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Image source, Getty Images

Russia’s Irina Sidorkova made good on her early promise and with two race wins in week three at a virtual Brands Hatch as W Series leader Beitske Visser made a rare mistake and won only a single race, yet still almost doubled her lead at the top of the standings.

Sidorkova took an early spin in the opening race and failed to score as Visser went from second on the grid to win her fifth race in seven starts with Britain’s Alice Powell in second place and Marta Garcia in third.

Sidorkova’s misfortune in the opener set her up for an easy win in the reverse-grid second race, although Visser tried to rewrite the script, taking advantage of an early pile-up to go from 20th to seventh within the first two minutes. The Dutch ace finished in second place as Sabre Cook took her first podium finish of the series.

“It was really close because a car was flying through the air and I had to go across the grass to avoid it,” said Visser of the start. “I had no damage and could slowly work myself up to second, but Ira [Sidorkova] was too far away at that point.”

Visser had pole for the third race but her poor start meant she had to sit behind Marta Garcia and fight off a determined Sidorkova, who passed her for second in in some of the best wheel-to-wheel action of the series so far.

Both of them overtook Garcia but Visser spun with less than two minutes remaining and had to settle for fourth as Sidorkova took a second chequered flag in a row. Although the Russian won twice on the night, Visser’s first, second and fourth-placed finishes meant she almost doubled her series lead to 27 points over Sidorkova.

“In the first few laps I didn’t try to overtake Beitske or Marta because I just wanted to put in some good laps,” said Sidorkova. “After that we had a great battle and I was delighted to win two races.”

Image source, Getty Images

With the 2020 W Series postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the W Series Esports League has been launched to fill the void until an expanded 2021 on-track calendar is started.

The Esports League is a 10-round series, taking place every Thursday from 11 June. Similarly to the on-track version it is women-only racing but this time via simulation.

All 18 drivers that qualified for the on-track W Series are expected to take part alongside some previous W Series drivers.

How will it work?

Each round will feature three races:

• Race 1: 15 mins
• Race 2 (reverse grid): 15 mins
• Race 3: 20 mins

The starting grid for the reverse-grid race will be determined by the finishing positions from race one. To promote close, fair competition and an authentic ‘League’ feel, points for each race will be awarded as follows:

• Race 1:20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st – 15th) & one point for fastest lap
• Race 2:20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st – 15th) & one point for fastest lap
• Race 3:20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st – 15th) & one point for fastest lap

At the end of the W Series Esports League season, the driver who has scored the most points will be declared the winner of the W Series Esports League.

Sacked Audi Formula E driver Daniel Abt will return to the electric series for the final six races of the season after securing a drive with the Nio 333 team as partner to British driver Oliver Turvey.

Abt, 27, was fired by the Audi team – whose manager is his father, Hans-Jurgen Abt - after letting a sims racer take his place in the Race From Home Challenge, the virtual series organised by Formula E when on-track racing was ruled out by coronavirus measures.

He had his last Formula E win at Berlin in May 2018 and the remaining seven races of the season will be held there. He will replace Chinese driver Ma Qinghua, who has been ruled out by Covid-related travel restrictions.

The German driver, who has raced at every Formula E event since 2014 – a total of 63 races - will test the Nio car in Britain next month ahead of the Berlin races, six of them in nine days at the Tempelhof track. “I have a lot of experience and input to offer the team,” he said.

Nio manager Vincent Wang called Abt’s signing “a prodigal who has returned,” but also admitted not everyone will welcome the German driver back to the paddock. “The controversies surrounding him reached quite a high level and will bring two opposite opinions,” said Wang.

Image source, Formula E

Great Britain's Jamie Chadwick, who won the 2019 W Series Championship, was among the 18 drivers taking part, that were due to race in the on-track 2020 Championships, but 22-year-old has since dropped out after she secured a seat in the Regional Formula 3 Championship.

The remaining 17 drivers will be joined by some specially invited guests to form a larger field with drivers from across the world taking part in the 10-round series.

Great Britain are now represented by Alice Powell (third in the 2019 standings) Sarah Moore (eighth in 2019), Jessica Hawkins (11th in 2019) and Abbie Eaton.

The full list of drivers:

Ayla Agren (Norway), Alice Powell, Sarah Moore, Jessica Hawkins, Abbie Eaton (all GB), Sabre Cook (USA), Belen Garcia, Marta Garcia, Nerea Marti (all Spain), Emma Kimilainen (Finland), Miki Koyama (Japan), Tasmin Pepper (South Africa), Vicky Piria (Italy), Gosia Rdest (Poland), Naomi Schiff (Rwanda), Irina Sidorkova (Russia), Bruna Tomaselli (Brazil), Beitske Visser (Netherlands), Fabienne Wohlwend (Liechtenstein), Caitlin Wood (Australia).

Image source, Getty Images

����ý Sport will have live coverage from all 10 rounds in the W Series Esports League.

Coverage will be available live on ����ý iPlayer and the ����ý Sport website and app and available to catch up for 30 days.

Full coverage details:

Round four, Interlagos - Thursday 2 July, 19:00-20:30

Round five, Spa-Francorchamps - Thursday 9 July, 19:00-20:30

Round six, Watkins Glen - Thursday 16 July, 19:00-20:30

Round seven, Suzuka - Thursday 23 July, 19:00-20:30

Round eight, Mount Panorama - Thursday 30 July, 19:00-20:30

Round nine, Nurburing - Thursday 6 August, 19:00-20:30

Round 10, Silverstone- Thursday 13 August, 19:00-20:30