Aditya ChaudhuriThe all-female single-seater racing championship W Series is all set to have its first race at the iconic Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore alongside Formula One.
The race weekend for the W Series will be during the same weekend when Formula One will be heading to Singapore this year, between September 30 and October 2, 2022.
This will be the W Series’ first-ever race in Asia. The championship was supposed to be held in Suzuka, Japan in October, but due to “unforeseeable operational challenges”, the race will now be held in Singapore.
The Singapore race will be the seventh race of the record season with ten races. The championship is currently being led by Jenner Racing’s Jamie Chadwick, who has won all five of the opening five races.
Catherine Bond Muir, Chief Executive Officer of W Series, commented:
“Since we announced our 2022 race calendar in January, the global landscape has changed considerably. It’s with regret that we will not be racing in Japan this year, where we have strong support, but the challenges involved in doing so have increased significantly in the past six months, meaning that for a young business like ours it is sadly no longer possible to hold a race there.
“Given the giant strides we have made, it is easy to forget that the W Series launched less than four years ago. Every step we have taken has been with the long-term interests of the series in mind as we aim to grow in the most sustainable way possible.
“Our 2022 season promised to be a landmark one as we staged more races (10) in a single season than ever before, including a first-ever race in Asia, which is a key market for us. The Marina Bay Street Circuit has built a fantastic reputation for great racing and we’re sure the atmosphere will be incredible as racing returns there after a break. We staged our first-ever race on a street circuit in Miami in May to great acclaim, and I’m sure our drivers will put on another exciting show at Marina Bay and continue to inspire new fans of the W Series in Asia.“
Colin Syn, Deputy Chairman, Singapore GP Pte Ltd, added:
“We are thrilled that Singapore will be the first in Asia to host the W Series, as we get back on track after a two-year hiatus. W Series is leading the way in promoting diversity and gender equality in motorsports. We are proud to partner them by offering a platform for an all-female line-up of elite racers to compete at the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2022. TSS The Super Series will also be a treat for motorsport fans as their superb line-up of GT supercars make their debut at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.“
Formula One will also be heading to Singapore for the first time since 2019 when Sebastian Vettel took his final win till date at the Marina Bay Circuit. The 2020 and 2021 races were cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.
