Leading Women Drivers In Motor Racing

The potentially groundbreaking series intends to see women drivers compete at six races - five of which will be staged in Europe and the other in America - with the champion promised a Formula One test drive.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at eight of the leading women drivers in motor racing.

Jamie Chadwick

The 19-year-old from Bath became the first female and youngest winner of the British GT Championship. Moved to British Formula Three after signing with the Double R Racing Team - one formed by 2007 F1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen - and finished ninth in the championship in her debut year.

Pippa Mann

Born in London, Mann, 34, has forged a credible career in the United States after moving there in 2009. She has started the prestigious Indianapolis 500 on six occasions and finished 17th this year in a race which featured two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso.

Katherine Legge

Like Mann, the 37-year-old from Guildford has spent much of her career Stateside. In 2001, she became the first woman to win the British Racing Drivers' Club Rising Star award and tested for former Formula One team Minardi in 2005. Now races in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in America.

Carmen Jorda

Handed a development driver role by Renault back in 2015; a move which was largely seen as a marketing gimmick given the Spaniard's underwhelming racing record. Still a regular in the F1 paddock and friendly with the sport's former supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Sophia Floersch

Born in Munich, Floersch, who turns 17 next month, finished 13th in the German Formula Four series this season. Seen as a star of the future, and will make the step up to Formula Three next year. She says her ambition is to be the first woman to be Formula One world champion.

Christina Nielsen

The 25-year-old Dane became the first woman driver to win a season-long championship in North America after she triumphed in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2016 before successfully defending her title this year. Her father Lars-Erik Nielsen competed at Le Mans.

Simona de Silvestro

Signed up by F1 minnows Sauber in February 2014 and took part in two tests, but was dropped following a contractual dispute. The Swiss driver, 29, competed in the American IndyCar championship and the electric Formula E series, too. Now races in Australia.

Tatiana Calderon

The 24-year-old Colombian was hired by Sauber at the beginning of the year, and has undergone simulator work for the Swiss team. Has raced in GP3, a Formula One feeder series, for two successive years with a best finish of seventh in Italy this season.