P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The all-female single-seater series F1 Academy has set up a new karting pathway to progress young talent. F1 Academy, formed
The F1 Academy was established in 2023 to replace the W Series and features an all-female field in Formula 4-spec cars, providing a platform for drivers to advance in single-seater racing. The academy’s director, Susie Wolff, believes that increasing female participation in karting is crucial to developing future female F1 drivers. To address this, the F1 Academy will collaborate with the Champions of the Future karting series to create a new junior series that will nurture younger talent for F1. The Champions of the Future Academy Program (COTFA) will consist of mixed-gender categories with age brackets. The F1 Academy will support three female drivers in each category, and those in the senior category will have the opportunity to test with the F1 Academy. COTFA aims to provide equal opportunities for all competitors through a lottery system for chassis and engines and a fixed budget for entry fees. The F1 Academy’s ultimate goal is to increase female participation, create opportunities, and progress drivers up the motorsport ladder. The F1 Academy is gearing up for its first season finale in Austin as part of the F1 support program and will be a full-time member of the F1 support package in 2023. By 2024, 10 out of the 15 F1 Academy drivers will represent F1 teams, further solidifying the series’ position in global motorsport.
Source: Motorsport Week
