- Slug: W Series Test
- Runtime: 4:16
- Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download)
BYLINE: Mason Miller, Cronkite News
HOST INTRO:
LAST FEBRUARY, PROFESSIONAL WOMEN DRIVERS TOOK TO A NEARLY 3 MILE TRACK NEAR WILCOX TO BE PUT TO THE TEST IN HIGH POWERED RACE CARS. IT’S ALL PART OF WHAT’S KNOWN AS “THE W SERIES,” A FORMULA ONE SUPPORT SERIES EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN THAT PUTS PROSPECTIVE DRIVERS IN TOP LEVEL RACE CARS TO COMPETE ON A GLOBAL STAGE. AS CRONKITE NEWS’S MASON MILLER REPORTS THEY DRIVE AND COMPETE FOR OPEN SEATS IN THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
———–
CORINNA KAMPER IS PURSUING HER RACING DREAMS.
<Corinna Kamper/Rotax Max Challenge>
“I’ve been chasing it since day one, and I missed the first shootout just by a few days.” (6 SECONDS)
NOW, THE AUSTRIAN DRIVER STANDS AT THE STARTING LINE OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN MOTORSPORT…THE W-SERIES.
<Corinna Kamper/Rotax Max Challenge>
“It’s a huge chance for me, I love it.” (3 SECONDS)
KAMPER WAS ONE OF 15 WOMEN SELECTED TO COMPETE FOR OPEN SEATS IN THE W SERIES THIS YEAR. SHE WAS IN ARIZONA IN FEBRUARY AS PART OF THE COMPETITION.
<Corinna Kamper/Rotax Max Challenge>
“It gives me a massive chance to show what I can do, and to share my passion with the W Series.” (5 SECONDS)
FOR THIS 27- YEAR -OLD, THE W SERIES IS A STEPPING STONE THAT WASN’T AVAILABLE TO KAMPER EARLY IN HER CAREER. SHE SAYS BEING AT THE INDE MOTORSPORTS RANCH IN WILLCOX WITH THE SERIES HAS HAD A BIG IMPACT ON HER AND OTHER DRIVERS.
<Corinna Kamper/Rotax Max Challenge>
“I’ve been growing up in motorsport, and not only do you always, you know, it’s always been the woman and man thing you always have. It’s been ‘you can’t do what men do’ and I think we should finally be there to break these rules.” (10 SECONDS)
THE W SERIES IS A WOMEN’S ONLY RACING SERIES, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO COMPETE ON A WORLD STAGE. IN 2020, IT GAINED THE STATUS OF A FORMULA ONE SUPPORT SERIES. THAT VALIDATED ITS STATUS AS AN AVENUE FOR WOMEN TO PROGRESS THEIR MOTORSPORT CAREERS.
THERE ARE HURDLES IN THIS SPORT, AND KAMPER SAYS MONEY IS ONE OF THEM.
<Corinna Kamper/Rotax Max Challenge>
“It’s just everything to me, racing is just everything I ever lived and breathed for, and I had to stop because of money, which is a big thing in racing of course” (10 SECONDS)
COMPANIES DON’T HAVE BIG BUDGETS FOR SPONSORING DRIVERS IN LOCAL RACING SERIES. SO MANY DRIVERS FALL OUT BEFORE REALIZING THEIR POTENTIAL.
THE W SERIES, HOWEVER, IS DIFFERENT.
<Catherine Bond Muir/W Series CEO/Founder>
“The process of selection is one that involves a huge number of people scouring the globe and seeing what the young female drivers are doing. (13 SECONDS)
THAT’S CATHERINE BOND MUIR. SHE’S THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE W SERIES. SHE SAYS WHEN THE W SERIES STARTED IN 2019 THEY INVITED APPLICANTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
<Catherine Bond Muir/W Series CEO/Founder>
“And we had probably 100 fairly serious applicants, and we took 68 of those applicants through to Austria to do a four day test in Austria.” (11 SECONDS)
NOW BOND MUIR SAYS THEY’RE MOVING BEYOND THAT.
“ And what we want to do is find the drivers, those who are actually doing really interesting stuff.” (8 SECONDS)
DRIVER’S WHO ARE SELECTED RECEIVE FULLY PAID RIDES IN THE SERIES FOR TWO YEARS.
[ TRACK SOUND ]
<Chloe Chambers/U.S. F4>
“I think it’s a really cool opportunity to be able to, kind of, showcase women’s talents, so that they’re in the spotlight this time.” (8 SECONDS)
THAT’S 17 YEAR-OLD CHLOE CHAMBERS. SHE’S BEEN A FORMULA FOUR DRIVER IN THE U-S. NOW SHE SAYS SHE CAN FOCUS ON DEVELOPING HER SKILLS WITH THE FINANCIAL HELP THROUGH THE W SERIES.
<Chloe Chambers/U.S. F4>
“and it gives a lot of opportunities to women who might not have had those opportunities. I think what the series is doing is really good for motorsport in general.” (11 SECONDS)
BOND MUIR SAYS DRIVERS LIKE CHAMBERS ARE SELECTED FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. MANY START OFF RACING IN GO KARTS OR RACING IN LIGHT, SMALL-ENGINED OPEN-WHEEL RACE CARS. NOW THE W-SERIES GIVES THEM SERIOUS RACING EXPERIENCE AND A CHANCE AT AN OPEN SEAT.
(BRING UP SOUND OF CARS ON TRACK AND POST UP SO WE CAN HEAR THEN DUCK SOUND BELOW. )
( TRACK SOUND )
ON THE NEARLY 3 MILE TRACK IN WILCOX, CARS WIND THROUGH 21 CORNERS, AND HIT OVER 120 MILES PER HOUR.
(TRACK SOUND )
ARIZONA AND INDE MOTORSPORTS RANCH HAPPENS TO BE THE PERFECT PLACE TO HOLD THE W-SERIES TEST BECAUSE IT HARDLY RAINS.
ONE OF THE SERIES’ GOALS, BOND MUIR SAYS IS TO TAP INTO THE AMERICAN AUDIENCE.
<Catherine Bond Muir/W Series CEO/Founder>
“we are making every effort to engage with the American audience. and the one race that we really felt a massive change was Austin because Austin was much more open. And we could have people into our hospitality units” (16 SECONDS)
( SOUND )
AFTER THEIR TESTS, CORINNA KAMPER SAYS THE TRACK NEAR WILCOX HAS A GOOD MIX OF ELEVATION CHANGES AND SPEED
<Corinna Kamper/Rotax Max Challenge>
“They’ve got really technical corners, really fast corners and it’s just really nice because all of the girls have different experiences, to see what they can build up to a faster time.” (_ SECONDS)
THE W SERIES LEFT ARIZONA AND TRAVELED OVERSEAS WHERE THE TESTS WRAPPED UP IN MARCH. CHLOE CHAMBERS WAS ONE OF THE DRIVERS SELECTED FOR A FULL TIME RIDE IN THE SERIES. CORINNA KAMPER WAS NOT. NOW THE DRIVERS HIT THE TRACK ALONGSIDE FORMULA ONE IN MIAMI TO OFFICIALLY START THEIR 2022 SEASON IN MAY.
I’M MASON MILLER, CRONKITE NEWS.