Formula Woman, the one-make race series backed by Mazda UK, has been inundated with applications from would-be women racing drivers.

Organiser Graeme Glew said: "We've had more than 2,000 applications from the Shetland to Cornwall, from 18 to 60 year olds.

"Housewives, dentists, solicitors, even pole dancers and bus drivers have applied and there have been more than 6,000 downloads on our website."

He is expecting about 10,000 women to have applied by the autumn when the final selection process, whittling them down to 2,400, starts.

The first of those hopefuls will be put through their paces, using Mazda MX-5 sports cars, at Oulton Park in Cheshire on June 11.

Each woman will undergo five tests covering general fitness, reaction times, a written test, presentation skills and most importantly driving skills.

Each must be a true amateur and not hold a motorsport licence.

By November, the final 50 will have been chosen ready for the televised RX-8 race series which will kick off in spring next year. The final format has not been decided.

The cost to Mazda is the loan of around six MX-5s for driver training and 18 cars for the race series next year.