All female racing series to support F1?

Controversial plans by former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone appear to be gaining traction.

Back in 2015, Ecclestone suggested the idea of an all female racing series to act as a support race on a Formula One weekend.

?I thought it would be a good idea to give them a showcase. For some reason, women are not coming through ? and not because we don?t want them. Of course we do, because they would attract a lot of attention and publicity and probably a lot of sponsors.

?We have to start somewhere so I suggested to the teams that we have a separate championship and maybe that way, we will be able to bring someone through to F1. They could race before the main event, or perhaps on the Saturday qualifying day so that they had their own interest.

?It is only a thought at the moment but I think it would be super for F1 and the whole grand prix weekend.? he told the Guardian.

It didn’t receive universal backing, with many arguing that men and women do and should race side-by-side in motorsport.

But it has now emerged that a London-based company has reportedly proposed ‘a summer series containing six races featuring leading female drivers from around motorsport’.

According to PA via Sky Sports, the idea has gained a mixed response, with some of the drivers approached ‘understood to be sceptical and believe a women’s-only championship may harm and undermine their position within the industry’.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and husband of the most recent female in Formula One Susie Wolff told the Guardian: ?An all-women championship is giving up on the mission of eventually making girls compete on a high level and against the boys in Formula One, It is undermining what girls are able to achieve.

?When a sport comes down to physical power, then it definitely needs to be split between men and women, but motor racing is a little bit like horse riding where we fight with the same tools. I believe that motor racing is a sport where women can take on men.?