W Series welcomes Jenner Racing
Olympic gold medalist and media personality Caitlyn Jenner – a former racing driver herself – will line up a team in the upcoming W Series season.
A decathlon gold medialist at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, Caitlyn Jenner has often been considered one of the most iconic athletes – having also featured as the Time magazine 'world's greatest athlete' after setting a third straight world record.
But the now-media personality's involvement in sports was not limited to athletics: Jenner raced professionaly in motor racing in IMSA in the 80s: after winning the well-known Long Beach celebrity race, Jenner would debut in sportscars in 1980 at the Daytona 24 Hours.
Over six years and 57 starts, she finished runner up in the 1986 IMSA Camel GT Championship, including a second place at the 24H of Daytona.
A strong supporter of women's sports, Jenner now seized on the opportunity to get involved in the all-female racing series W Series, as the championship enters its third on-track season and its second on the Formula 1 supporting bill. The series has in fact announced the entry of new team Jenner Racing – which will be owned and managed directly by the American former athlete.
“As a believer in fair competition, a lover of motor racing, and a supporter of all women in sport from the grassroots to elite level, W Series ticks every box for me and is a fusion of the different aspects of my career" – commented Caitlyn Jenner. "A championship dedicated to inspiring young girls and giving women the chance to succeed in roles throughout what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, W Series is changing the face of motorsport."
The series has been centrally-run by British single-seater top team Hitech GP in 2019, while it announced a gradual move to a team-based structure in 2021. Jenner Racing is the first addition to the 2022 grid, as W Series is eyeing further expansion of its presence in the US. Two American races have been announced on the calendar, with the season kicking off at the new Miami GP in May.
"We are determined to give females a platform and a pathway to succeed in our sport, and when I first met Caitlyn Jenner, it was clear that she is as committed to that mission as all of us at W Series are", said Catherine Bond Muir, W Series' CEO.
"She has performed at the highest level in sport, is a proven winner and a complete petrol-head, and I know that her passion for sport and motorsport will inspire everybody at W Series.
Jenner is expected to oversee the day-to-day operations of the team at all the 8 racing weekends, further boosting W Series' global marketing appeal and popularity.
"I watched on with great excitement last year when W Series made its American debut in Austin, Texas, USA, where its drivers entertained 400,000 fans over the weekend at the Circuit of the Americas" – continued Jenner. "In May, I will be beaming with pride when my Jenner Racing team starts its bid for W Series glory on motor racing’s greatest stage at the first race of season three in Miami, USA, in support of Formula 1. As has always been the case, I’m in it to win it.”
W Series hosted a assessment test at Inde Motorsports Ranch, Arizona, last week, where 15 new potential candidates drove US-spec F4 cars. Results of the selections and line-up for the 2022 season will be announced in due course.
