W Series calendar confirmed

The race dates of the inaugural W Series have been confirmed, with the all-female series set to serve as a support category to Germany's touring car championship, the DTM. The series has been established in an attempt to help women into F1 and will debut at a grand prix venue in Hockenheim.

Established by a group of F1 veterans led by 13-time grand prix winner David Coulthard, the W Series will offer a $1.5million prize pot to 18-20 women racers in 2019.

The stated aim of the category is to prove that female drivers are as capable of competing at the highest level as men, while also providing crucial funding to get into F1's costly junior formulae.

The European F3 Championship has run as a support act to DTM in recent years, with the likes of Lando Norris, Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon making it to F1 – it will be hoped that appearing in front of the DTM's crowd will give the W Series similar exposure.

Our 2019 provisional race calendar is looking mega. Bring on epic racing at iconic circuits. ????

???????? 3rd - 5th May

Hockenheim
???????? 17th - 19th May

Zolder
???????? 7th - 9th June

Misano
???????? 5th - 7th July

Norisring
???????? 19th - 21st July

Assen
???????? 10th - 11th August

Brands Hatch pic.twitter.com/Q99TwBA4Ex — W Series (@WSeriesRacing) October 12, 2018

"Invigorating and extending our motor-racing support programme for 2019 represented the top priority on our to-do list," said DTM parent company ITR's Managing Director Achim Kostron.

"We are really delighted with having the possibility to welcome the innovative and professional W Series at DTM. The fact that the organisers of the W Series chose the DTM as platform for their great project speaks for itself."

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