{{Short description|Single-Seater Racing Championship}} {{multiple issues| {{unreliable sources|date=July 2016}} {{update|date=June 2021}} }}
'''Formula Woman''', which was known as the '''Privilege Insurance Formula Woman Championship''' for sponsorship reasons, is a female-only one make racing series started in the UK. It was inspired by the lack of female drivers in other series and was created, amongst other reasons, to boost the female audience of the sport.<ref name="Speedqueens: Formula Woman">{{Cite web | url=http://speedqueens.blogspot.com/2010/09/formula-woman.html | title=Speedqueens: Formula Woman | date=14 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2005/04/03/stories/2005040300180200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924155539/https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2005/04/03/stories/2005040300180200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-09-24|website=The Hindu|title=Magazine / Sport : On the fast track|date=2005-04-03|access-date=2016-08-07}}</ref> Despite the use of the word formula in its name, the series has not used single-seaters.
It began in 2004 and ran until 2006. Formula Woman returned in 2021.<ref name="Formula Woman set to return next year - Motorsport UK">{{cite web | url=https://www.motorsportuk.org/formula-woman-set-to-return-next-year/ | title=Formula Woman set to return next year | date=20 November 2020 }}</ref>
==2004–2006== In 2004, all 16 drivers raced Mazda RX-8s over seven rounds around four British racing circuits. For 2005, support was dropped by Mazda and instead drivers competed in Caterham 7s.
===2004=== The inaugural season of Formula Woman was based around a television series on ITV. Thousands of women applied to join, with ultimately 17 drivers being chosen to compete. Experienced motoring journalist Vicki Butler-Henderson hosted the ITV show,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/mates-sponsors-formula-woman-reality-tv-show/209203 | title=Mates sponsors Formula Woman reality TV show }}</ref> while racing drivers Katherine Legge and Tim Harvey were both part of the judging panel. Legge left for unknown reasons early into the selection process.<ref name="Speedqueens: Formula Woman" /> ==== Race calendar ==== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;" !Round !Circuit !Date !Race winner |- !1 | rowspan="2" nowrap|{{flagicon|GBR}} Oulton Park |12 June |{{flagicon|GBR}} Natasha Firman |- !2 |12 June |{{flagicon|GBR}} Natasha Firman |- !3 | rowspan="2" nowrap|{{flagicon|GBR}} Knockhill Racing Circuit |27 June |{{flagicon|GBR}} Margo Gardner |- !4 |27 June |{{flagicon|GBR}} Margo Gardner |- !5 |{{flagicon|GBR}} Cadwell Park |4 July |{{flagicon|GBR}} Lorraine Pinner |- !6 | rowspan="2" nowrap|{{flagicon|GBR}} Brands Hatch |25 July |{{flagicon|GBR}} Lorraine Pinner |- !7 |25 July |{{flagicon|GBR}} Lorraine Pinner |}
====Championship standings==== The 2004 championship was won by Natasha Firman.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/formula-woman/2004/ | title=Privilege Insurance Formula Woman Championship 2004 standings | Driver Database }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%" |- style="background:#f9f9f9" ! Pos ! Driver ! Pts |- ! 1 | Natasha Firman ! 215 |- ! 2 | Lorraine Pinner ! 209 |- ! 3 | Bev Tyler ! 161 |- ! 4 | Juliette Thurston ! 146 |- ! 5 | Emma Hayles ! 122 |- ! 6 | Margo Gardner ! 112 |- ! 7 | Pippa Cow ! 104 |- ! 8 | Lauren Blighton ! 94 |- ! 9 | Nicola Robertson ! 80 |- ! 10 | Judith Lyons ! 74 |- ! 11 | Sarah Bennet-Baggs ! 73 |- ! 12 | Amy Handford ! 70 |- ! 13 | Victoria Hardy ! 63 |- ! 14 | Max Thompson ! 47 |- ! 15 | Catherine Gard ! 31 |- ! 16 | Joanna Linton ! 28 |- ! 17 | Karen Andrews ! 20 |}
===2005=== Formula Woman returned in 2005 using Caterham 7's after Mazda withdrew support. The series was run as a Nations Cup. Natalie Butler from England won the 2005 Championship.<ref name="Speedqueens: Formula Woman" />
====Entry list==== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%" |- style="background:#f9f9f9" ! Nation ! Driver |- ! {{flagicon|ENG}} | Emma Hayles |- ! {{flagicon|ENG}} | Annie Templeton |- ! {{flagicon|ENG}} | Natalie Butler |- ! {{flagicon|SCO}} | Margo Gardner |- ! {{flagicon|WAL}} | Rachel Owen |- ! {{flagicon|IRE}} | Jennifer Daniel |- ! {{flagicon|RSA}} | Jennifer Murray |- ! {{flagicon|SWE}} | Nettan Lindgren |- ! {{flagicon|POL}} | Anna Walewska |- ! {{flagicon|AUS}} | Lauren Gray |- ! {{flagicon|USA}} | Amanda Hennessy |- ! {{flagicon|NED}} | Theresia Balk |}
Following the end of the season in November, a novices race weekend was held at Pembrey, South Wales, using exclusive Caterham 7 race cars, with a record 62 women competing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Racy Women Set New World Record |url=https://www.carpages.co.uk/motoring-news/formula-woman-24-11-05.asp |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=www.carpages.co.uk}}</ref> The four race winners were automatically given entry to the 2006 Formula Woman championship.
====Novice Race winners==== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%" |- style="background:#f9f9f9" ! Nation ! Driver |- ! {{flagicon|GBR}} | Amanda Elliott |- ! {{flagicon|GBR}} | Michelle Nixon |- ! {{flagicon|GBR}} | Lucy Redding |- ! {{flagicon|GBR}} | Amanda Black |}
===2006=== The series continued in 2006, again using the Caterham 7 car but without any television coverage. Ultimately, Nikki Welsby won the championship.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://speedqueens.blogspot.com/2010/09/formula-woman.html#:~:text=It%20was%20won%20by%20Natalie%20Butler%20of%20the%20UK.&text=The%20novice%2Dbased%20championship%20continued,the%20championship%20was%20quietly%20cancelled. | title=Speedqueens: Formula Woman | date=14 September 2010 }}</ref>
The series was not renewed for 2007.
==2021–present== In November 2020, it was announced that Formula Woman would be making a come-back.<ref name="Formula Woman set to return next year - Motorsport UK" /> The series opened for applicants in March 2021 with a view to the series starting in the autumn of the same year with an accompanying television package.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.formulawoman.co.uk/news/formula-woman-is-back | title=Formula Woman is Back! }}</ref> The new competition prize offered winners the opportunity to race a McLaren 570S GT4 in the British GT Cup Championship that 16 drivers will compete for.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.formulawoman.co.uk/news/march-announcement | title=McLaren Customer Racing to provide GT4 Race Cars for Formula Woman Winners }}</ref>
The series secured major sponsorship including McLaren, Trade Centre, and Vauxhall.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.formulawoman.co.uk/partners | title=Partners }}</ref>
Test days took place at circuits including Knockhill and Anglesey Circuit.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.tradecentreuk.com/news/trade-centre-thrilled-to-support-tvs-formula-woman | title=Trade Centre thrilled to support TV's Formula Woman - the Trade Centre UK }}</ref> The assessments for the final driver decisions took place in December 2021, following a test day at Bedford Autodrome using Vauxhall Corsa-e cars.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.formulawoman.co.uk/news/formula-woman-assessments-conclude-with-the-vauxhall-corse-e-excelling | title=Formula Woman Assessments Conclude with the Vauxhall Corsa-e Excelling }}</ref>
In March 2022, the competition progressed to select 15 finalists from 70, with more selections involving a track kart test at Croft to achieve 10, followed by a future final race for four contestants.<ref>[https://www.autosport.com/national/news/how-formula-woman-is-helping-find-female-racing-stars/8485493/ How Formula Woman is helping find female racing stars] ''Autosport'', 27 February 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022</ref><ref>[https://www.itv.com/news/central/2022-03-02/could-the-first-female-f1-champion-come-from-the-midlands Could the first female Formula One Champion come from the Midlands?] ''ITV News'', 2 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022</ref><ref>[https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/sports/sara-misir-makes-cut-through-to-top-15-of-formula-woman/ Sara Misir makes cut! ... Through to top 15 of Formula Woman] Caribbean National Weekly, 4 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022</ref>
=== 2021/22 ===
==== Finalists ==== {{Table alignment}} {| class="wikitable defaultleft col1center" |+ !Nation<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2022-03-30 |title=Who are the 2022 Formula Woman Winners? |url=https://isitfast.co.uk/who-are-the-2022-formula-woman-winners/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Is It Fast? |language=en-US}}</ref> !Driver !Notes |- |{{Flagicon|CAN}} |Erika Hoffman |Winner |- |{{Flagicon|SCT}} |Jodie Sloss |Winner |- |{{Flagicon|JAM}} |Sara Misir |Winner |- |{{Flagicon|IND}} |Anushriya Gulati |Winner |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Amy Riley |Reserve |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Steph Sore |Reserve |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Eliza Seville | |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Alicia Barrett | |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Vikki Campbell | |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Rebecca Mellor | |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Abbie Carruthers | |}
=== 2022/23 ===
==== Finalists ==== {{Table alignment}} {| class="wikitable defaultleft col1center" |+ !Nation<ref>{{Cite web |title=Formula Woman Newsletter - 9th December 2022 |url=https://www.formulawoman.co.uk/archived-applicant-newsletters/formula-woman-newsletter-9th-december-2022 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Formula Woman |language=en-GB}}</ref> !Driver !Notes |- |{{Flagicon|CAN}} |Alana Carter |Winner |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Eliza Seville |Winner |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Emma Vennard | |- |{{Flagicon|FRA}} |Evy Longepe | |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Grace Webb | |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Esme Vines | |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Claudia Lance Jones | |- |{{Flagicon|ENG}} |Nicole Sharples | |- |{{Flagicon|HKG}} |Oi Man Leung | |- |{{Flagicon|AUS}} |Amanda Henir | |}
==See also== * W Series, an all-female F3-class racing series founded in 2018 * F1 Academy, an all-female F4-class racing series founded in 2022
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{cite web | title=Circuit training | website=The Scotsman | date=August 11, 2007 | url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/circuit-training-1-912730 | ref={{sfnref | The Scotsman | 2007}} | accessdate=August 13, 2016}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.formulawoman.co.uk/}}
{{Female motorsport series}} Category:Auto racing series in the United Kingdom Category:Sports car racing series Category:One-make series Category:Women's sports competitions Category:Women's sports organizations