F1 Academy has announced a new karting series and special support for selected girls and young women competing within it.
Formula 1 set up F1 Academy last year as a feeder series specifically to develop young talented female drivers. The championship features five established junior series teams each running three cars and awards FIA superlicence points to the top-ranked drivers among the field of 15 competitors.To increase and enhance the talent of drivers coming into the series, F1 Academy has announced a partnership with the karting series ‘Champions of the Future’, to set up the ‘Champions of the Future Academy Program (COTFA).
The new series will feature limited entry fees and a lottery system to distribute kart chassis and engines in an effort to equalise the playing field. COTFA will have three gender-neutral age categories, ‘minis’ for ages 8-11, ‘juniors’ for 11-14-year-olds and ‘seniors’ for teenagers between 14-17. Six double-header race weekends will take place each season, one of will be held outside Europe.
As part of the programme, the F1 Academy series will directly offer financial support to three girls or young women in each age group. The top three in the final standings in the senior category will be rewarded with a test in an F1 Academy car following the completion of the championship.
F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff said the new karting series would “continue to strengthen the pipeline of talent coming into our sport”.
“COTFA will operate a lottery system for the chassis and engines plus implement a fixed budget, giving us the opportunity to identify the top talent across all age groups,” Wolff continued.
“We will also provide the best in the senior category with an F1 Academy test, giving them a chance to prove themselves to our teams. Champions of the Future shares F1 Academy’s vision to increase female participation, create opportunity and allow clear progression up the motorsport ladder.”
The inaugural season of F1 Academy will conclude next weekend at the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. Marta Garcia holds a strong lead in the drivers’ standings with a 50 point advantage over Lena Buhler after taking six wins from the opening 18 races.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Other motorsport
- Jaguar’s team work gives Evans and Cassidy Monaco one-two
- Newgarden admits he “failed my team miserably” over disqualification
- Formula E unveils 200mph, 4WD Gen3 Evo, boasting 0-60 time 30% quicker than F1
- Ghiotto gets 11th hour call-up for IndyCar debut at Barber
- McLaughlin and Power accept penalties over misuse of push-to-pass system
Imre (@f1mre)
13th October 2023, 16:23
It may help at a young age but at some point in their junior careers they should start competing with males. And I wonder if competing against males from a very young age is more beneficial than this initiative. It’s like they’ve started making their own Women’s Football or similar. It’s okay if they have no expectations regarding getting into F1. Like in darts or snooker, Women’s series exists but at a lower level than the main competitions (where both men and women can compete).
Alan Dove
13th October 2023, 16:34
I can see why you may think from the story but….
The Championship of the Future Academy was actually announced last month and had no association with F1 Academy. It isn’t gender segregated. What F1 has announced is they are buying three slots in each class for their drivers.
The Academy isn’t really the elite classes. It’s a bit weird and new and it’s the championships trying to make use of OK-N engines. All this is very specialist karting knowledge.
OH… and for some reason… once again because I feel like I am mad when explaining this…. there’s no mention that karting has had a female FIA World Champion. You’d think that might be mentioned somewhere by someone on this kind of thing.
Nick T.
13th October 2023, 23:13
I hope a female driver succeeds, but any support should be solely for those with financial disadvantages and show promise. Nothing else should matter.
greasemonkey
14th October 2023, 13:15
Here in the USA we have figured out that merit and means was wrong all along. Since I decided to identify as green and reproduce via budding, that means my kind is more oppressed than anyone else, given we tend to be house plants and fruit trees. I win all races by default. Not need to even sell anyone any karts.