W Series driver selection kicks off in Austria

• Fifty-four women take part in gruelling tests to prove their racing prowess
• David Coulthard, Lyn St James and Alex Wurz headline judging panel

W Series, the all-new single-seater racing series for female drivers only, took another step forward in Austria this weekend when 54 female drivers from four corners of the world met up for the first time in their bid to be chosen to race in the inaugural season of this prestigious series.

After two days of getting to know their fellow competitors and doing what could be termed as housekeeping, attending to tasks such as filming and race suit fittings, today was the first of three days on which they would be sent out on the Wachauring at Melk. Through the weekend each woman will be spending a session our on the track in road cars, undertaking two different driving disciplines. They will also take part in appraisal sessions for media and presentation skills, as well as fitness assessments, their every move monitored by experienced judging panels.

There will be 10 modules in all, each of which will be evaluated and points awarded, the final one a Race of Champions on Monday. After that, all the scores will be in, and a group of drivers will be selected to go through to the next stage, in which they will drive the W Series Tatuus F318 Formula 3 car.

To view the full article, please click here.