W Series officially enters administration in ‘upsetting’ development
杰米•查德威克Belen加西亚和th Nerea马蒂e podium after the W Series race at the French Grand Prix. Paul Ricard July 2022.
W Series has officially appointed administrators after a lack of funding, with the all-female category having not restarted for the 2023 season.
The final three rounds of 2022 were curtailed after the series could not pull enough funding together to complete the season, with it appearing on the Formula 1 support schedule and the decision having been taken with the view of securing longer-term investment.
W Series ran for three seasons, with Jamie Chadwick winning the title each occasion, and the series was set up with the aim of giving female drivers an equal opportunity to compete in top-level motorsport.
While plans had been in place to resume W Series in 2023, this has not come to fruition and administrators from Evelyn Partners LLP have now put out a call for potential investors in the series so it can be restarted in the long term, with its last round to date having taken place in Singapore last year.
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Kevin Ley, one of the Joint Administrators, said in a statement: “The news will be upsetting for the Company’s employees and drivers together with the worldwide supporters of the championship.
“The Company had been unable to commit to the 2023 race season due to its liquidity position. The directors had been in discussions with various parties to provide additional funding together with a potential sale of the business. Unfortunately, these discussions did not progress.”
Henry Shinners added: “The Joint Administrators will explore all available options to allow the W Series to restart in the future.
“We are seeking expressions of interest in the business and assets of the Company. We would ask that any interest is registered with us as quickly as possible.
“Staff had been made redundant or had left the business before our appointment and it has unfortunately been necessary to make the remaining staff member redundant.
“The Joint Administrators will be looking to support any staff impacted by the Administration, given the financial position of the Company, with making and progressing any claims with the Redundancy Payments Office.”
Formula 1 established its own all-female category aimed at younger drivers which debuted this season, the F1 Academy. It will join the support schedule at selected grand prix weekends from next season onwards.
