New Racing Series : Formula Woman

Michelle Halder has a pretty clear idea of what it wants to be: "speed racer." Your Plan could succeed. Halder is 19 and drives a Cupra TCR so fast around the curves, you may well make a couple of spells. This, for example: "For me, it makes no difference whether I depend on women or men." Because Halder, the car so far in a tour to launch racing series, in the past few years, often their male colleagues abhängte, she wants more. "I am convinced that women could also take part in the formula 1", says Halder, the way to find out exactly as. But the formula 1 is not so far noticed this, the fast pilot inside as Halder roll out the red carpet. On The Contrary.

Therefore, Michelle Halder wanted to go for a detour. You wanted to start in the so-called formula W – a kind of formula 1 for women, which is in the year 2019, for the first time at the Start and not only in the racing scene, controversy. The a see progress in the fact that in the male-dominated racing at all something for women is done. The others feel it as a step backwards, because women have made the men in the formula 1, but direct competition and rather should use that in the future, please re-occupy the Cockpits of the highest racing class. "I am deeply disappointed to have to such a historic step backwards in experience. What a sad day for Motorsport,“ said the British Indycar driver Pippa Mann at the announcement of the formula-W-plans. The 35-Year-old complained that the formula W is closed, the women from the normal operation. Formula 3 driver Sophia Flörsch said the same thing: "I want to compete with the Best of our sport," tweeted she.

First race in may in Hockenheim

Flörsch announced so early, to dispense with the selection process, the end of January, started. Other strong racers to moved inside. The only German Participant, Doreen Seidel, is already eliminated.

Michelle Halder has finally decided against the competition – but only because she has to 2019 other plans. In principle it is in favour of the formula W. "I think it's great that this series is established," she says . "It is an advantage for the riders is no cost."

5. May the women will be travelling on six routes in Europe to the title. The beginning you make in Hockenheim. All the starters will get the same racing car, a 270 PS strong formula 3 car of the model Tatuus F3 T-318. Unlike in formula 1, have equal opportunities formally so, every woman will need to work with the same Material as the competition. It could prevail under these circumstances, truly the fastest. The promise behind it: The best pilot should receive a genuine chances in a formula 1 Cockpit. "If we don't create a platform, which speeds up the access, nothing will change," says the former formula 1 driver David Coulthard in terms of the proportion of women in formula 1.

Yet it was there mostly so: in Particular, young women were allowed to get close to the sparkling cars, but never really clean. In the starting line-up, they were merely next to the car, lifted a Hand in the hip, the other held a rod with the starting number of the racer in the air. Very important was your beautiful smile. Grid-Girls were called, these women posing next to the Hamiltons and Vettels of this world.

500,000 euros for the overall victory

they belonged to for many years as well as formula 1 as the old marketing guru, Bernie Ecclestone, who liked the glittering Grid Girls are particularly fond of. 2016 sold the now 88-Year-old the formula 1 business to Liberty Media. Around four billion euros, the American company paid for the rights, it is claimed, the fast series as fast as possible turn around. Much has not changed since then. The not so modern Grid-Girls were the new owners in the last season and replaced them with "Grid Kids", which commented Ecclestone, with the following words: "I don't understand how a good-looking woman, with a number in front of a formula 1 car, for anyone insulting you can be." The German formula 1 Pilot Nico Hülkenberg said: "A couple of hot girls in front of the cars, but for the whole scene, not only conducive."

David Coulthard would see women prefer to be in a formula 1 Cockpit – but only after you have convinced in the formula for W. He is of the new series is convincing and is one of those people who are allowed to decide what women are allowed to drive in the formula for W. Coulthard is part of the Jury, which has now made a pre-selection and at the end of 18 pilots, plus two reserve riders will be nominated. At the end of March, the final decision falls in a four-day Test in Almeria, Spain. Series boss Catherine Bond Muir says: "Even today a large imbalance between the sexes, and the W Series is taking the first step to change that."

a Total of 1.5 million dollars, 1.3 million euros, to be distributed in the formula of W, the overall winner collects half a Million. Money could use, for example, Michelle Halder: "500,000 euros for the overall victory are already a great incentive." Nevertheless, you want to pull off your own Show and the more men depend. Halder reasons for its rejection of the formula W: "There is one other Option." More you can't tell.

attention is greater

The success of the men Halder is depend on so far, by the way, quite neat. She has what experts call "a Renninstinkt", has driving skills tact and good Timing.

her still-young career is quite classic. The woman from Meßkirch, a place with nearly 9000 inhabitants in the South of Baden-württemberg, was dragged by her brother Mike Halder at a young age with on the go-kart track. At some point, as she tells it, she had seen enough and climbed into a Kart. "I'm used to driving small against boys, because my competition was mostly male," says Halder.

It is the rise in the formula 4, and in the past year, a strong season in the touring car series "ADAC TCR Germany", she finished Ninth in the 28 field. Under the New, the so-called Rookies, took a seat three as the best woman. After their first tour of the season has found Halder car: "You have to fight as a woman, already a bit harder in order to be successful in Motorsport." It is also this case: "Sometimes it is easier for women to find sponsors, because they are in Motorsport, something special. The attention by the media is higher.“

a done deal formula race series for women starting in 2019

has at Least made the formula W before your Start: The attention to women in racing has grown.