted funds due to us.
“We have worked hard to raise the required funding to enable us to finish the season. Unfortunately, it was not possible to do this in the short timeframe required following the failure of contracted funds to arrive and the global economic downturn. However, while we are all incredibly disappointed that this decision has had to be made in the short term, we remain positive about the future of W Series in the long term. It is well documented that women’s sports receive far less funding than its male counterparts, and W Series is no exception. We are incredibly thankful for the help and support we have received in recent weeks following the news of the financial difficulties we’ve been facing, which has accelerated our fundraising process and given us great optimism as we look to 2023 and beyond.”
According to Bond Muir, discussions are ongoing with various parties to try and secure a future for the championship.
She concluded, “Finally, I want to extend a huge congratulations to our triple champion Jamie Chadwick. She has dominated the 2022 W Series and this championship is well deserved. We have been and always will be incredibly proud and supportive of her career and wish her well in her next exciting chapter. To all our W Series drivers, I’d like to express both pride and sincere gratitude for your professionalism and talent, providing entertaining and exciting racing all season long, and for your continually unwavering support as we navigate the next steps for our series. We will always work hard to provide women racing drivers the opportunities to achieve success and we will not stop fighting to continue the work W Series has started to support women in motorsport.”
