Formula One fans around the world have been begging for their beloved sport to be revamped in any way possible.

Well, if you ask, you shall receive.

In of the biggest fundamental changes in motorsport history, a women-only W Series will start next year with the goal of it overcoming the gender gap in what has been historically a male dominated sport.

The new single-seat motor racing series will see women race in identical 1.8 litre turbo cars which are similar in performance to current F3-spec cars, with an aim for the series to be a pathway which will eventually see women line up on the grid at a Sunday afternoon F1 race.

The six-round racing series will start in May 2019 and will include races throughout Europe, with long-term plans for the calendar to include Australia, the Americas and Asia.

The series has been praised by former F1 driver David Coulthard and a raft of well-known personalities such as Adrian Newey and Susie Wolff.

Women already have quite an extensive history in F1, it’s just been quite a long time since we’ve seen them behind the wheel.

In 1958 Italian racer Maria Teresa de Filippis made history by becoming the first women to ever drive in an F1 race.

She finished 10^th at the 1958 Belgian Grand Prix, held at Spa-Francorchamps, one of the most iconic motorsport venues in the world.

Another Italian driver Lella Lombardi also participated in F1, with 12 race starts between 1974-1976.

You will also find many women playing crucial roles in the paddock across race weekend such as Williams deputy principal Claire Williams and former development driver Susie Wolff who has recently become the principal of the Venturi Formula E team.

W Series CEO Catherine Bond Muir has outlined her hope the new series will act as a “catalyst” to transform the identity of motorsport and that it will give women an opportunity to compete in a sport they never thought of participating in.

I guess the only question people are asking is, why has it taken this long for a stand-alone women’s series?

Well, no one really knows. Women behind the wheel for a Sunday afternoon F1 race is far from a foreign concept.

 All that matters now is that the pathway is here, and it has the support from motorsport royalty.

Women, start your engines. It’s your turn to race towards the checkered flag.

Anthony Pinda is a Bendigo Advertiser sport journalist.

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