Coulthard and Kravitz confirmed for W Series television line-up

The W Series has signed up an impressive broadcast team for its first season, with Lee McKenzie to front the Channel 4 coverage and Claire Cottingham leading commentary alongside series co-founder David Coulthard and Ted Kravitz reporting from the pit-lane.

It was confirmed last week that terrestrial C4 will air the all-female W Series in the UK, with McKenzie and Coulthard familiar faces from the station's F1 coverage making the switch.

Kravitz has garnered a cult following in many years of pit-lane reporting for ITV, the BBC and most recently Sky Sports – his signing will be seen as a particular coup given how fans met reports of his release from Sky earlier this year with an almighty backlash online – including petitions to reverse a decision which it turned out had not in fact been made.

Coulthard said: "Having spent almost my entire life immersed in motor racing, first as a driver and then as a TV commentator and businessman, I'm now absolutely delighted to be playing a key role within W Series – not only as a member of the series' management but also now as part of the TV commentary team.

"I firmly believe that W Series is a radical but crucial innovation in motorsport, and that it will result in the development of some very talented and successful female racing drivers, this year and in years to come.

"Undoubtedly, Channel 4 and Whisper Films will collaborate to put on a great show, and it's an excellent sign of the times that the only motor racing series that will be shown live on free-to-air TV on any of the UK's top four channels will be an all-female one."

McKenzie added: "It's a huge pleasure to be involved at the start of W Series. I've covered almost every series of motorsport and to be involved in one that could also change the face of the sport as we know it is really exciting.

"W Series is on one of the best motorsport platforms there is – DTM – and it will therefore visit some incredible racetracks.

"I went to Almeria at the end of March to attend the final part of W Series' driver selection programme, and I was really impressed by what I saw. Gender aside, these drivers are the same as every other driver on every other grid: they have a huge desire to succeed."

The series was launched to much fanfare, with a stated aim of making it easier for female drivers to get on the ladder to F1.

A £1.5million prize pot has been set aside, with a third of that set to go to the inaugural winner.

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