"Any championship that helps women out should be welcomed"

Some time back, a rumour surfaced that Formula 1 was planning to set up a so-called 'feeder series' for female drivers. This would be a series aimed at teenage girls who would like to race. Through this feeder series, it would then become easier for these girls to get a place in Formula 2 or Formula 3 and perhaps eventually progress to Formula 1. It was a remarkable rumour, as Formula 1 and the FIA refused to financially support the W-Series earlier this year, forcing the women's competition to end the season prematurely.

Hawkins - who finished ninth in the W-Series this season - is positive about this possible new racing class. "Any championship that helps females out I think should be welcomed, and we should do everything that we can to welcome it,” Hawkins said. "I also would like to think that it would work alongside W Series. I would hate to think they would ever be competing against each other, because that’s not what we’re fighting for here. It’s not who’s got the best championship, it’s how do we work together, because we’re all trying to achieve the same thing. I think it’s a positive thing.”

More focus on women's sport

Hawkins also thinks the time is ripe for a racing class like this as there has been a lot more focus on women in sports traditionally dominated by men in recent years. For example, she cites the success of the England women's football team at this summer's European Championships, which attracted a lot of attention.

Officially, nothing has yet been committed by Formula 1 about this possible new racing class. According to rumours, however, it would be raced with equipment similar to Formula 4 cars, to really see it as a step-up class. So this is in contrast to the W-Series, where the cars are similar to Formula 3 cars.