NENT Group’s Viaplay has secured the rights to W Series, the world’s first all-female motor racing championship, in nine European countries for the next two seasons.
The package includes the Ferrari Challenge, DTM and the famous Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race.
Viaplay will be the exclusive home of W Series in the Nordic and Baltic countries and in Poland for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Finland’s Emma Kimiläinen and Norway’s Ayla Ågren are two of 17 drivers aiming to overtake reigning champion Jamie Chadwick for the 2021 W Series title. Starting on 26 June, eight W Series races will run alongside Formula 1 Grands Prix at legendary circuits in Europe and the Americas for the first time.
“It’s been 40 years since a female driver started a Formula 1 race – and we don’t want to wait another 40,” said Peter Nørrelund, NENT Group’s Chief Sports Officer: “W Series offers top-class racing that can inspire a new generation of talents while literally changing the face of motorsport.”
In addition, NENT Group has a long-term partnership with Formula 1 that has recently expanded to the Netherlands and Poland to cover 10 countries. The company also holds rights to IndyCar, Formula 2, NASCAR, MotoGP, Porsche Supercup and Formula Renault Eurocup.
Viaplay will launch in Poland in August and in the US in late 2021, followed by the Netherlands in Q1 2022 and then four additional markets by 2023.