Following Formula 1's calendar changes, W Series adapts its 2021 schedule and moves its first date to Austria, as the all-female championship gets ready for its pre-season test at Anglesey.
Two years since ints dramatic season finale in 2019, W Series finally hits the track at the 2021 lung-awaited pre-season test in Anglesey, Wales.
The all-female series has in fact decided to take a year off in 2020 due to the pandemic challenges and will return on track with a shared calendar with Formula 1.
The inaugural round was scheduled to be at the French Grand Prix venue of Le Castellet on 26th June. Following a shake up in the Formula 1 schedule due to the newly restrictions for UK-based travellers in Turkey, F1 was forced to drop the Istanbul Park round and added a second race in Austria.
As a result, the French GP has been moved forward to June 20th, and teams will travel to Austria for a triple-header.
W Series had to react and announced the change: the 2021 season will start at the Red Bull Ring and will contest two races on the Austrian track in just as many weeks.
This would still allow the W Series operation to prepare in time for the season, with some drivers still unable to travel to Europe due to the current restrictions.
Meanwhile, the 5-day collective test will get underway in Wales, with 20 drivers hitting the track on Monday 17th May in preparation for the upcoming season - which is now just 40 days away.
Revised 2021 W Series calendar
26 June / Spielberg, Austria (in support of the Styrian Grand Prix)
3 July / Spielberg, Austria (in support of the Austrian Grand Prix)
17 July / Silverstone, UK
31 July / Budapest, Hungary
28 August / Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
4 September / Zandvoort, Netherlands
23 October / Austin, USA
30 October / Mexico City, Mexico