What is the W Series Esports League and how will it work?
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
With the 2020 W Series postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the W Series Esports League has been launched to fill the void until an expanded 2021 on-track calendar is started.
The Esports League is a 10-round series, taking place every Thursday from 11 June. Similarly to the on-track version it is women-only racing but this time via simulation.
All 18 drivers that qualified for the on-track W Series are expected to take part alongside some previous W Series drivers.
How will it work?
The opening round will feature three races:
Race 1: 15 mins
Race 2 (reverse grid): 15 mins
Race 3: 20 mins
The starting grid for the reverse-grid race will be determined by the finishing positions from race one. To promote close, fair competition and an authentic ‘League’ feel, points for each race will be awarded as follows:
Race 1: 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st – 15th) & one point for fastest lap
Race 2: 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st – 15th) & one point for fastest lap
Race 3: 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st – 15th) & one point for fastest lap
At the end of the W Series Esports League season, the driver who has scored the most points will be declared the winner of the W Series Esports League.
Who will be competing in the W Series Esports League?
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Great Britain's Jamie Chadwick, who won the 2019 W Series Championship, is set to be taking part alongside the 17 other drivers that were due to race in the on-track 2020 Championships.
They will be joined by some specially invited guests to form a larger field with drivers from across the world taking part in the 10-round series.
Alongside Chadwick, as Great Britain representatives, are Alice Powell (third in the 2019 standings) Sarah Moore (eighth in 2019), Jessica Hawkins (11th in 2019) and Abbie Eaton.
Jamie Chadwick is the reigning W Series champ - but must now prove her sim credentialsImage caption: Jamie Chadwick is the reigning W Series champ - but must now prove her sim credentials
Reigning W Series champion Jamie Chadwick is looking to add the sim racing version of her title in the next 10 weeks as the series turns to Eracing.
The 2020 on-road series has been cancelled, but the all-women's W Series Esports League sees drivers head for the simulators to ensure that racing continues.
"With the rate of progression over the past few years, the future could be really exciting," said Chadwick.
Stoffel Vandoorne won the series with second place in the last raceImage caption: Stoffel Vandoorne won the series with second place in the last race
Mercedes’ Stoffel Vandoorne won
Formula E’s virtual Race at Home Challenge last Sunday, finishing second in
Sunday's Grand Final after seven weeks of virtual racing.
The Belgian former McLaren F1
driver started the final race over the Berlin Tempelhof circuit 14 points
behind Mahindra’s Pascal Wehrlein but, with double points on offer, cruised to
a comfortable victory as Wehrlein, dropped to the back of the field by an early
pile-up, recovered well but could only finish ninth.
Britain's Oliver Rowland won the
race for Nissan, his fourth podium finish in a row.
“It has been a good championship,
a lot of fun,” said Vandoorne. “But I’m looking forward to real life and the
start of the real season soon and putting these performances into reality."
Formula E’s revised calendar for
2020 is expected to be announced shortly as the series looks to complete a season
that was halted in March.
How can I watch the W Series Esports League?
All times are subject to change
BBC Sport will have live coverage from all 10 rounds in the W Series Esports League.
Coverage will be available live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app and available to catch up for 30 days.
Full coverage details:
Round one, Monza - Thursday 11 June, 19:00-20:30
Round two, Circuit of Americas - Thursday 18 June, 19:00-20:30
Britain's Jamie Chadwick, inaugural W Series champion last year, will move on from the opening W Series Esports League race tonight to drive an Aston Martin Vantage GTE for Mahle Racing in the
virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans Race this weekend.
Her opponents will include Formula One rivals Max Verstappen
and Lando Norris, who will team up for the race, according to the event’s
official entry list.
The Red Bull and McLaren drivers will share an Oreca
07 LMP2 car for the Esports race on the weekend that Le Mans, now rescheduled for September, would originally have taken place.
Another F1 pairing will see former Le Mans winner Fernando
Alonso, a double world champion, teamed with former Ferrari driver Rubens
Barrichello in their own entry. Ferrari's current driver Charles Leclerc
partners Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi.
Katherine Legge, Tatiana Calderon, Sophia Floersch and Emily
Jones will form an all-female team for the Richard Mille Racing stable. Formula
E double world champion Jean-Eric Vergne will team up with Toro Rosso's Pierre
Gasly for the Veloce Esports team.
Live Reporting
All times stated are UK
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images - Race 1: 15 mins
- Race 2 (reverse grid): 15 mins
- Race 3: 20 mins
- Race 1: 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st – 15th) & one point for fastest lap
- Race 2: 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st – 15th) & one point for fastest lap
- Race 3: 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st – 15th) & one point for fastest lap
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Jamie Chadwick is the reigning W Series champ - but must now prove her sim credentialsImage caption: Jamie Chadwick is the reigning W Series champ - but must now prove her sim credentials 
Formula ECopyright: Formula E Stoffel Vandoorne won the series with second place in the last raceImage caption: Stoffel Vandoorne won the series with second place in the last race
Latest PostWhat is the W Series Esports League and how will it work?
With the 2020 W Series postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the W Series Esports League has been launched to fill the void until an expanded 2021 on-track calendar is started.
The Esports League is a 10-round series, taking place every Thursday from 11 June. Similarly to the on-track version it is women-only racing but this time via simulation.
All 18 drivers that qualified for the on-track W Series are expected to take part alongside some previous W Series drivers.
How will it work?
The opening round will feature three races:
The starting grid for the reverse-grid race will be determined by the finishing positions from race one. To promote close, fair competition and an authentic ‘League’ feel, points for each race will be awarded as follows:
At the end of the W Series Esports League season, the driver who has scored the most points will be declared the winner of the W Series Esports League.
Who will be competing in the W Series Esports League?
Great Britain's Jamie Chadwick, who won the 2019 W Series Championship, is set to be taking part alongside the 17 other drivers that were due to race in the on-track 2020 Championships.
They will be joined by some specially invited guests to form a larger field with drivers from across the world taking part in the 10-round series.
Alongside Chadwick, as Great Britain representatives, are Alice Powell (third in the 2019 standings) Sarah Moore (eighth in 2019), Jessica Hawkins (11th in 2019) and Abbie Eaton.
The full list of drivers:
Ayla Agren (Norway), Jamie Chadwick, Alice Powell, Sarah Moore, Jessica Hawkins, Abbie Eaton (all GB), Sabre Cook (USA), Belen Garcia, Marta Garcia, Nerea Marti (all Spain), Emma Kimilainen (Finland), Miki Koyama (Japan), Tasmin Pepper (South Africa), Vicky Piria (Italy), Gosia Rdest (Poland), Naomi Schiff (Rwanda), Irina Sidorkova (Russia), Bruna Tomaselli (Brazil), Beitske Visser (Netherlands), Fabienne Wohlwend (Liechtenstein), Caitlin Wood (Australia).
Chadwick looking forward to electric series
Reigning W Series champion Jamie Chadwick is looking to add the sim racing version of her title in the next 10 weeks as the series turns to Eracing.
The 2020 on-road series has been cancelled, but the all-women's W Series Esports League sees drivers head for the simulators to ensure that racing continues.
"With the rate of progression over the past few years, the future could be really exciting," said Chadwick.
Read more here
Vandoorne wins Formula E’s Race From Home
Mercedes’ Stoffel Vandoorne won Formula E’s virtual Race at Home Challenge last Sunday, finishing second in Sunday's Grand Final after seven weeks of virtual racing.
The Belgian former McLaren F1 driver started the final race over the Berlin Tempelhof circuit 14 points behind Mahindra’s Pascal Wehrlein but, with double points on offer, cruised to a comfortable victory as Wehrlein, dropped to the back of the field by an early pile-up, recovered well but could only finish ninth.
Britain's Oliver Rowland won the race for Nissan, his fourth podium finish in a row.
“It has been a good championship, a lot of fun,” said Vandoorne. “But I’m looking forward to real life and the start of the real season soon and putting these performances into reality."
Formula E’s revised calendar for 2020 is expected to be announced shortly as the series looks to complete a season that was halted in March.
How can I watch the W Series Esports League?
All times are subject to change
BBC Sport will have live coverage from all 10 rounds in the W Series Esports League.
Coverage will be available live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app and available to catch up for 30 days.
Full coverage details:
Round one, Monza - Thursday 11 June, 19:00-20:30
Round two, Circuit of Americas - Thursday 18 June, 19:00-20:30
Round three, Brands Hatch - Thursday 25 June, 19:00-20:30
Round four, Interlagos - Thursday 2 July, 19:00-20:30
Round five, Spa-Francorchamps - Thursday 9 July, 19:00-20:30
Round six, Watkins Glen - Thursday 16 July, 19:00-20:30
Round seven, Suzuka - Thursday 23 July, 19:00-20:30
Round eight, Mount Panorama - Thursday 30 July, 19:00-20:30
Round nine, Nurburing - Thursday 6 August, 19:00-20:30
Round 10, Silverstone - Thursday 13 August, 19:00-20:30
Chadwick set for virtual Le Mans
Britain's Jamie Chadwick, inaugural W Series champion last year, will move on from the opening W Series Esports League race tonight to drive an Aston Martin Vantage GTE for Mahle Racing in the virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans Race this weekend.
Her opponents will include Formula One rivals Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, who will team up for the race, according to the event’s official entry list.
The Red Bull and McLaren drivers will share an Oreca 07 LMP2 car for the Esports race on the weekend that Le Mans, now rescheduled for September, would originally have taken place.
Another F1 pairing will see former Le Mans winner Fernando Alonso, a double world champion, teamed with former Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello in their own entry. Ferrari's current driver Charles Leclerc partners Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi.
Katherine Legge, Tatiana Calderon, Sophia Floersch and Emily Jones will form an all-female team for the Richard Mille Racing stable. Formula E double world champion Jean-Eric Vergne will team up with Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly for the Veloce Esports team.