Organisers of the W Series have announced that the next edition of the championship will not take place until 2021.
W Series was formed in 2019 as a women-only single-seater category and joined DTM as its main support series.
The inaugural title was won by Williams development driver Jamie Chadwick.
This year the category expanded its calendar and, alongside six DTM events, was due to act as a support series to Formula 1 at the United States and Mexico City grands prix.
But the coronavirus pandemic affected its schedule and on Thursday championship organisers revealed that its 2020 season will no longer go ahead.
It is the second single-seater category to abandon its 2020 efforts after IndyCar’s feeder series Indy Lights switched its focus to 2021 earlier this week.
Series chiefs are already working on its 2021 calendar, which will include being present on the Formula 1 support bill at a number of events, including in the United States and Mexico.
“After the resounding success of W Series’ debut season in 2019, our decision not to stage on-track races until 2021 is not one that has been taken lightly,” said W Series CEO Catherine Bond Muir.
“However, we are already working on an exciting new W Series race calendar for 2021, and we are delighted to be able to confirm that W Series races will feature on the support cards of a number of Formula 1 Grands Prix next year, including the 2021 United States Grand Prix and 2021 Mexican Grand Prix.
“W Series is a global movement that exists to support the careers of female racing drivers everywhere, and to foster interest in and enthusiasm for motor racing among girls and women all over the world.
“The 18 women who had qualified to race in the 2020 W Series represent 12 different countries, and the eight circuits on which they were due to race this year are located in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America and Central America.
“Delivering an international calendar of the kind that W Series requires, so as to take W Series’ diversity and inclusion message to girls and women globally, while prioritising during a global pandemic the health and safety of our drivers, our staff and the many other people who make W Series events such a success, requires resource at a level beyond the scope of a brave new start-up such as W Series.
“However, now that we have taken the very difficult but ultimately unavoidable decision to end any uncertainty surrounding our 2020 plans, we will focus our energies clearly on 2021, when we will resume our on-track racing programme, bigger and better than ever before.”
