The formula series W Series was put into liquidation, as the series could not get new financiers. Emma Kimiläinen believes that the F1 series will see a female driver at some point in time.
Simo Arkko,
Pertti Lappalainen
Formula driver Emma Kimiläinen is upset about the cancellation of the formula series W Series season.
– Of course, a sad feeling. I know that a lot of work was done for the continuity of the series, Kimiläinen tells Urheilu.
– This does not prevent the series from rising like a phoenix bird from the ashes, but of course it complicates things.
The W Series was placed into liquidation. No new financiers were found for the series, so the series is not run at all.
Kimiläinen was involved in the W Series from the first season of the series, i.e. from 2019. The series already had problems before, because in 2020 the season was not run due to the corona virus, and last year was left unfinished due to financial difficulties.
– The main thing is feeling extremely grateful. It was a great four years. Such a start-up was established in an incredibly difficult time. It would have been difficult in any field, but especially in motorsport, which is really sensitive to economic cycles.
– In addition, global crises, pandemics. It’s no wonder that such a financial death blow comes.
A great experience for all drivers
However, Kimiläinen is proud of what the series gave drivers, mechanics and engineers. Kimiläinen also reminds us of the equality debate, which has risen to a whole new level in motorsport.
He brought up, for example, how the founders spoke when they founded the series, that a person cannot be something that he cannot see.
– By investing in this series, they wanted to raise women to the top of motorsports, so that young children and their parents could see that it is possible for women.
According to Kimiläinen, the founders invested in the series out of love for the sport.
– Basically, this was a wonderful experience for everyone, and surely all the drivers are of the opinion that the W Series was definitely not a failure. The series was the first to really invest financially and with real activities in this kind of equality change in the sport.
The latest series cannot be followed
Kimiläinen can’t say more about the series’ future. However, he believes that many parties certainly want to have a new similar or even the same series run again.
– I can’t say whether that will happen.
The newest women’s formula series F1 Academy has already started. The principle is the same as in other formula series, with the exception of formula one, i.e. the drivers pay for their driving.
There are races in the series, but you can’t follow them at the moment.
– They make broadcasts, but no one knows where they can be watched. I think they are looking to sell those rights to someone. However, they post a lot of clips of what’s happening on social media.
– We work hard in the background and things are going well, but it’s hard to make news about it when it’s not shown to a large audience. I think it’s a bit silly.
All kinds of tunings
Kimiläinen believes that the Formula Ones are under pressure to have a female driver in the series at some point in time. He hopes that the drivers will get the necessary experience from the F1 Academy and through the series will get to the top teams in the F3 and F2 classes.
– F1 will certainly put a lot of effort into making sure that someone gets through the pipe. In that sense, Academy is certainly a viable option for a young girl or woman. If you win there and do well, maybe you can get the right people behind you and doors will open.
Kimiläinen describes his own future in motorsport enigmatically. He states that when one door closes, another opens.
– All kinds of adjustments are going on, but there are really fast turns in the motorsport world. It’s hard to believe anything until it happens.
– Surely at some point there will be news to tell. At the moment I can’t say anything yet.