| 3dThe opening round of the W Series, motor racing's first female-only championship, gets under way at Hockenheim on Saturday.
Eighteen drivers have been selected from more than 100 candidates to take part in the six-round series.
Here, Press Association Sport takes a closer look at the five Britons who will contest the inaugural championship.
Jamie Chadwick
Perhaps the most recognised driver in the field, Chadwick, 20, became the first woman to win a British Formula Three race, at Brands Hatch last summer.
Before then, she had earned recognition as the maiden female winner of the British GT championship in 2015. Chadwick, who hails from Bath, cites Lewis Hamilton as her racing hero.
She recently signed a junior contract with Aston Martin, and on Friday lived up to her status as W Series favourite by posting the best time in opening practice.
Esmee Hawkey
The 21-year-old from Kent says watching her father Dean race sportscars inspired her to give up ballet and turn to motor racing. As a teenager, Hawkey earned a Ginetta junior scholarship and finished runner-up in her second full campaign. Her ambition is to become a professional racing driver.
Alice Powell
After 5 years, I am back!!! Absolutely delighted to be through to the FINAL 18 for the @WSeriesRacing ! Thank u for this incredible opportunity, I really cannot wait for Round 1! Thank u for all the wonderful messages. Special mention to @MrJamesRodley & my family❤ #letsdothis pic.twitter.com/KVTMUKBB8v
— Alice Powell (@alicepowell) March 28, 2019
Powell became the first female to win a Formula Renault race in 2010, and two years later was the first woman to score points in GP3 – the series two divisions below Formula One. But her career stalled when she ran out of money.
Powell was working as a labourer for her tradesman father, unblocking urinals, before the W Series came calling. Tottenham fan Powell says Michael Schumacher is her racing idol, and at 26, has not given up hope of competing in F1.
Sarah Moore
Moore comes from a racing background. Her father Simon runs endurance team Tockwith Motorsports, for whom she drove to Ginetta junior championship glory a decade ago. The same year she was awarded the British Racing Drivers' Club Rising Star award. Moore, 25, will become the first openly gay driver to compete in a world motor racing series since Mike Beuttler, who entered 29 grands prix in the 1970s.
Jessica Hawkins
Hawkins, 24, from Hampshire, is a former Mini Challenge Pro vice-champion. She has most recently worked as a stunt driver on Fast and Furious Live. Hawkins' hero is Schumacher and her ambition is to win a race in Monaco.
