W Series: Pippa Mann says new women-only series will 'segregate' female racers

Mann was the first British woman to compete in the Indy 500 in 2011

A new women-only motorsport series will "segregate" female racers and is a "sad day for motorsport", says British IndyCar driver Pippa Mann.

W Series will start in 2019 and is backed by a number of major F1 names.

It aims to attract up to 20 of the world's leading female racing drivers to compete for a $1.5m (£1.14m) prize fund across six races in Europe,

"I am deeply disappointed to see such a historic step backwards take place in my lifetime," said Mann, 35.

In a tweet on Wednesday, she added: "What a sad day for motorsport. Those with funding to help female racers are choosing to segregate them as opposed to supporting them."

Former British F1 driver David Coulthard says W Series would identify the leading existing female talent and help them progress their careers.

The championship is free to enter and competitors will be selected through a programme that assesses their abilities. The winner will receive $500,000 (£381,000) to help further her career, as well as support and advice from the experts employed by the series.

"I stand with those who feel forced into this as their only opportunity to race," added Mann, who competes in the IndyCar series and was the first British woman to race the Indy 500 in 2011.

"I stand against those who are forcing the above mentioned racers into this position as their only solution to find the funding to race."

Catherine Bond Muir, the chief executive of W Series, said the aim was to "show the world just what women are really capable of".

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But motor racing driver Charlie Martin, who hopes to be the first transgender driver to compete at Le Mans 24 Hours and has competed in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge, echoed Mann's comments, saying she found the proposal "jarring".

She said: "This series is founded on segregation, and while it may create opportunities for some female drivers, it sends a clear message that segregation is acceptable.

"We don't discriminate in sport based on race, so it is particularly jarring that we feel it is acceptable to do so based on gender in 2018. As racers, we want to compete against the best drivers - regardless of age, race, sexual orientation or gender - and prove we are the best at what we do."

Michele Mouton, president of the Women in Motorsport Commission for governing body the FIA, said its objective was for women to compete alongside men.

In a blog post in June 2017, Mann said she had been approached to take part in the series.

She said: "As female racers we are racers first, and our gender comes second. We grew up dreaming of winning races and winning championships, against everyone - the same as every male racer does. We did not grow up dreaming of being segregated and winning the girl's only cup."