Legge headlines new intake of W Series candidates

Former ChampCar and IndyCar driver Katherine Legge is among 14 new drivers that will take part in a three-day test in Spain next week in a bid to join the W Series grid for 2020.

Following the conclusion of its inaugural season last month at Brands Hatch, W Series confirmed the top 12 drivers in the final standings would automatically secure a place on the grid for next year, leaving eight free slots between race seats and reserves.

W Series confirmed on Wednesday that 14 new names would be featuring in the three-day test in Almeria, which starts on Monday.

Among them are Legge, who currently races full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and GT racer Abbie Eaton, who is also part of Amazon's series The Grand Tour.

The incoming drivers are:

1. Abbie Eaton, UK
2. Abbie Munro, UK
3. Anna Inotsume, Japan
4. Ayla Agren, Norway
5. Belen Garcia, Spain
6. Bruna Tomaselli, Brazil
7. Cheslea Herbert, New Zealand
8. Courtney Crone, USA
9. Gabriela Jilkova, Czech Republic
10. Hannah Grisham, USA
11. Irina Sidorkova, Russia
12. Katherine Legge, UK
13. Michelle Gatting, Denmark
14. Nerea Marti, Spain

"Our inaugural W Series season has succeeded beyond our wildest expectations in so many ways, and so we are all incredibly excited to see what 2020 brings – not just in terms of the new driving talent we hope to see in Almeria, but also the new fans and enthusiasts from across the globe we hope to bring as we start our second year re-defining women’s motorsport," said W Series CEO Catherine Bond-Muir.

"I was sceptical about W Series in the beginning but I’ve followed it throughout the 2019 season and I can honestly say that it has exceeded my expectations, so much so that I’m delighted to be taking part in the test event myself this weekend in Almeria," added Legge.