W Series to run non-points race with reversed standings as grid

W Series will reverse the points standings to set the grid for its first ever non-championship race at Assen on Sunday morning.

All W Series rounds so far this year have included only one race, but organisers have added a second to the Assen timetable as an experiment ahead of potential changes in the race and weekend format next season.

Using the reversed standings, and including the championship’s reserve drivers, leaves Canadian Megan Gilkes on pole and Belgian Sarah Bovy alongside her on the front row.

The back row of the grid will be taken up by title contenders Beitske Visser and Jamie Chadwick, although the non-championship status of the race means their points battle will be unaffected by the race result. If there were racing incidents which would usually be dealt with via grid penalties, it is unclear what the resultant decision would be.

?Tomorrow?s reverse-grid race will be deliberately experimental, but it will surely produce thrills and perhaps even spills,” said W Series race director Dave Ryan.

?Today?s conventional race showed that overtaking is possible on the fast twists and flowing turns of the Assen ?cathedral of speed?, albeit difficult, but the drivers who have proven themselves to be fastest in W Series so far this year will be starting at the very back tomorrow ? they?ll be pushing hard to make up as many places as they possibly can.

“As usual, the race will be of 30 minutes? duration, plus one lap, so you can expect to see quite a few overtaking manoeuvres.”

Chadwick also offered her thoughts on the reversed grid format, having won using similar formats previously in BRDC British Formula 3 and MRF Challenge.