For Gen4: Formula E CEO Dodds chats about a possible new electric support series for women

Formula E could introduce a new support series for female drivers at the start of the Gen4 era, i.e. for the 2026/27 season. This is reported by our colleagues at fenotebook.com, citing statements by Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds. In his opinion, the current Gen3 Evo car would be the perfect racing car for the new category.

In the ten-year history of Formula E, the Jaguar I-Pace E-Trophy has been the only race series to compete on the same race weekends. It was introduced in the 2018/19 season (season 5) and ended after just two unsuccessful years. Formula E's plans to establish the NXT Gen Cup with all-electric Minis as a new support series were cancelled at short notice in spring 2024 - just a few weeks before the scheduled opening race in Berlin.

Now there are plans to launch a women's racing series as part of the Formula E race weekends in the coming years. The basis for this would probably be the decommissioned W-Series, which raced between 2019 and 2022. Formula E secured the rights to the series last spring - certainly not without ulterior motives.

With drivers such as Doriane Pin, Maya Weug, Michelle Gatting and Sarah Bovy, there are already some well-known talents who could be considered for a cockpit. However, a number of other women are likely to have put themselves on the radar, not least at the Formula E women's test at the Circuito del Jarama in November.

Gen3 Evo the perfect compromise?

Suggestions for the cars to be used are said to have already been made within Formula E. The Gen1 car was quickly ruled out as it was not yet equipped with a halo above the cockpit - a mandatory safety requirement for modern FIA single-seaters. And the retired Gen2 cars belong to the teams, not Formula E.

For Formula E CEO Dodds, the use of the current Gen3 Evo cars therefore makes the most sense as soon as they are no longer in use: "We now have an incredible machine racing out there with the Gen3 Evo car. It has four-wheel drive and a new chassis that looks cooler and better. Probably the Gen4 era would be the perfect time to introduce it."

Since Dodds would like to set up the new project as a junior racing series, it makes sense to use a car that has at least some similarities to the upcoming Gen4 car. At the same time, the difference between Gen3 Evo and Gen4 is big enough. This would make it easier to pave the way for female talents to get a cockpit in Formula E, as they could gain comparable experience beforehand.