All-female motorsport series enters administration after failing to secure funding

June 16, 2023

Nigel Benton

The all-female W Series motor racing series has entered administration after the single-seater championship failed to secure funding.

After announcing, in October last year, that the W Series would end three races early, organisers said they remained positive that funding could be found to secure the championship's future

However, while advising that they remained positive that funding might be secured in the future, UK-based administrators Evelyn Partners LLP have now been appointed with most staff having already left the business or been made redundant.

As reported by the BBC, Kevin Ley, one of the joint administrators, advised "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."

Ley's joint administrator, Harry 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."

Launched in 2018, the W Series championship. was held over three seasons - 2019, 2021 and 2022 - with its 2020 series cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Held predominantly in Europe, it also staged races in the USA and Singapore.

In November, Formula 1 - which has not had a female driver compete in a race since 1976 - launched the F1 Academy, an all-female series aimed at helping women drivers progress through motorsport.

The inaugural season features seven rounds with the final race supporting the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, in October.

Image credit: W Series.

About the author

Nigel Benton

Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management

Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia and New Zealand’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry. Having established the magazine in 1997, shortly after his relocation to Australia, he has managed its readership rising to over 11,500 and its acceptance as the industry journal for professionals in aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues.

In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.

Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.

Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.

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